Sunday 16 February 2014

Pike O'Blisco and Crinkle Crags

 A cracking day above the head of Langdale....although it took a while for the sun to make an appearance!

Having parked at the foot of the Blea Tarn Road. I walked up beside Redacre Gill.
The snow line was basically at the head of the gill

As I gained height the sun was doing it's best to light up Side Pike behind me.

Here on the summit of Pike O'Blisco the wind was trying to blow me over, below me lay Red Tarn


The sun was finally burning thro the mist/cloud as I approached the Bad Step.
There was quite a bit of dillydallying by a party of three, two elected to go round and one climbed it with me.
It was a bit of a thrutch...It's a while since I've even had my crampons on!

The weather continued to improve, here I'm looking back to the summit of Crinkle Crags

And to the West the Scafells were starting to emerge from their blanket of cloud.

Ahead Bowfell  above Three Tarns, I must say I was tempted but by now there was folk everywhere so I decided to drop down to the Band 

Scafells clear at last

Today snow made for rapid progress if you had the spiky stuff on!

Down on the Band the views were still great, here Wetherlam is seen thro the Red Tarn gap

Crinkle Crags from the Band.

Once below the snowline the landscape had an almost springlike appearance.
Looking into the head of Mickleden and Rossett Pike

Pike O'Stickle looking very impressive, almost back to the valley.
A great day!

Today's footwear choice unlined ancient Manta M4's with Yeti Gaiters.
Dry warm sweat free feet, no worry's crossing streams There is no finer combination for walking in snow with flexible crampons IMHO....are the Yeti's still available?

2 comments:

  1. You had a nice day there and you also picked the steepest way up Blisco. Well done.
    Spectacular photo’s. Yeti gaiters are still available, superb in snow and for shallow river crossings.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Alan...it was a great day. I always like that approach, lots of variations in the summit crags to keep it fresh.
    Good to know Yeti's are still available, I haven't seen owt about them for ages!
    Originally thought of by Lyn Rutland from Windermere I think?!
    Thanks
    Alistair

    ReplyDelete