Walk 07/2008 – Easter in Wasdale

Sunday 23rd March 2008

Again we had 2 walking groups today with the duffers group increasing in size from 4 to 9.

Duffers walk

Our walk started with the repeated ascent up to Irton Fell but then we plateaued and crossed boggy moorland, Mecklin Park and Irton Pike, the walk then followed through to very striking forestland.

We had the coffee stop by a charming copse of Christmas fir trees and with several snowy mountains as a backdrop. Further along our walk we had a navigation problem in identifying the correct path, this resulted in our twice crossing the tricky stream using precarious stepping stones!

As we descended the route we passed through a much–desecrated part of the forest, damaged due to a fierce windstorm. Lunch was taken in a sheltered woody glade, for the second day our sandwiches were pretty mis–shapened and we had an amusing discussion around the cause of the problem being the hostel’s use of “under-strength” cling film!

We had all experienced mobile phone signals to be scarce during the weekend but at this point Kevin identified we had a ‘bubble of reception’ and so we were able to pick up those long awaited messages!

Click here to see a video clip taken from Irton Pike. I suggest you only try this if you have a broadband connection.

Towards the end of our walk we took a leisurely pub stop at ‘The Screes Inn’ and enjoyed a few bevies. “Cathy’s unlucky day” continued with spillage of drink and a walker’s crisp injury, most unwelcome after earlier ripping her new waterproof trousers on an innocent looking rock.[Ed – what’s a walker’s crisp injury? Being hit by a flying potato?] After our pub break we embarked on the final 2 miles of the circuit passing through a camp site where yes there were families choosing to camp under canvas for their Easter holiday break and in minus 20 degrees chill factor![Ed – is it because it’s Easter that you are “over–egging” the wind chill factor?] Today the weather was kind to us with many hours of blue skies and sunshine, but many clothes were needed for that very low wind chill. [Ed – you must be up to 15 layers by now!]

We celebrated the Easter festival at night by the hostel cooking a special meal of slow cooked lamb with thyme dumplings and also where Easter eggs had been delivered to each of us by that kind and ‘Supercool Easter bunny’ – Alan (Thankyou).

Report – Cathy

Advanced walk

The 10 people from the day before were reduced to 7 for this days walking. The original plan had been to go up Scafell but owing to a heavy snowfall overnight this plan had to be aborted. Instead we decided to do the walk the other group had tackled the day before which was a 14 mile trip around Wast Water from The Youth Hostel, then up Whin Rigg and Illgill Head, taking in Screes Ridge.

We had a very different walk to the group the day before due to the snow. It would also appear that we did the route the other way round! We had a very hard long climb onto the ridge, made more difficult by the packed snow on the path making conditions very slippery. Once on up on the ridge though all we could see was snow and frozen tarns. The sun was shining and so it was a perfect snowy walk across the top of the ridge, looking down on Wast Water and the Youth Hostel. There was only two sets of footprints before us, so we were all able to indulge ourselves and create our own tracks in the new snow. At one point it became much harder going and we were stepping into 8 inches of snow.

Getting down proved to be a bit of a challenge. The path had long disappeared so in the end we took the plunge and headed down hill. Some more literally than others. Angela and Diane had great difficulty staying upright and Nigel demonstrated that he was the perfect gentleman by throwing himself on top of Diane to stop her sliding down the hill further. In total contrast Owen and Simon chuckled continuously, watching Angela mainly slide down on her bottom.

At the bottom Stuart passed the verdict that Diane was struggling because she had her poles too short. She would slip less if she had them longer like Nigel. Right on cue, Nigel promptly slipped down the hill!!!

The rest of the walk was over lowlands which were very wet and boggy due to the melting snow. Simon trod on what he thought was a rock but it wasn’t and he went in up to his ankles in mud. A bit later on we had to cross over a little stream by using rocks. Simon selected his rock very carefully as he did not want a repeat episode. He even asked if we thought it was a rock. Good job he did as it turned out to be a blob of frogspawn, complete with some tadpoles blissfully swimming around unaware that they were about to get crushed!

Report – Angela

Pictures – Alan, Angela and Stuart

We set off around the lake with Great Gable in the distance.

A rock provides a bit of shelter after making the climb up to Irton Fell.

The descent from Irton Pike through the storm damaged plantation.

The Screes Inn. It is just about warm enough to sit outside for a while.

We dine in our “private restaurant”.

Like the hat Angela. I have the same trouble when I have my hair up.

I have no idea who this person is?