Showing posts with label red pike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label red pike. Show all posts

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Mosedale Horseshoe & Solo Bivvy


Dates : 26th & 27th July 2013
Route : Mosedale Horseshoe (clockwise)
Wild Camp : Scoat Fell
Wainwrights : Yewbarrow 627m (2057 feet), Red Pike 826m (2710 feet), Scoat Fell 841m (2759 feet), Steeple 819m (2687 feet), Pillar 892m (2927 feet)
Distance : 17.6km (10.8 miles)
Height gained : 1387m (4551 feet)

Full kit list and some bivvy/tarp chat at the end



The Route - Clockwise

 I had wanted to explore some of the fells west of Wast Water for a while and the Mosedale Horseshoe seemed the ideal route. I'd heard the views from around Steeple & Pillar were stunning and ideal for a wild camp spot to watch the sun setting over the Irish sea. I was working Friday morning so it was a rush to get home, packed and set off to Wasdale. I arrived at 5pm having negotiated Wrynose and Hardknott passes rather quicker than I would have liked. Car parked a few miles from Wasdale Head, I set off up a bracken invaded path on the south side of Yewbarrow.


Yewbarrow


Sheep, Wast Water & the Scafells 

Wasdale Screes

 The views over Wast Water towards the Wasdale Screes and the Scafells in the evening light were stunning, and got better with height. As Dropping Crag & Bell Rib approached, the path became steep and unstable. The 'fix the fells' team had been active in this area and their efforts were greatly appreciated in the early part of this steep ascent but their work was ongoing and unfinished higher up. It was scramble up loose scree to skirt the rocky outcrop of Bell Rib on the left before emerging onto its 'mini summit'. The effort was repaid with great views along the length of Wast Water.


Looking back down the screes to Wast Water from just under Dropping Crag

Wast Water from Bell Rib

Looking through 'Great Door' on Bell Rib towards the Scafells

 Once Bell Rib and its gullies have been negotiated its easy going along a good path to Yewbarrow summit. All along the ridge are fantastic vantage points for the Scafells and the short walk took rather longer than expected due to numerous photo stops.


Onwards to Yewbarrow from Bell Rib


A Kestrel (I have been reliably informed) which was attending a nest on the lower crags 


The magnificent Scafells from Yewbarrow

 Once the summit is gained the views open up northwards towards Great Gable & Kirk Fell which were bathed in evening sunlight.


Kirk Fell & Great Gable from Yewbarrow


Red Pike (left) and Pillar (centre) from Yewbarrow 
 
 Yewbarrow summit panorama video - with dodgy commentry

 The onwards path that descends sharply down to Dore Head demands care & attention as it negotiates the steep 'Stirrup Crag'. Red Pike then dominates the forward view as the path climbs steadily up its south-west aspect. Looking back, its huge shadow was moving slowly up the flanks of Kirk Fell & Great Gable.


Red Pike from Dore Head - a steep path to the summit


Evening shadows on Kirk Fell


Paragliders over Great Gable summit

 The path climbs steadily upwards towards an obvious craggy peak but this apparent 'top' of Red Pike is eventually exposed as a false summit and the land continues to rise more gently upwards to the true summit 1/2 km further on.


Red Pike panorama looking back over Yewbarrow and beyond


The ridge to the main summit of Red Pike


Red Pike summit looking towards Pillar

 By this time the sun was getting low and I was keen to find a nice place to make camp. Having skirted Scoat Fell on its eastern side I came across a flat grassy col between Scoat Fell itself & Black Crag. It offered a perfect view of the sun setting beyond Steeple over the Irish Sea.


My Bivvy overlooking Steeple - mat inside bivvy for now

 I set the bivvy up and then settled down to watch the sunset while cooking and brewing up. Miraculously I had a good 3G phone signal albeit from the Isle of Man! I enjoyed a great 45 mins of twitter banter (mainly reminding me of feather pillows and pocket sprung mattresses) before deciding that the wind was getting a bit gusty and so put up a 'lean to' tarp for a bit of shelter.

 The sky soon darkened to reveal a perfectly clear night. I dozed off watching the stars, occasional satellite and a few meteors. I woke a few times and it took a second or 2 to adapt to the feeling of space above. This was my first time in a bivvy and I was enjoying the exposure. Not sure if I would be so keen in wind and rain but for this night it was a perfect choice and provided another new experience in the fells. There were some initial problems getting comfortable which I elaborate on under 'kit thoughts' at the end.    


