I had an opportunity to get away for a backpack and went to my favourite place to walk, the Lake District, and hopefully take some photos.
It was hot in Kewick. I lingered in the coffee shop drinking coffee. I like sunshine but not the full heat of the midday sun. I waited for a while then got my pack and set of in search of a breeze and views. The path up to Walla Crag went through a canopy of trees and the heat in the wood was unbearable. I climbed higher and by Walla Crag looked to the first hill of the day - Bleaberry Fell. I had decided to walk the ridge flanked by Borowdale right down to the Langdale Pikes and wildcamp along the way.
The tops where soon reached, and the ridge walk was a delight. The views all around are stunning and the crowds absent. It is a place to find a bit of solitude and peace up there. High Seat, High Tove all offered great views.
I found myself alone and went down to camp near Blea Tarn. I made camp enjoying the afternoon and waited for the sunset. The location is surrounded by wonderful views and I have never seen anyone wildcamp by the tarn on past visits or now?
The dawn brought poor visibility and the Barometer on my watch told of rain. I broke camp and got moving. The mountains had a greyed out look to them in the distance, and dark clouds foretold of the days weather to come.
Low Saddle, High saddle, Ullscarf and High Raise all were deserted and the ridge walk along here is superb. The view from High Raise is normally one of the best in the Lakes - but not today. I made for the Langdale Pikes and the rain came in. Despite this the hills looked amazing with their grey outlines.
I went up onto Harrison Stickle and meet the first people of the day. I was stunned to see one person just soaked to the bone up there wearing nothing more than a T-shirt and shorts with boots. I hate to think what would happen to him if he got stuck there for the night? I went round to Pike of Stickle and the rain came in heavy. I walked the path down to Martcrag Moor deciding to follow the Cumbria Way out to Rosthwaite.
Duke Of Edinburgh award scheme kids where making their way over Stake pass soaking wet and carrying what appeared to be rucksacks as large as them. We chatted briefly and I went down the path into Langstrath Beck. The rain did not let up as it turned the paths into streams. I passed more T-shirt wearing walkers soaked to the skin heading up. I moved on and near the road the rain let up a little. The village shop in Rosthwaite offered a good cold drink and then I went home.
31 comments:
nice
Is that a shires scarp tent? How did it manage?
Good stuff, Martin. Some good photos despite the poor weather. I'll be interested in your views on ths Scarp.
That sounds like a splendid couple of days, Martin. That ridge is a favourite of mine too as it is never crowded.
How did the natty little Scarp do?
Chris the Tent is solid and I have added a bit at the end about it.
Robin thanks and the photos are just snaps. I look at Striding Edge and think I need to go on a course to get better at photography,
Alan the ridge is just fantastic and as you know the crowds don't go there.
Scarp update:
Second time I used it. Last time in very strong winds in the Peak District reveled the the large flat sloping panels on top of the tent are subject to deforming in strong winds. I took the cross over poles this time and the wind was fresh. The tent is rock solid set up like this and the good points are:
1.Super fast pitch
2.Light
3.Loads of space in the inner tent
Great head room
4.Very stable with all the poles used
Bad points:
1.Small porches
2.Guy line locking set up slips and you have to tie knots to stop them unlike a good LinLok
3.The flysheet needs to come down to the ground on the porches as it is too high
4.Each porch needs an adjuster strap to tighten it down.
5.The main pole should come with guy lines attached as standard.
I like the tent a lot. Just don't like the porch size and flysheet not coming all the way to the ground.
I think we all tend to be a bit self critical about our own photos. I'm only a snapper, but if you take enough, some come out well, that's the beauty of digital photography!
Thanks for the feed back on the Scarp. The gap around the flysheet is something that concerned me and was mentioned in the BPL review. With a few tweaks, it could be a great tent. If I want that kind of tent, I'm inclined towards the Soulo or possibly the Sololight.
Robin the Soulo is good and I have considered it. I am going to ask Henry if he could make a custom Scarp for me? I will let you know if he does. The other one you mention has a low head hight. Less than an Akto.
Yes, the Sololight does look a bit small. You need a bit of room in winter.
It seems that the Scarp is close to being a really good tent. He needs to sort out the venting as well, which was another BPL criticism.
The venting is not bad Robin. The top vents did let a drop or two in in the Peaks only to fall on the inner coursing no harm. The gap at the end is fine. The inner needs to be shortened a inch and half each end to allow better air flow maybe between outer and inner? and the flysheet needs to come down to the ground on the porch. A small gap under the ends helps air flow and add the top vent (Akto and Laser need them)and it does not suffer condensation like other tents I have used.
Laser Comp end venting: have you tried the mod that I used on my recent trip. Not perfect but definitely helps.
