8.5.2006: Great Gable and Rannerdale Bluebells
Today is my last day in Lakeland. At 10 a.m., Roger and me meet Stephen Siddall on Honister Pass to walk Great Gable. Once more the weather is sunny, but strong wind is forecast for the summits, at times even gale force.
Yewcrag Quarries on the opposite side of Honister Pass
On the old dismantled tramway path ...
... heading for Dubs Quarry, ...
... from where we soon branch off for Moses trod, which leads us along the slopes of Grey Knotts and Brandreth to the northeastern escarpments of Great Gable.
Panorama, from left to right: a first glimpse of Great Gable, Kirk Fell, Pillar, Ennerdale, High Stile with Hay Stacks in front, the Buttermere valley with Mellbreak to its left, Grasmoor, Crag Hill, with Fleetwith Pike in front, Robinson and Hindscarth. Far right is Grey knotts. Click into the picture for a larger version.
The Buttermere Valley with Mellbreak to the left, Loweswater fells behind Crummock Water in the distance.
Ennerdale with the homonymeous lake and Crag Fell to its left
The huge crags of Great Gable now come into sight, Windy gap and Green Gable to its left.
Once more Ennerdale, with Pillar to the left and High Stile to the right.
The huge crages of Great Gable
Stephen and Roger with the dogs on Beck Head.
Kirl Fell on the opposite side of Beck Head
Wasdale with Illgill Head, Wastwater and the southern slopes of Yewbarrow.
Roger, Stephen and the dogs are sitting for a short rest.
I now expected a nice ascent to the summit, but Roger had a little surprise for us: he pursuaded us to take a little detour, along the western and southern slopes of Great Gable, called "Gable traverse". This path leads around the mountain and permits nice views especially to Wasdale, but to the steep and rocky southern escarpments as well.
Roger and the dogs, with the Scafells behind.
Once more Wasdale
Do they really sit down all?
At times, the path could not be found very easily; Roger just had a look up there, and returned.
Really steep slopes there ...
... and big crags, like this at Great Hell Gate screes
Wasdale and Wastwater
Come on now ...
Stephen examins the steepness of the route
Wasdale
Having climbed the screes, we now join the path coming up from Sty Head. The Lngadale Pike in the far distance ...
... and zoomed in.
Roger and his dogs on the summit of Great Gable
Stephen and Sam
Roger and me sitting neart the remembrance plate
Kirk Fell and Pillar from Great Gable summit
Haystacks with the Buttermere valley behind
The Great Gable remembrance plate
On the descent we now learn why this gap is called the "windy" one: this short ascent to Green Gable took us about half an hour, because every step was accompanied by a side step of one or two metres. At times we were crawling on all fours. I never have experienced a storm like this, the speed must have been much more than 100 km/h.
Styhead Tarn, a glimpse of Sprinkling Tarn and Great End with Bow Fell in behind. Far left in the distance the Langdale Pikes.
Windy Gap as seen from Green Gable
Big waves on Brandreth Tarn
Looking back to Great Gable, from near the summit of Grey Knotts.
Back at Honister Pass
On the drive back, we stopped just for short to have a visit to the Rannerdale Bluebells. Squart Beck.
The bluebells are not yet fully out, but beautiful anyway.
They grow out betwwen lots of bracken, wich is mostly brown and droughty from winter.
Gorse, with Mellbreak and Crummock water in the distance
The gorse gives beautiful colour contrrast to the blue of the bluebells. Whiteless Pike in the background.
Close up of a bluebell
Looking up Rannerdale
Grasmoor in behind
Once more Grasmoor
Looking out to Mellbreak
Grasmoor
Farewell to the lakes - a last reflection of sunlight in Crummock water, with Mellbreak behind.
9.5.2006: On the flight home
An unknown German town ...
interesting clouds
Home, sweet home: Large Styrian forests shortly before landing at Graz airport.