I met up with Sue last night to plan todays adventures. As I alluded to in an earlier post we decided to pop up Sharp Edge and back down Halls Fell, partly because Sue was leading a group up Halls Fell later this week and partly because Sharp Edge has been on Sues tick list for some time. That I was around and happy to nip up it was lucky happenstance.
We met in Booths, now my new most visited place in Keswick, before heading out to Scales. We set off in beautiful sun shine. I was torn between changing into shorts or staying in trousers. As there was quite a breeze I opted for trousers. It was a good decision.
We met in Booths, now my new most visited place in Keswick, before heading out to Scales. We set off in beautiful sun shine. I was torn between changing into shorts or staying in trousers. As there was quite a breeze I opted for trousers. It was a good decision.
We slogged up the steep grass of the pubs beer garden to jump the stile at the top and reach the open moorland and the edge of Blencathra. This is one of the most tiring parts of the walk. After this it was a gentle stroll round the edge of the mountain and up to Scales Tarn.
I did my best guiding approach and provided commentary on the route we were taking and spouted entertaining anecdotes to Sue. Or something like that anyway. Before long we were at Scales Tarn and sue had her first view of Sharp Edge. She expressed some concern over the apparent steepness of the last section and the narrowness of the first.
However, being intrepid mountaineers, we overcame these momentary wobbles and got stuck into the ridge. To paraphrase William Murry in Undiscovered Scotland (The book is in the van and I am not, hence the paraphrase) "You can climbing the same mountain a thousand times and each time will be different" This is how I felt about Sharp Edge.
Despite having been up it only two days earlier it was as interesting as the first time I ascended it.
I did my best guiding approach and provided commentary on the route we were taking and spouted entertaining anecdotes to Sue. Or something like that anyway. Before long we were at Scales Tarn and sue had her first view of Sharp Edge. She expressed some concern over the apparent steepness of the last section and the narrowness of the first.
However, being intrepid mountaineers, we overcame these momentary wobbles and got stuck into the ridge. To paraphrase William Murry in Undiscovered Scotland (The book is in the van and I am not, hence the paraphrase) "You can climbing the same mountain a thousand times and each time will be different" This is how I felt about Sharp Edge.
Despite having been up it only two days earlier it was as interesting as the first time I ascended it.
Sue on one of the shaper sections
This time was made particularly interesting by an elderly chap who had brought a very lively dog up the ridge (his tail can be seen above). There were some moments when my heart was in my mouth as the gent lobbed his dog up steeper sections and looked in serious peril of falling off backwards with the effort.
Fortunately, however, both the dog and the chap arrived at the top of the ridge with only a cut leg to show for their difficulty. Although the Gent did say that noting on earth would convince him to repeat the ridge.
Fortunately, however, both the dog and the chap arrived at the top of the ridge with only a cut leg to show for their difficulty. Although the Gent did say that noting on earth would convince him to repeat the ridge.
Sue pensively considers an awkward down step
We made it to the top of the ridge with little drama. Then nipped across to the summit before getting out of the wind to eat lunch. After this it was time to head down Halls Fell.
Halls Fell is a fun little decent route, which can be exposed as you like. This time the new interest was wondering how a group of Pensioners (Sues client group) would cope ascending it. We decided that all the more exposed sections could easily be bypassed and that it would prove an appropriate challenge.
We ended up back on the road for a long slog back to Scales. Next time we will leave a car at either end. Once back in Scales I had to jump in the van and head back south for a quick change and repack for work.
Halls Fell is a fun little decent route, which can be exposed as you like. This time the new interest was wondering how a group of Pensioners (Sues client group) would cope ascending it. We decided that all the more exposed sections could easily be bypassed and that it would prove an appropriate challenge.
We ended up back on the road for a long slog back to Scales. Next time we will leave a car at either end. Once back in Scales I had to jump in the van and head back south for a quick change and repack for work.
Sue, looking much happier now she has something to hold on to. Sharp Edge in the background.
Rote finding up the last section
Poking my head over the last bit of scrambling before the end of the ridge.