Hiking in the Lake District

Alas! Seemingly all the big things that happen in my life seem to get immortalised in articles instead of blog posts! (Just sent article on Lake District holiday to editor). Luckily, I had loads left to say about the rolling green mountains and shimmering lakes that just wouldn't squeeze into the mean 600 words, so can put some photographs and writing here too. Yay! Am trying to avoid overlap, so for full story people might have to wait until August when article goes on t'internet.

(Wastwater Youth Hostel)(Both: Trees by Wastwater Lake) We set off all eager from the youth hostel at Wastwater Lake on the first day. Our boots were covered in only a light film of dust, from easy strolls around the Peak District at home. We had yet to experience the soggy and harsh District de la Lakes where climbing 600m is a "day of rest". Or I least I hadn't - my dad and brother who accompanied me had already done a similar 'manly' post-GSCE holiday 2 years before. (Trees, brother and dad by Wastwater Lake)(The sunset on the hills surrounding Black Sail Hostel and stone corner of hostel)(Sunset)
The first day was the most difficult. Having decided that since Sca Fell (964m) and Scafell Pike (highest point in England at 978m) were seperated by a mere 14m it would be a positive breeze to tick both boxes in the same day, as well as face a difficult walk from Wastwater to the small Black Sail youth hostel. Shockingly, this place has no road access, plugs, proper plumbing, and sleeps only 16 people! Sca Fell is very difficult. The scree cloaking the steep slopes means each step slips a little, damaging your muscles and your morale! But all you can do is just keep marching along, focusing on the top and the views that await. What we forgot, of course, was the fact that these mountains are seperated by a whopping great ravine, so you have to undo all that sweating and aching on the way up, skid down the slope and walk all the way back up again to do both.

(The view from Scafell Pike)

(My rucksack and boots)

Nearly all my photographs from the 4 days are of views - nowhere near as interesting as the colourful foreign land of Barcelona. But there is a lot of beauty in the lakes and hills, particularly in the sun. It's just when the notorious mountain mists come down and blur it all that you're left wondering whether that bit of rocky crag with a grassy hill in the background is Kirk Fell, or Green Gables, or Pillar, or Haystacks...(On the way up Sca Fell)

(Both: cute sheep at the top of Pillar, who investigated our cheese and onion crisps)

We had all the cool equipment - and this is an area I really enjoy. When you're a "serious hiker" (which I now feel more than qualified to flatter myself with, particularly after the 12 hour Sca Fell/Scafell Pike exhausting disaster of the first day) you look the part. You have beautiful walking boots and tanned skin and midge bites. In your 35l rucksack you have waterproof over-trousers and a cagoule which you are (of course) incredibly practised at ripping out and wriggling into, the second a water drop or a white swirl of mist touch your sunburnt nose. And when at the youth hostel and enjoying talking to all the friendly people there, you can proudly state that you are going to walk up Helvellyn (950m) later in the week and listen to all the interesting stories of the hills they have climbed. You can nod enthusiatsically as they talk of Scafell Pike and fabulous scenic views!(A pool/stream to cool our aching feet in at Black Sail at the end of the day) (Both: Sheep at the front door of Black Sail)

Helvellyn was not very fun to climb actually. The classic way of doing it is to go up Striding Edge (the rocky ridge leading up one side of the mountain) then to go down Swirrel Edge (similar ridge on opposite side). Unfortunately, it is nothing like steady plodding becuase to navigate the ridge one has to clamber all over dangerous-looking crags and things. When we reached the top we enjoyed the great view. Helvellyn surrounds a deep blue lake at the bottom called Red Tarn. Then the mist came down and we had the fun game of who can whip out and don their waterproof gear first. (My beautiful wonderful boot)(My brother and I at the top of Helvellyn)

(Striding Edge)

It was a beautiful and challenging adventure, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.