It
was intended to be a gentle day. Stan and Pete
were both recovering from nasty infections, Tony was
still recovering from Christmas whilst I was recovering
from a lengthy outing with Margaret yesterday (CCP09).
Bryan
opted out, explaining that he was still recovering from
miles walked in Rome and had to go away again soon.
However, given that it was such a spectacular
day, that there is still snow on the high hills and
he was feeling so good after the 24 mile BB1005,
we have a sneaky suspicion that he might have thought
this too tame and headed off into the high and white
yonder for greater excitement!
There's
still snow on Helvellyn and Fairfield
The
day began with the “guess which streets are closed
today?” game in Kendal and it took me two attempts
to find a way through to Stan’s house. It was
first time out this year for both Pete and Tony. We
did wonder if Tony had emigrated as he was last seen
walking out of the Riflemans after our Christmas party
with the remains of our kitty in his pocket. Bless
him, he had brought it with him and what a good job
he had. The car parking fee at Grasmere was a
usurious £6.50 for the day.
Helm
Crag to the left, Heron Pike to the right
Climbing
out of Grasmere provided fine views of Helm Crag and
over to the Helvellyn and Fairfield ranges.
Helvellyn
and Fairfield ranges
Our
first target was Lang How. I have only previously
approached this from the south, from which view it is
a fine little peak standing like a small Matterhorn
(see BB0818
and BB0906).
Today we approached it as if we were gong to Silver
How but branched right to take it directly from the
north-east. This makes if feel a much larger although
less pointed hill.
We
then meandered along in the general direction of Blea
Rigg until a little voice cried “It’s way past my lunchtime”.
I checked my watch. Tony was right. It
was all of sixty seconds past noon.
Wetherlam,
Crinkles and Langdales
We
looked for somewhere to stop, somewhere with a view,
in the sun but out of the cold northerly wind. We
found a superb suntrap with a vista of Windermere
in the distance and overlooking the range from Wetherlam
round to the Langdale Pikes. It was as good a
lunching spot as we have had for many an outing.
A
philosophical debate ensued. Stan (or was it Pete?)
put forward the argument that you are only ever as happy
as your least happy child. Tony, however, gave
us reasons to be cheerful. He
told us about a telephone call that he received. Believe
this if you will. An eighteen year old girl phoned
him to ask for the use of his body on six occasions.
No, she wasn’t eastern European; she was from
Kendal College and she was looking for six volunteers
for six sessions of aromatherapy and reflexology as
part of her course. Guess where he is going tomorrow!
Reasons to be cheerful- one.
Harrison
Stickle, Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn
After
lunch, we continued along the Rigg until
Stickle Tarn came into view.
We
had pondered carrying on up to Sergeant
Man but didn’t want Tony to be too tired
to make his appointment.
Instead,
we pioneered a route to the main path that
drops down to Easedale Tarn.
There
was quite a lot of ice about making progress
tricky at times but not quite bad enough
to warrant putting on the crampons.
Codale
tarn left, Easedale Tarn right
Beyond
the Tarn we came across a group of youths and teachers
(more of the latter than the former) placing square
grills on the ground and counting the different types
of plants to be found.
Stickle
Tarn with BOOTboy shadows!
Not
many plants here!
Easedale
Tarn
Back
down in the valley Tony had two more reasons to be cheerful.
Firstly
we spotted a King Edward VII letter box. Seemingly
they are very rare so he had his photo taken with it.
Reasons to be cheerful- two.
ER
VII Post Box
BSA
Bantam
Next,
we heard this tremendous noise. I thought it was
yet another jet plane flying over but all I could see
moving was an old but renovated BSA Bantam. It
came to a halt in a yard so Tony engaged the owner in
excited biker talk for several minutes. Reasons to be
cheerful- three.
There
is little else to report other than Stan admonished
me for talking the road route back to the car rather
than the woods. But it’s shorter!
It
had been the most superb day weather-wise, giving us
all reasons to be cheerful. By the end, however,
we were all feeling a little jaded and maybe in need
of some aromatherapy and reflexology.
Tony,
have a word with your young friend, tell her you have
three more volunteers for her and see if she can give
us all even more reasons to be cheerful!
If
you have Memory Map on your computer, you can follow
our route in detail by downloading BB1006.
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 utilityGPS 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!
E-mail addresses on this web site are protected
by
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 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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