PILLAR (via High Level Route), SCOAT FELL, STEEPLE, RED PIKE and YEWBARROW - 6 May 2008
Overbeck Bridge - Wasdale Head - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead - High Level Route - Shamrock Traverse - Pillar Rock - Pillar - Black Crag - Scoat Fell - Steeple -
Scoat Fell - Red Pike - Yewbarrow - Overbeck Bridge.
11 miles, 4200 feet of ascent
As I left the Car Park at Overbeck Bridge at the foot of Yewbarrow at 8.15am, the classic Wasdale shot was slightly misty. The forecast was for a warm, dry, hazy day.
This particular Mosedale is anything but a dreary place with huge mountains on all sides.
As I crossed Gatherstone Beck on my way up to Black Sail Pass, Stirrup Crag on Yewbarrow looked daunting for later in the day. Dore Head Screes looked pretty steep as well!
Having taken AW's advice and visited Looking Stead and seen the view down Ennerdale, I left the ridge and set off along the High Level Route.It was at this point that I met Jim, who was also completing the Mosedale Horseshoe and was in the Lake District for the week and who is clearly a strong walker.For the rest of the day we exchanged our walking experiences and just had a 'reet good laugh.' A top bloke. Our aim at the end of the High Level Route was to reach Robinson's Cairn.
The view from the cairn is spectacular. No matter how many photos you see and how many times you watch the Julia Bradbury 'Pillar' walk on TV nothing prepares you for the huge scale of Pillar Rock.
Mr Robinson must have been quite a man to cover the distances he did on his way here and then pioneer rock climbing routes when he arrived.
The Shamrock Traverse was a very easy passage today, but I'm not sure I would attempt it with snow on the ground!
The view of Pisgah and High Man improved still further as I climbed.
At the end of the traverse it was almost as if one could reach out and touch the bare rock.
The view from the summit of Pillar is magnificent (albeit today it was hazy as forecast) and having sampled my nose-bag it was with some reluctance that I set off once again. Much remained to be done.
On the way to Scoat Fell the view across to Steeple must be one of the best in the Lake District.
What a cheat to put the summit cairn on Scoat Fell on top of the wall!
The very short walk to and from Steeple is a delight and if anything it is too short.
Red Pike was the next target and the Scafells started to loom large in the distance.
Having made the short detour to the top of Red Pike, 'The Chair' was the next objective and the King was soon on his throne.
Yewbarrow was to be the final summit of the day.
I must admit that having seen how steep Stirrup Crag had looked earlier in the day I wasn't exactly looking forward to climbing it. This, however, is where my buddy for the day stepped in and told me I would regret it if we took the easier path that heads diagonally up to the ridge. So onwards and upwards! The photograph doesn't really show how rocky the crag is and being at the end of the day didn't help.
Having lived to tell the tale, the view from the North top of Yewbarrow was excellent with Red Pike, Black Crag and Pillar in one direction.......
and the Scafells in another.
The haze that had been present all day was still lingering as we headed down towards Bell Rib.
The scree slope was negotiated and a final look back up the ridge showed what a shapely peak Yewbarrow is.
Gable looked splendid in the early evening sunshine especially as I was about to sample a pint of the appropriately named 'Yewbarrow' and a chilli and rice at the Wasdale Head Inn.
One final shot as I set off for home.
I can honestly say that this is one of the toughest walks I have done, but also possibly the best. Highly recommended. Only 8 Wainwrights to go.
All photographs taken with either a Nikon D40X (10.2mp) or a Nikon Coolpix 4200 (4.2mp)
