After herding all the cats out of the house just after 9am, we gathered at the
car park beside the mountain centre above Threlkeld. In the past I had climbed
up from Scales Inn, but they had apparently gone up this end when they took the
Old Man up. I had a slight diversion when I missed the turning and had to return
to the village and try again, so when we arrived everyone was ready.
The path zigzagged up the end of the ridge from the car park, initially
through some bracken.
First turn around facing away from Derwent Water and Ullswater. getting strung
out from the start.
Over the first bump, and the beginning of some realisation that the walk may be
too much for some of the party. However they kept going, and we got a good
rest.
After the next bump, it showed the steepest section, and the zigzag path up it.
This was the final straw for some and their minds got dispirited, so they would
hang around and watch the ceremony from here. Mean while the remining half
continued up the track.
There was a lot of debate about the location of the old man, so we chose a cairn
on the shoulder in sight of the lower group. The ashes were a little too solid
to be scattered with grace, but we all had a go before I got violent and shook
them into the wind. Ceremony over we lost another soul, and the rest of us
continued.
Continuing up the ridge ... steepish, up to the summit of Knowe Crag. Then
the continuation to Blencathra is finally visible - not the immediate ne but
behind it.
Bertie and Steph on the ridge in the wind. Not much climbing, but much more
horizontal distance.
Through the remains of the snow, still heading along and slightly up.
The last step ... around the corner to the round top
The views from the top .
On the top, then a brief stop in the wind for some refreshment, as the party
trickled away to start down.
Bringing up the rear to set off back down the ridge, then the top of the
zigzags, the next party down below.
Over the middle bump and down to the bottom one
The first sight of the car park, and then the final stretch through the bracken.
Back at the van with all party accounted for - Counting the cost .... with sort muscles and tiredness. Back to the house for tea and cake.