The final set up


                                                  A quick video of camp


My view


The Silhouette of Steeple as the sun sets


All packed up and ready for Scoat Fell (left) and Steeple (right)

 I was up early next morning and by 5:30 was packed and ready to go. I quickly headed off to Scoat Fell and Steeple, keen to catch the sun rising over Pillar. It was a lovely scene watching the slowly brightening oranges & blues of the cloudscape. Two tiny figures could be seen milling around on the summit of Pillar. No doubt fellow wild campers enjoying the sunrise from their more lofty vantage point.   


Steeple from Scoat Fell


Sunrise over Pillar, from Scoat Fell


The view of Pillar from Steeple


Panorama east from Steeple


Panorama west from Steeple


Enjoying the view & surveying the route ahead to Pillar

                         
                      Steeple summit panorama video with more dodgy commentry

 After soaking up the views I followed the obvious route towards Pillar. The two figures seen earlier were heading down towards me and we soon crossed paths. They had both bivvied on the summit and were now heading for Steeple and then Ennerdale. Pleasantries exchanged, I headed on.

Layers of Fells in the morning light, looking southeast from Little Scoat Fell. Fairfield in the distant centre


The Mosedale valley from near Wind Gap

 The going was easy until reaching Wind Gap following which the path became much steeper before emerging onto the surprisingly flat expanse of Pillar summit. I had been reliably informed that Pillar was a summit worthy of leisurely exploration as the best views were to be found around the perimeter of the plateau. I first wandered over to the Ennerdale side in search of the infamous 'Pillar Rock'. It wasn't hard to find. Westwards the vista extended from Ennerdale Water taking in the whole length of the Ennerdale valley. On the other side of the valley the mountainous ridge from Red Pike to Haystacks was in view. The superb panorama then continues along the Ennerdale valley towards Kirk Fell and Great Gable before continuing along to Great End and the rest of the Scafell Massif. Majestic scenery.

Pillar summit with Great Gable & the Scafells providing the backdrop


Ennerdale Water from Pillar


Pillar Rock overlooking the Ennerdale valley and High Crag


Pillar summit view southeast towards Kirk Fell, Great Gable & the Scafells


                                        Summit panorama video from Pillar

 I reluctantly left Pillar and headed down the east path towards Looking Stead, a large craggy mass overlooking the Black Sail YHA hut at the head of the Ennerdale valley. The path then descends steeply to the col at Black Sail pass.

The path from PIllar to Looking Stead


looking back down the Mosedale valley with Yewbarrow & Red Pike right


Pillar lit brightly in the morning sun, from Looking Stead

 I had intended to continue on up Kirk Fell from here but the legs were tiring and the ascent looked like a steep scramble which was uninviting while carrying an overnight pack. I therefore left Kirk Fell for another day and headed down the Black Sail Pass back to Wasdale Head.



Kirk Fell - the route up looking decidedly steep


The way back down the Black Sail Pass


A last look back at Yewbarrow


Mosedale Beck near Wasdale Head

Kit List
 

Shelter : Backpackinglight solo tarp (278g) & Integral Designs solo ground sheet (140g) Bivvy bag : Rab Ascent (600g)
Mat : Exped SynMat7 UL LW (595g) 
Sleeping Bag : Rab Alpine 400 (970g) and Rab silk liner (132g)    
Stove : High Gear Blaze titanium stove (48g)  + Primus 100g Gas Cart   
Pans : Evernew Solo-set (250g)
Rucksack : Osprey Talon 44 (1.18kg) 

Fluid : Deuter Streamer 2lt Bladder (185g) and 600ml Sigg bottle (100g empty) + Sawyer Squeeze filter (84g), 100 mls milk, coffee  
Food : Wayfayrer Tai Green Curry, Buttered Bread, Supernoodles,various sugary snacks.
Bits & Bobs : headtorch and spare batteries, Iphone + Anker 5800mHh battery,  victorinox knife, map & compass, basic first aid kit and Petzl e-lite, spork, various fold dry bags, flint & steel, plastic trowel.  

Camera : Panasonic DMC-LX7 & lowepro case.  
Clothes : Ron Hill wicking T-Shirt, Rab 100 wt fleece (250g), Montane lightspeed jacket (160g), TNF Meridian Cargo Shorts (190g), ME beany, Rab phantom grip gloves, sunglasses, Buff, Innov8 short socks. Hard Shell = Mountain Equipment Firefox jacket (320g) not used.
Trail Shoes : Merrell Moab Ventilator (680g pair)


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 Kit thoughts


 I was pleased with all the kit but again I could make considerable weight savings if I tried. The sleeping bag was overkill for this time of year. I really need a lighter summer bag (or maybe quilt). The bivvy bag worked well with no sign of condensation, but I look with envy at lighter bags such as the Terra Nova moonlight at 180g and wonder whether there could be much difference in peformance & durability. 