Not yet Robin but if Terra Nova think the Laser needs the vent system why do you need to have to mod your comp? - It should come as standard like the Laser. I will give it ago as I have other walks coming up and a weeks one still before the year is out.
PS other tents to consider:
Stevenson's' 2C and the new Voyager super light at 1.5 kg
Ruled out the Stephenson as it has no porch. Slightly put off the Voyager as M&G's had a pole bent in the high winds we had in the Carneddau, hence the interest in the Soulo.
Robin I like a porch but could live with out one for the strength of a 2C - but the pole bending on the Voyager bothers me. I had one years ago when they tipped the scales at 2.8kg and it was a rock. Got some old pictures of it I might dig out. I would not write the voyager off as it could have been a one of? Did the tent fail on the Challenge with all that bad weather? Also at 2kg for the Soulo you could get a Nallo with more room and still bomb proof and the same weight?. The Soulo does look good saying all that. Field and Trek at £419.00 by the way.
Great stuff, Martin. I also think Blea Tarn is a very attractive place, especially when seen from the ridge with Watendlath, Derwentwater, Bass lake and the sea all visible.
Karl hi and it is a fab spot. The ridge is a great walk any time and I must do it again one day. The Lakes can be not busy as well if people visit ridges like that.
lovely shots, i particularly like the hazy, rainy ones.
...now, i hope you're not criticizing those walkers for their 'lightweight' approach ;)
Good atmospheric photos from the mixed weather and another nice trip.
The Ullscarf ridge is most underrated, thanks largely to a famous miseryguts with a lack of vision: we've had some great days up there including a pitch on Low Saddle.
You may have been a little lucky with a deserted pitch near Blea Tarn. It is quite a large tarn and does attract campers, just not to the same extent as the others - we have twice seen organised groups of tents there, maybe DOE or army.
Robin, and others if you want a Hilleberg tent try Alpenstock excellent service and excellent prices.
Martin, were you using your Third Element in the rain or was it a Montane top?
Kate thanks and criticizing? never. I have never done that about tarps, TGO columns, and as PTC said socks as gloves is going too far :)
Geoff the famous miseryguts with a lack of vision? Bless him. He also lamented the Pennine Way which is an epic walk in my view. The ridge gets less traffic. Maybe lack of many paths and the wet bits help as well to keep the crowds away.
Nielsen Montane SuperFly as the paramo is tooooo hot in summer for me. I had a SuperFly on loan for over two years (called a favour) It was used on the 2006 & 2007 Challenge and many other walks. stunning jacket and I decided to get another one but it is all mine now. The pack was a Jam 2 and great.
Yeah the Superfly is a nice jacket, I have had Montane Air in Event for quite a while, don't use it much but it is a keeper for itsbreathability and weather protection.
Nielsen the hood on it is superb. Good stuff eVent :)
the Soulo is an absolute gem of a 4-season tent. It makes the Akto look like a wendy house. The tent is seriously solid. I only got rid of it recently because of 2 things: the weight (I am used to being spoilt by the Laser Comps weight) and the fact that I have been using the laser comp almost exclusively for 2 years now as my tent of choice.
Also, I asked about modding the Scarp fly a couple of months ago bit was told no they couldnt do it.....
good pictures on the walk btw.....
Dave that tent sounds perfect for winter, but a bit heavy. Good to see you are blogging again by the way. The Comp is going on my next trip. I told Terry over at LFTO it would be my tent of choice over the Scarp.
What a view to wake up to in the morning
Red it is a good spot to visit. Look it up - you won't be disappointed.
yeah Martin,
I am ashamed to say that my blogging has been seriously inadequate these past months. Usual excuses of work and family taking precedence plus good old fashioned laziness.
However, I am feeling invigorated and am looking forward to keeping my blog up to date and to try and do the things on it I always envisaged. Its good to see your blog doing well btw.
Dave
Dave enjoy the summer and I will look out for the tales on your blog.
Good stuff over at Dave's blog if anyone is looking for a good site to visit, go look it up.
Martin - dont be misled by Dave ;-)
He is both a charlatan and a wannabe.
Unfortunately he is also a friend.
I have just been reviewing your blog Martin so that I could pass it on to a friend for some advice, I then found your comments on my own blog that I havent looked at in an age. Thanks buddy.
Do drop me an email hmcoastguard @ yahoo dot com
Shamus good to see a comment from you and thanks. I will be sending an e-mail.
thanks for the comments Martin, much appreciated and yet so untrue. I need to keep my blog up to date but I am going to try this time!
Re Shamus (sigh). He is an annoyingly well read, knowledgeable and all-round bloke even if he has terrible taste in outdoors kit :)
Dave Shamus knows his stuff - so do you and I look forward to more on your blog. Happy walking :)
Post a Comment