BOOTboys

BB0928 : An Ard Day's Hike

Thursday 17th September 2009

It has been an Ard day’s hike, to misquote the song, and we have been walking like dogs. Joyfully and responsibly it should be said, not like the one we saw chasing sheep.

The "Ard" was Ard Crag; just the middle section of a three range assault on some outstanding (in both sense of the word) Wainwrights in the North Western fells.

Taking advantage of this fine run of weather, Bryan, Stan and I set off early for the Newlands Valley and found the last off-road parking place at Chapel Bridge, near to a glorious morning view of Hidscarth and Robinson.

Our first objective was Causey Pike.

Stan has been berating me for years for not having included this on BB0613 but we had had enough by then. As it happens, that was a good thing as it triggered this wonderful walk.

Hindscarth and Robinson

A prominent Causey Pike and a peeping Ard Crag to the left

We tackled Causey Pike by the nose which meant, after a bit of road work, a long and steep start to the day up Ellas Crag and Rowling End, a more gentle stretch along Sleet Hause before reverting to steep as we made our way upto the final seemingly impenetrable buttress looming over us. Inevitably there was a way up, via a long but not difficult gully before emerging at the Pike’s summit.

Causey Pike summit in front, Ard Crag central, Robinson to the left, Hindscarth extreme left

Scar Craggs, the next Wainwright, was, in comparison a doddle of a ridge walk.

Looking from Scar Crag to Sail

Looking back from Scar Crag to Causey Pike, Skiddaw in background

We dropped down to the col before Sail and then down to the valley bottom in order to tackle the next range- Ard Crags.

Having dropped down from Scar Craggs

Naturally, we chose the direttissimo route up the hill which, although steep, proved easier than I expected.

Knott Rigg ahead, Robinson looming to the left

Another ridge walk led us to Knott Rigg before another descent to a valley, this time at Newlands Hause.

Bryan checks unfamiliar peaks

Newlands Hause, the Robinson path behind

The mass of Robinson was looming over us and I confess I was not looking forward to the climb.

Looking down Keskadale from Buttermere Moss

It proved steep but easy up to Buttermere Moss where the ground was very, very wet and as we were all in running shoes rather than boots, so did our feet! However they soon dried out on the final climb to the Robinson summit.

Three lake panavista from Robinson- Buttermere, Crummockwater and Loweswater

Comitibus, Robinson

After lunch overlooking Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater (and getting chilled because the sun had gone whilst there was a cool north wind) we contemplated returning via Hindscarth.

However, once we were satisfied that it was not needed (having been ticked off on BB0620) common sense prevailed and we returned by the long and, at times, challenging ridge toward Newlands. The sun had returned and the views were magnificent.

The way back off Robinson

The final descent was a gallop down short green grass from High Snab Bank to a pleasant valley trail. Just before the car, we discovered Newlands Church, another lake district miniature gem.

Looking back to Robinson

Newlands Church

There was a fine afternoon view of Causey Pike and Ard Crag

Newlands Church, left, Ard Crag and Causey Pike

Was it really a hard days hike? Certainly there had been a lot of hard climbing, our biggest single day’s vertical achievement so far this year, but well worth the effort for the views.

Or to put it another way:

It’s been an Ard day’s hike
and I’ve been walking like a dog.

It’s been an Ard day’s hike
I should be sleeping like a log

But when I get home, for you
there is one thing I must do-
that’s to finish this BOOTboys blog!

Don, 17th September 2009

If you want to comment on this report, click on .

STATISTICS

BB0928	Thursday 17th September
Distance:	10.1 miles
Height climbed:	3,952 feet
Wainwrights:	Causey Pike, Scar Crags, Ard Crags Knott Rigg, Robinson
Other Key Features:	Newlands
Comitibus:	Bryan, Don, Stan

If you have Memory Map on your computer, you can follow our route in detail by downloading BB0928.

