BB0719 Mad Dogs and Easedale Tarn, Codale and Tarn Crag

Wednesday 4th July 2007

"Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the Pouring Rain!"  

At least that was Tony’s verdict on the day.  Not having been out for several weeks, he wanted a gentle walk and given the poor forecast an easy stroll from Grasmere along a rather full Sour Milk Gill up to Easedale Tarn seemed to fit the bill.

Having reached the tarn, rather wet but otherwise without incident, we had a coffee stop whilst we pondered what to do next.  An attempt to cross the top of the beck had to be abandoned when Bryan almost imitated Stan’s dunking of last week.  More deliberations and then a decision.  This had been a week in which we had each had a glimpse of mortality.  Tony missed last week’s walk due to the funeral of his 42 year old hairy biker friend (known as Hairy) and managed to get his photo in the paper as proof. For the evidence, and to see the most remarkably appropriate hearse, follow the link to the Westmorland Gazette.  Bryan, in his role of distributor of such news, had issued notice of the death of a former colleague, only 58.  And I had discovered through a Google search that I, or some unfortunate with identical name, was apparently buried at St Albans in April this year.  So, against that background, a “live life while ye may” attitude provoked an almost reckless demand from Tony that we press on to Codale Tarn and from there to Tarn Crag.

The route to Codale Tarn had a few interesting little scrambles- better going up than down in the wet.  We paused for lunch under a rowan tree for shelter near the tarn.  

Codale Tarn

From there it was an easy climb up the path to Tarn Crag where we could see Harrison Stickle appearing out of the clouds and we had a good view of much of last week's route BB0718.   We also has a peep over a side peak to renew acquaintance of Easedale Tarn from above.

I confess I was worried about the descent.  The grass and rocks were by now very wet and slippery and if we did not find a simple way down between the crags it could have been quite challenging.  In the event, the way down to Far Easedale Gill was simple, although at times we lost the path for a while.  

The view south-east from Tarn Crag

The track down the gill held happy memories for me as we passed the barn and field where I used to go to August school camp and a puzzle as to how, some years later, I had managed to drive my old Morris Minor all the way to the barn without seriously damaging its chassis.  Maybe the track has seriously eroded, as now I would struggle to get my Forrester anywhere near!

The only other thing of substance to report is the excellent ice cream to which Tony treated us on returning to Grasmere.

Don,  4th July 2007

Distance: 7.6 Miles (Anquet / Harveys), 8.75 on Bryan's GPS.

Height climbed: 2,129 feet (Anquet / Harveys)

Wainwrights:  Tarn Crag

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This page describes a 2007 adventure of BOOTboys, a loose group of friends of mature years who enjoy defying the aging process by getting out into the hills as often as possible!

As most live in South Lakeland, it is no surprise that our focus is on the Lakeland fells and the Yorkshire Dales.

As for the name, BOOTboys, it does not primarily derive from an item of footwear but is in memory of Big Josie, the erstwhile landlady of the erstwhile Burnmoor Inn at Boot in Eskdale, who enlivened Saint Patrick's Day 1973 and other odd evenings many years ago!

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