Hiking in Finland

Climbing, bikepacking, skiing & packrafting in the north

A Lake District Traverse: Part II

As it’s almost a month ago that I published Part I of my Lakeland Traverse and there have been several more trips since then, it’s time to hike on and bring it to a finish =)

Sca Fell camp

After a calm night I wake up, have breakfast and smile because the sun is shining as I head up towards Sca Fell.

Breakfast on Sca Fell Up to Sca Fell

I continue to smile, even as it gets more and more cloudy the nearer I get to the summit.

Sca Fell in the mist

Once there, the summit is indeed dressed in clouds as, accompanied with a stiff breeze. Hardshell top and bottom come on, down I go.

Foxes Tarn

The descent to Foxes Tarn is nice though you should be sure-footed. The place itself looked clean and inviting for a camp, but I continued.

Whaddyalookingat?

Down a scrambly bit to the path up Scafell Pike. Good fun that section! Up on England’s highest hill I snap a Selfie and walk on. Views are good, people few.

Scafell Pike

But it are the views from Bowfell that I enjoy most.

Sca Fell & Scafell Pike

I descend via the Flat Slabs and head onwards to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Climber’s Bar.

Flat Slabs

A fine Ale, soup and a roll are consumed, and with not much enthusiasm I leave the fine establishment behind. My route takes me up to Stickle Tarn, where I count four other tents around the lake!

Stickle Tarn

It’s windy and I’m soon in my quilt after a hot meal. It is a fiercely windy night and past midnight a couple descends to the valley past me under my TrailStar. Rain sets in occasionally. I drift in and out of sleep, and with dawn I’m up. The Coleman gas canister is empty (after just 3 l of water boiled!) and so I can’t have my morning coffee. Up I go, forgoing the scramble I came for.

Above Stickle Tarn

Drizzle and wind accompany me on my way to High Raise and onwards to Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag, before I descend to the village of Grasmere.

Cloudy

I buy a new gas canister and fruits, have a coffee and soup and head up Grisedale Tarn. The weather improves and the sun breaks through.

Arriba

My plan to go on to Helvellyn and walk its Ridges is dropped in favour of a low camp. But the valleys are private land and I don’t feel like sneaking into one of the woods to pitch my TrailStar and so end up in the Youth Hostel in Patterdale. A hot shower is enjoyed, and a good sleep is had.

Looking up to Grisedale

Breakfast on the sofa, packing with plenty of space, wall to wall sunshine awaiting me.

That way

Up to Angletarn Pikes. A lovely hill with fine views all the way.

Upwards Lovely view

Angle Tarn is a wonderful place and would make a fine camping spot. Birds are swimming on its clear blue water, while the sun reflects in ripples as a slight breeze sweeps across it.

Angle Tarn

The views from up here are magnificent, further enhenced by the superb weather. I walk with an open wind jacket and cuffs up, but soon decide it’s time to hike in my T-Shirt.

Gate

I take the faint path up Rest Dodd before heading down and up to The Knott. Time for coffee and Vitamin C in the sun, there’s no hurry anywhere.

Coffee on The Knott

I stroll onwards to the High Street where plenty of day hikers enjoy the great weather. I shortly ponder a stroll up and down the Riggindale Crag, but decide to head onwards to the Thornthwaite Crag. A large cairn marker (more a tower, really) spends shade that is welcomed in this hot weather.

Blue

The impending ridge walk of Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke has me smiling ear to ear.

Spikey

Then water runs low and so I am looking out for water. Close to the Garburn Pass I find a gurgling stream and the Playtypuses are filled up and emptied right away. Tasty. So why not stay?

Camp III

I do. It’s beautiful and I love the views - Windermere to the south, the high hills to the west, crags, grass and sheep to the north and east. I have a mighty fine evening up on the hill, and fall asleep under the stars.

MLD TrailStar in the English Lake District.

The next morning the weather is again on repeat: Blue sky and sunshine. I take it slow, enjoy the last bit outside, but am soon enough on the trail.

Troutbeck Tongue

Then I arrive at Orrest Head, Tourists being delighted by the view to be had from here. And also I smile, even as know that this will be the last time I will lay my eyes on the hills of the Lake District, those fine small mountains whom I just traversed. And so I walk down to the railway station, happy to return in the future.

Orrest Head

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