Steve G advises: "For those who like to look at your meanderings but use Tracklogs or other software then your logs can be converted using the freeware utility GPS Babel."

For the latest totals of the mileages, heights and Lakeland Fells Books Wainwrights see: Wainwrights.

If anyone wants to claim other peaks, please let me know and I will submit them to the adjudication committee!

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BOOT boys

This page describes an 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, and certainly not from any skin head associations or other
type of social group,
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!

If you want to contact us, click on

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2009 Outings

BB0901 : A Gordon Day Out
Thursday 8th January
BB0902 : Thank You,
Aunty Ethel!
Wednesday 14th January
BB0903 : A Wicked Hike???
Wednesday 21st January
BB0904 : Take a Mug With You
Sunday 25th January
BB0905 : Down in the Forest
Thursday 29th January
BB0906 : Not How But Where?
Thursday 5th February
BB0907 : Binsey Can Wait
(but Uncle Monty Can Not)
Thursday 12th February
BB0908 : Badgers on the Line
Thursday 5th March
BB0909 : It's not a W!
Thursday 12th March
BB0910 : Up on the Roof
Thursday 26th March
BB0911 : Not the Blisco Dashers
Thursday 2nd April
BB0912 : John's Comeback
Monday 6th April
BB0913 : Two Churches, a Pulpit and a Cherry Picker
Thursday, 23rd April
BB0914 : Companions of the BOOT
Thursday 30th April
BB0915 : The Gale Force Choice
Thursday 7th May
BB0916 : The Comeback Continues
Thursday 21st May
BB0917 : BOOTboys Encore !
28th May - 2nd June
BB0918 : Hello Dollywagon
Thursday 11th June
BB0919 : Has Anyone Seen Lily?
Thursday 18th June
BB0920 : Ancient Feet on the Greenburn Horseshoe
Thursday 25th June
BB0921 : The Tebay Fell Race Walk
Thursday 2nd July
BB0922 : For England and St George
Thursday 9th July
BB0923 : The Coniston Outliers
Friday 31st July
BB0924 : Little To Be Said In Favour?
Thursday 6th August
BB0925 : The Third Night of the Rescue
Thursday 13th August
BB0926 : Long Wet Windy Monty Bothy Fun?
Thursday 20th August
BB0927 : Dear Mrs Scroggins
Friday 11th September
BB0928 : An Ard Day's Hike
Thursday 17th September
BB0929 : A Canter of Convalescents?
Thursday 24th September
BB0930 : BOOTboys International Autumnal Expedition
Wednesday 23rd to
Sunday 27th September
BB0931 : A Bit of an Adventure
Thursday 1st October
BB0932 : Paths of Glory?
Thursday 8th October
BB0933 : When Yorkshire Was Welsh
Wednesday 14th October
BB0934 : Unlocking the Whinlatters
Thursday 22nd October
BB0935 : A Tale of Crinkley Bottoms
Thursday 5th November
BB0936 : Aye Up What?
Thursday 12th November
BB0937 : Where Eagles Wade
Tuesday 17th November
BB0938 : After the Floods
Thursday 26th November
BB0939 : The Mystery of the Missing Glove
Thursday 10th December
BB0940 : A Too Short Walk
Thursday 17th December
BB0941 : One Hundred and Onesfell
Tuesday 29th December

BH0901 : Back to the Beginning
Thursday 13th August
BSKIB09 : BOOTskiboys in Saalbach
14th - 21st March
BB09XX : Los Chicos y las Chicas de la Bota
11th - 14th May
BB09Bav01 : Peaked Too Soon
1st September

Click on the photos for an enlargement or related large picture.

Wainwrights

To download a log of which Wainwrights have been done by which BOOTboy in the "modern" era, i.e. since the advent of BOOTboys click on Wainwrights.

If anyone wants to claim other peaks, please let me know and I will submit them to the adjudication committee!

BOOT boys