During 3 days fell running in the Lake District, we were treated to fantastic weather with heavy frost. To ensure underfoot conditions were passable without requiring full winter equipment, our route stayed predominantly below 2000ft. As such, we didn't come across any snow, although many rivers were still deeply frozen and waterfalls were clad with solid ice.
Views of Skiddaw and Blencathra await:
Day 1Starting in Grasmere, our route took us up onto Helm Crag (405m). After a steep climb we were richly rewarded with great views from the large craggy rocks littering the summit ridge. The Howitzer is the largest of these rocks, named according to it's shapes resemblance to that of the large military gun. The other perhaps less obviously is named the The Old Woman Playing the Organ.
Me on the Old Woman Playing the Organ.
From Helm Crag we ran over the ridge passing Gibson Knott and the Tarn at Brownrigg Moss. From here we followed the very indistinct bridleway up to Greenup Edge. As this last section was in the large shadow High Raise, the ground hadn't seen sunlight since late October of the previous year. As such we came across some fantastic ice features including piprakes:
Piprakes are tiny columns of ice, typically up to 4cm long. As rocks and bare earth loose heat much quicker than the surrounding vegetation covered ground, ice columns form underneath the rocks. As they cannot grow downwards into the solid ground, they lift the rocks out of the ground. Eventually rocks can be unearthed and can even tumble down slopes. This action can lift rocks weighing up to 5kg.The views from Greenup Edge were extensive, from here we contoured beneath Long Crag and ran over the ridge to Sergeants Crag (571m) and Eagle Crag (520m).
The View from Greenup Edge
After melting ice for dinner on Eagle Crag we descended on the Wainwright path to the confluence of the Langstrath Beck and Greenup Gill, both were largely frozen over. After a short run along the Cumbrian Way, we picked up the key for the Dinah Hoggus Camping Barn in Rosthwaite were we stayed for the night.
The Frozen Greenup Gill
Overnight conditions of -5 degrees meant the camping barn was a little chilly so it was good to get a hot meal in the Riverside Bar in preparation. Incidentally, this is the location of the Borrowdale Fell Race and the winners times were on the wall from the last 30 years.
Day 2Very chilly start. Out running for 8:00 onto a tough ascent up Tongue Gill. On the ascent we saw the remains of a slate mine, indeed many of the mining tunnels were still accessible. From the top of Tongue Gill we ascended to the large summit cairn of High Spy (653m). From here there were fantastic views over Skiddaw and Blencathra:
Skiddaw:
Blencathra with it's many ridges:
From High Spy, we ran north over Narrow Moor. As we closed in on Catbells (a tourist honeypot), the number of tourist increased dramatically and our seemingly under dressed selves got some pretty weird looks. From this section, the view of Derwent Water was fantastic (Blencathra beyond):
After this ridge traverse we were very warm and jumping off the pier into the partially frozen Derwent Water seemed like a good idea. The jump in was very fun and was a great experience, but even colder than the alpine lakes of Switzerland. We then ran around the Northern shores of Derwent Water to Keswick YHA.
After checking into the Youth Hostel we went to the CAMRAs best pub in the West Lake District, the Dog and Gun Inn. Then later in the evening, to the Irish Pub for the Football.
Day 3The weather was nothing like the previous 2 sunny days. It was very overcast and much colder. After a bit of urban navigation we found the path up to Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell.
The colder weather meant less stopping for pictures but we did manage to catch this herd of deer on Armbooth Fell:
After running beneath the crags above Launchy Gill, we located the bridleway and dropped down to Harrop Tarn.
Close to the end at a frozen Harrop Tarn:
Funnily enough, having run around 27 miles at altitudes up to around 2000ft, the worst ice we found was at about 300ft from sea level next to the road. Upon reaching the car park at the Southern end of Thirlmere, I was ready for home but, I've made my mind up that it won't be long before I go running in the Lakes again.
Other Pictures:
