Blencathra

New territory for me today as I headed North for a walk I've had in mind for a while, just always found somewhere else to go on the drive up!!
Wainwright dedicated 35 pages to this mountain in his guides, and many consider it to be one of the Lakes finest. On a day like today I wasn't going to disagree..
Blencathra is the last major bulk of fell before Scotland, and as anyone who has driven the A66 across to Keswick will know, is a huge lump of rock.
The day was sunny but hazy, so it created some interesting light, hope you enjoy

For the first time this season, the temp indicator on the car dropped to zero. I stopped at Ambleside on the way through and grabbed a few across a mist shrouded lake and an icy pier. This was taken about 100m from our digs in May..

A hint of dawn in the grey sky.

Dawn light across the top of Blencathra. The fell actually consists of 6 seperate summit, but only one, Halls Fell top is classed as a true summit. Our route today is the ridge on the right leading directly to the summit. Keswick nestles below this hulking mountain.

Looking back towards Threlkeld and the head of St John's Vale. Lovely moods in the sky, and was to typify the light today.

As you saw in the earlier pic, Blencathra is made of up 4 large ridges and valleys, here we are looking up Gate Gill with the top in the distance. Our path today heads right from here.

Disturbing the locals at breakfast... Blencathra directly above. It was down to Tee shirts on the steep climb.

Higher up now and the views back down into the valley below. One thing that did become obvious here and most of the day, was the traffic noise from the very busy A6 below. Wainwright would not have approved!

Our first view of todays route, The Halls Fell ridge. We need to skirt round the right here to access the start.

That's better! A great view up the ridge directly to the top.

Looking across to Doddick Fell, the middle ridge and todays descent. beyond is Scales Fell, the eastern flank of the mountain.

The start of Halls Fell ridge. A classic scramble along a rocky ridge with a few exposed areas along the way. the best and correct way (for true adventurers!) is directly up the rocks...

A view back down the first section of the ridge, you get an idea of what it's like. The rock is slate, and has become very polished over the years, it can be quite tricky when it's wet or icy.

One of the more prominant features and trickier sections, the curve of the ridge as it sweeps higher.

More views back down, you can see how hazy it is below.

As mentioned earlier the ridge runs directly to the summit. This is looking back down one final time 20ft from the summit.

Blencathra summit across the removed trig point (don't ask me why!). Siddaw (or Skidda to the locals) looking resplendant in the distance.

The western flank and Gategill Fell. Blencathra stands at 2848ft and it's a 2 mile walk up the ridge to get here.

Skiddaw across the summit tarn and what looks like a sunken cairn in the middle. I resisted the urge to paddle across and place another stone on it!!

The white cross just down from the summit. This was created from 1945 onwards by Harold Robinson, who collected quartz from around the area (not common on Blencathra) and extended the old cross tto it's present size 10ft x 15ft, as a more fitting memorial to a walker who lost his life on a rocky ascent prior to that date.

A couple of climbers on their way to the top from Doddick Fell. Love the hazy layers in the distance.

Sharp Edge.... The notorious ridge route up here, it makes Halls Fell look like a walk in the park. It has been know to make experienced walkers jibbering wrecks as they attempt its crossing. On a dry and calm day it doesn't pose many problems for a someone with a head for heights, but in the wet and wind it becomes a far more ferocious beast. There have been many fatalities along here, and mountain rescue regularly get people off who become crag fast (they literally freeze on the rock and can't move!) A route not to be taken lightly!!

Scales Tarn below Sharp Edge from a bit higher up. This isn't our route today, we'll save this for a nice warm summers day I think!

On the way back to meet the path to Doddick fell, I spotted this lone climber half way along Halls Fell ridge.

The top of Doddick Fell. Turn right here for going down..

A look back to Blencathra's summit from the same spot.

Can you spot the ant crossing a silhouetted Sharp Edge?

It's a steep descent down...

Bright blue sky and the first guy I'd spoken to all day on his way up Doddick fell. This gives you an idea how steep it was!!

Time for a spot of lunch! Thanks here to Mrs A who had packed me up some cracking chicken butties :-)

Sun rays to the western fells across the bottom slopes of Halls Fell.

More interesting light across to The Dodds in the distance which are the northern most peaks of the Helvellyn range.

Browns and greens up Gate Gill. Our route today, up the left and down the right, simples..

NOVEMBER!! It felt more like September again now as we look back to the top and it was tee shirt time again for the pleasent stroll back to the car.