Mist covered mountains
16th January 2014
There is sunshine and blue sky! Well there was when I started but soon turned into low lying cloud. My destination was Fairfield a domed shaped fell guarded on all sides by steep slopes and rocky buttresses.
My route was up Tongue Gill to reach Grisedale Hause, a col above the very impressive Grisedale Tarn. Normally this would be one of the busy routes up to Helvellyn, but not today? Today was devoid of all people except me.
From the Hause snow was encountered. There was not much, but it had collected into the deep and steep sections of the route up to the summit. These sections were unavoidable so required some care. However, it was fortunate the snow was soft, so i was able to kick steps to assist my ascent.
The summit was a murky, wintery, barren landscape. The steep northern buttresses held more snow and would be a very long fall if you strayed too close. Also, strangely, the summit had almost no wind. There was an uncanny stillness, but this was not enough for me to linger. It was too grey and I was getting cold. So heading south I followed the main ridge that rolled its way to the subsidiary top of Great Rigg, then taking the south eastern spur to descend down to Stone Arthur and the valley floor.
On my way down from Stone Arthur I met a older couple ascending. The time was now late afternoon. We stopped to talk and I discovered they were regular walkers, he was 77 and his partner in her late 60's. They were attempting their third round of all the Wainwrights.
I was worried it was getting late, as their ascent was understandably slow, but they were experienced and knew what they were doing. I hope I have their fitness when (and if) I get to that age.
My route was up Tongue Gill to reach Grisedale Hause, a col above the very impressive Grisedale Tarn. Normally this would be one of the busy routes up to Helvellyn, but not today? Today was devoid of all people except me.
From the Hause snow was encountered. There was not much, but it had collected into the deep and steep sections of the route up to the summit. These sections were unavoidable so required some care. However, it was fortunate the snow was soft, so i was able to kick steps to assist my ascent.
The summit was a murky, wintery, barren landscape. The steep northern buttresses held more snow and would be a very long fall if you strayed too close. Also, strangely, the summit had almost no wind. There was an uncanny stillness, but this was not enough for me to linger. It was too grey and I was getting cold. So heading south I followed the main ridge that rolled its way to the subsidiary top of Great Rigg, then taking the south eastern spur to descend down to Stone Arthur and the valley floor.
On my way down from Stone Arthur I met a older couple ascending. The time was now late afternoon. We stopped to talk and I discovered they were regular walkers, he was 77 and his partner in her late 60's. They were attempting their third round of all the Wainwrights.
I was worried it was getting late, as their ascent was understandably slow, but they were experienced and knew what they were doing. I hope I have their fitness when (and if) I get to that age.