HIGH STREET, THE KNOTT, RAMPSGILL HEAD, KIDSTY PIKE and HIGH RAISE -
1st NOVEMBER 2008
A beautiful morning; cold and clear with a good forecast for more of the same. The drive along the side of Haweswater is so picturesque and as I approached the car park at Mardale Head I knew I was in for a great day. The view of the ridge I was about to climb was superb.
The Rigg is glorious at this time of year.
As I parked the car, Harter Fell looked majestic with a coat of icing sugar on top and just a hint of cloud.
Once I had gained a proper foothold on the ridge the panorama opened up and Haweswater looked almost tropical. Shame it was below freezing with a 35 mph wind which made it feel just a touch chilly!!
Kidsty Pike on the right
and High Street dead ahead across Caspel Gate. Somewhat ominously the cloud was starting to thicken
The climb after Rough Crag was great; I love walking in snow!
The top. Believe me, this photograph gives no idea as to how windy it was.
The cloud was definitely 'bubbling up', to quote the weather forecasters, as I reached The Straits of Riggindale.
As I reached The Knott (which must be the easiest and shortest climb to any Wainwright), the cloud really came down good and proper.
Lovely frost patterns on the summit cairn.
Rampsgill Head doesn't even get a cairn!
Kidsty Pike. Shame about the lack of view.
High Raise gets a cairn and a wall shelter. Greedy!!
That was all the Wainwrights done for the day, but still two Birketts to go. Low Raise has a cairn and a tumulus. A bit of shelter for lunch thankfully as it was still very windy and bitterly cold.
As I descended from Low Raise the weather improved dramatically and the view looking down on the ancient fort on Castle Crag was both intriguing and atmospheric.
Pin-stripe Water?
Glorious Autumnal colours as I returned in the direction of The Rigg.
Time for one last shot as I crossed Riggindale Beck.
It was a pity that the weather in the middle section of the day was poor, but the beginning and the end were superb. The walk up Long Stile is highly recommended. Another great day on the fells.
All photographs taken with either a Nikon D40X (10.2mp) or a Nikon Coolpix 4200 (4.2mp)