 I really like the exped mat but it perhaps isn't the best choice for bivvying. I started with it inside the bag but as it is 7cm thick, there wasn't much wriggle room left inside. After getting up for an early hours comfort break I took the mat out of the bag which proved much more comfortable and roomy. The mat was therefore sat on the groundsheet which was only just big enough. It wouldn't have taken much for it to slide off onto the grass & stones. The solution I think is to either use a thinner mat inside the bivvy (but I love the comfort of the exped), use a larger groundsheet (but the mat would still get wet if it rains) or get a larger bivvy (the Alpkit Hunka XL would suffice at 500g). Any thoughts are welcome!


 The tarp worked well but the weather really didn't offer much of a challenge. I had previously experimented with a few different set ups in the garden (see below) and decided that this modified 'lean to' configuration was the best for the mild conditions. I also really like the 'flying V' which, with just 2 poles, allows for the use of a 'lifter' which makes a huge difference to the space underneath. This would be more suited to poor weather. A lifter would have provided much more space underneath my 'lean to' which was sagging quite a bit by the morning. Of course this would have required another pole/stick etc. Next time I might take a short length of bamboo garden cane for this job.

 
standard lean-to
modified lean-to
flying 'V'

 I was happy with the rest of the kit. This was the first outing for the Sawyer filter and it worked quickly & efficiently, saving considerable weight in water carry. Of course if I had a lighter sleeping bag, bivvy & mat then I could take a smaller rucksack and save more weight. Anyway thats it, any comments are always welcome. Thanks for reading.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

High Stile Solo Wildcamp

Dates : 25th & 26th May 2012
Route : From Buttermere, anti-clockwise route up the High Stile ridge
Wild Camp : High Stile
Wainwrights : Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag
Distance : 16.3km (10.1 miles)
Height gained : 1054 m (3459 feet)

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 The forecast was for clear cloudless skies but cold and windy. It had been a few months since my inaugural wild camp and I was itching to get out again. Having glimpsed the High Stile ridge from Scafell I was keen to explore the area further and thought a wild camp with views towards the Scafells and a sunset over Ennerdale would be just the ticket. 


The Route anticlockwise from Buttermere village

 Having parked in Buttermere village I set off on a path between Buttermere and Crummock Water towards the impressive Red Pike/High Stile ridge where I was ultimately heading. With a heavy rucksack I didn't fancy the steep direct route up the east side of Red Pike via Bleaberry Tarn so I skirted Crummock Water before turning westwards to join a path which ascended Red Pike via Scale Force.


High Stile (left) and Red Pike (right) from the car park

Fleetwith Pike

Crummock Water

Grasmoor over Crummock Water

The path up to Red Pike - not a cloud in the sky

 After the short but steep climb by Scale Force the path levelled out and it was an easy trudge up to the summit of Red Pike. Once on top it became apparent that the easterly wind was a lot stronger than forecast but I was happy than my planned camping spot on the western side of the ridge should be sheltered. The views over to Grasmoor and Robinson were outstanding.


Red Pike summit panorama east

Red Pike summit panorama west

Crummock Water from Red Pike summit

looking over Buttermere from Red Pike summit

looking towards High Stile from Red Pike

 The ridge walk along to High Stile offered a superb panorama across to the Scafell range and I missed my footing on a number of occasions whilst gazing to the right instead of where I was going.

 On the approach to High Stile the wind really picked up and once on the summit I struggled to keep my footing. There was no chance of a summit camp so I walked back down the sheltered western side to find a suitable place. The wind was still very strong and gusty but I managed to find a reasonably flat spot where the wind seemed a bit less fierce.



High Stile summit panorama North

High Stile summit panorama South

The Scafells from High Stile

 The Scarp was pitched in no time and due to high winds I used the cross poles for piece of mind. The sunset over the Irish sea was spectacular but I was happy to get into the tent and out of the wind. It was a restless night due to the constant buffeting and the occasional violent gust. 

Camping on the southwest flank of High Stile

Views over Ennerdale

The evening sun bathes Pillar

The obligatory sunset shot

 The wind finally dropped about an hour before sunrise but I was up and out as soon as it was light. An inspection of the tent revealed than the fly sheet guy attachment point on the windward side had torn off the tent. That was due to combination of poor guying from me (more of that later in 'Kit thoughts') and a particularly violent gust from Mother Nature. Apart from that, the Scarp had survived unscathed.

