The following posts on this website are to remind us of the magnificence of the Lakes – this will be here for people to enjoy once these challenging times are over.
A month ago – it seems an age – we had what has proved to be the last signifcant snow fall on the high peaks of the Lakes. This photo of Blencathra is taken from the road up from Ullswater leading to the hamlet of Troutbeck on the A66.
The well known arrete of Sharp edge leading up to Foule Crag is on the right with the ridges on the southern flank of the fell also clearly shown.
There is no doubt that Wainwright liked Blencathra – he describes it as ” a mountaineer’s mountain”. There are a number of routes to the summit at 2847 feet. The outer flanks of the fell are rounded and there are routes to the summit over Blease Fell and Scales Fell. More interesting routes follow the ridges on the southern flank of the fell – Gategill Fell, Hall’s Fell and Doddick Fell. There is also a route via the relatively unfrequented Bannerdale Crags above Mungrisdale.
However the most famous route – that via Sharp Edge – described by Wainwright as “a rising crest of naked rock” is not for the faint-hearted. The route claims the lives of several walkers each year – especially in wintertime. It is not to be underestimated!
Blencathra is deservedly one of Wainwright’s top six fells.
