![]() ![]() After our preamble from the Atlantic to the Med last year, it seems that we’ve become much more attuned to the slower pace of the Pyrenees! Thursday 13th August 2020, Wild Camp at Styhead Tarn to Wild Camp below High Rigg, 23.5km Peaks bagged: 34. On this particular challenge, with our poor performance due to one reason or another, we have decided that we’re not geared up for this extreme kind of peak bagging. Looking onto Great End in one direction and Lingmell in the other, it seemed uncanny that we had literally done a circuit since last Thursday ending up almost right back in the same spot, but having only bagged 4 more peaks since. When we had finally ventured out of the tent, there were 3 other hikers who had set up camp across the tarn, which we had been expecting with this being such a popular spot close to Scafell Pike. When I mentioned to Wayne we hadn’t yet done a proper ‘Trail Kitchen’ segment for the video, he apologised but said because he’d been ill he didn’t have his proper camera face on, so not tonight!ĭespite the rain storm and the new stream that was now flowing to the right of our tent, we were still treated to a gentle sunset, so things weren’t all that bad, especially as we had reached our intended destination. We then enjoyed hot bowls of tomato soup, followed by instant ‘onion’ mashed potato with Heinz Mexican beans poured on top (one of our new quick packet favourites). After taking a power nap whilst waiting for it to stop, we then got our chairs out and camp duties were able to resume, including filtering water. The rain lasted around an hour before everything returned to calm, all the water sources around us now flowing with renewed energy. Thank goodness we hadn’t pitched just a metre to the right or we’d have ended up in the middle of the flow. It was like a real freak of weather after it being one of the hottest days of the year! The worst was yet to come when we suddenly found ourselves marooned between a now raging Styhead Gill and a new river that had appeared the other side of our tent. As we started hearing pings on metal we were then startled to see hail stones surrounding the base of the tent. With huge cracks of thunder ringing out above us and rain drops firing down on the tent like bullets, we had no choice but to hunker down. Thankfully in our warm, safe cocoon we could ride out the storm. It was a good call as no sooner had we got pitched and unpacked, the heavens literally opened. Luckily we just managed to hunker down inside the tent before the heavens opened. Taking the track to the right of the stream flowing through Mosedale, we began a slow and steady climb towards Black Sail Pass at 542 metres. ![]() The sun was already blazing over the valley when we hiked towards the Wasdale Head Inn and we knew it was going to be a scorcher of a day as it was forecast to reach temperatures of 28 degrees. If there was ever a test for Wayne’s legs – this was it! It wasn’t too far distance wise, but we had a big climb from 75 metres in the valley at Wast Water all the way up to 802 metres at the top of Kirk Fell. Our plan was then to descend around the back of Great Gable and set up camp for the night beside Styhead Tarn. So finally ready to set off around 9:30am, our aim was to get up and bag Kirk Fell – one of the dominant peaks of the Western Fells we were yet to summit. ![]() We had to make use of the camp tumble dryer because rain in the night had made our clothes wetter than when we had hung them out to dry, and of course it was gear that we wanted to wear today. He of course wanted to stay close to a toilet and rest up and it wasn’t until today that he was feeling somewhat better, although still rather weak, so we planned on a shorter day to test his legs (so to speak).īack on camp rations, we had our usual Belvita biscuit breakfast with hot mugs of tea whilst we waited for our laundry to dry. We finally left Wasdale National Trust Campsite after a 4 night stay due to Wayne being out of action for a few days due to a serious bout of diarrhoea. Walking The Wainwrights – Section 3 – Wasdale to Borrowdale then Keswick to Grasmere Wednesday 12th August 2020, Wasdale National Trust Campground, Wasdale to Wild Camp at Styhead Tarn, 12.7km Peaks bagged: 33. Waking up to a spectacular cloud inversion in the Grisedale valley. ![]()
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