 As I sipped my coffee the sun started to rise revealing a cloudless sky. It was looking like another perfect day so I broke camp and headed back to High Stile summit to admire the view in a more leisurely manner now that I could stand up straight without being blown over. After exploring the expansive summit plateau I followed the ridge along to High Crag, enjoying the views down the Ennerdale valley.


High Stile panorama west over the Ennerdale valley

Bleaberry Tarn and Crummock Water from High Stile

The path towards High Crag (fer Left)

High Crag from High Stile


Ironmongery on the path to High Crag

The Scafells over Kirk Fell

Pillar

looking back to High Stile from High Crag

High Crag summit panorama south

High Crag summit panorama north

looking down to Hay Stacks from High Crag

 It was a steep descent to Scarth Gap before heading back to Buttermere via the Scarth Gap Pass. I hadn't seen anyone else all morning but had the lovely company of a Cuckoo, calling from the Warnscale valley on my right. I then walked back along the southern shore of Buttermere enjoying the tranquil morning and being surrounded by magnificent fells on all sides.      


looking back up to High Crag from near 'Seat'

Great Gable from Scarth Gap

Hay Stacks from Scarth Gap Pass

Buttermere

The path back along Buttermere

High Stile and Red Pike bathed in morning sun

Panorama of the whole ridge

 This was great ridge walk to appreciate the surrounding fells. The northern faces of Pillar, Kirk Fell and Great Gable look spectacular from this vantage point and Grasmoor looks particularly impressive from the Red Pike end of the ridge.

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  Kit List
 

Tent : Tarptent Scarp 1 (1.36kg)
Mat : Exped Downmat UL 7LW (810g)
Sleeping Bag : Rab Alpine 400 (970g) and Rab silk liner (132g)  
Stove : High Gear Blaze titanium stove (48g)  + Primus 100g Gas Cart  
Pans : Evernew Solo-set (250g)
 

Rucksack : Osprey Atmos 35 (1.3kg)
Fluid : 2 x 1 litre Sigg Bottles (147g each empty) + Drinksafe systems travel tap (165g), 200 mls milk, coffee
Food : Wayfayrer Tai Green Curry, Buttered Bread, Supernoodles,various sugary snacks.
 

Bits & Bobs : headtorch and spare batteries, Iphone + Anker 5800mHh battery, tent light,  victorinox knife, map & compass, basic first aid kit and Petzl e-lite, spork, various fold dry bags, flint & steel, plastic trowel. 
Camera : Sony DSC-HX5 & lowepro case.
Clothes : ME Astron Hooded jacket (400g), Ron Hill wicking T-Shirt, TNF Meridian Cargo Shorts (190g), ME beany, Rab phantom grip gloves, sunglasses, Buff, Innov8 short socks. Montane prism 2 jacket (423g) and Montane Superfly Jacket (500g) both not used.
Boots : Merrell Moab Mid (1020g pair)
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Kit Thoughts


 My main issue on this camp was the wind. I couldn't say what the wind speed was but I had to take care to avoid being blown over on High Stile summit. The buffeting in the tent was vicious. The Scarp has 2 optional guying points on each side of the hoop to provide extra stability in wind (which I used). It also has 2 additional 'fly tensioner' points at each end which are there mainly to hold the fly away from the inner. I decided to use the one at my head end to keep the fly from flapping against my face. The wind was blowing from this direction. Looking at the set up video you are supposed to use a trekking pole to re-angle the cord so it pulls at right angles to the fly. As I didn't have any poles I used a long cord pegged out from higher ground. It obviously wasn't pulling at the correct angle because a violent gust in the early hours tore the attachment loop off the fly. My fault entirely.  


The yellow cord seen attached wrongly to the fly - before it tore off

 Ah well, lesson learned. Otherwise everything else went fine. The stand out piece of kit for me was the ME Astron Hooded jacket which I've had for a while now but am always impressed by its ability to keep me comfortable in a wide range of weather conditions. It uses Polartec Powershield fabric which for me hits the sweet spot in terms of being wind resistant, warm & breathable. I have worn it in cold winds and drizzly rain without needing to add layers or a shell. It breaths so well that I can leave it on in all but the warmest conditions and it dries rapidly. It really is a 'put on and forget about it' piece of kit for 3 season use. Everything else performed well. Also, of course the TNF meridian shorts were perfect as usual. I have already presented my case for them in a later blog entry (May 2013). Nuff said.