BB1038 : A Return To Sanity?

Thursday 14th October 2010

A Return To Sanity was what Tony requested after the recent relentless pursuits of Wainwrights and the thought motivated other old friends to join us.  Tony did then rather undermine his request by reminding me the he still had quite a few of his own to complete.  However, they are all at the other side of the Lake District and time constraints were against us at both ends, what with Pete travelling up from Cheshire, Philip's school run and Stan having evening commitments.  Consequently, I decided to see which of the local Wainwrights had been least visited and come up with the surprising answer of Angletarn Pikes.  Surprising, as I have been by Angle Tarn itself (the one near Patterdale) several times but only once have I detoured to visit the Pike. To my mind, this fitted ideally with the Return to Sanity concept as it would be a rather gentler walk than some of recent times plus Angle Tarn is one of my favourite places and the scene of my all time favourite Lake District photograph, taken as the ice was cracking on BB0605.

Sanity, i.e. mine, was very much in question this morning, however, as I prepared for the day.  Firstly, when making the coffee for my flask, I discovered on opening the microwave door that I had heated the bottle of milk that should have been put back in the fridge- the mug of milk that should have had the treatement still stood on the ktichen worksurface.  Then, when I printed off the maps of the intended route, I forgot that the printer was loaded with photographic paper, so if anyone wants high quality 4" x 6" souvenir pictures of the OS map, let me know.  

Eventually, I got myself sorted out and picked up the team to take them to Hartsop.  To my surpirse, the parking area was almost full- the hunt was on the fells.  We could hear the hounds in the distance throughout the day but saw no more than the odd dog.

It was damp in the air when we started out and it looked as if we would be heading into the cloud.  But, as we climbed up past Hayewswater, it began to lift and by the time we reached the top of Rest Dodd it was a beautifully atmospheric day.

Grey Crag and Threshwaite Cove

Hayeswater from the dam

Hayeswater from halfway up Rest Dodd

Panorama south-west from Rest Dodd

Panorama north from Rest Dodd

It was starting to grey over when we stopped for lunch at Brock Crags.  Soon a strong wind arose and it became quite chilly.

Grey Crags and Hayeswater from near Brock Crags

Angle Tarn from Brock Crags

Angle Tarn with Helvellyn range bhind

After passing round the delightful Angle Tarn, we took in Angletarn Pikes then made our way back to Hartsop.

Brothers Water to Ullswater from Angletarn Pikes

Starling Dodd and Brothers Water from just above Hartsop

On previous occasions we have had a bit of a problem on this path and taken too low a route in one section, leading to a nasty little climb to rectify the error. So when we came to what I thought was the choice point, I led the party up the high road- a punishingly viscious climb for that time of day- only for Stan to point out that we had come too far up and corrective action downwards was needed to regain the proper path.

Afternote:  In the Afternote to BB1037 about The Mountain Rescue Stretcher Box, I mentioned that Guy was rapily approaching the completion of his Wainwrights.  I am pleased to report tht he finished them off on Monday.  He commented:

Somewhat amazingly, on a good sunny day, I was, for a while, the only person at the top of Scafell Pike.  Which was a bit unreal considering it is often quite quite crowded there!

I did wonder how far down I would have to go to be able to then return to the top and claim it as the first of the next 214!

I say it was a good sunny day, and it was on the tops.  But when I drove over to Little Langdale in clear blue skies, there was an avalanche of cloud spilling over the top of Wrynose pass.  West of the Three Shire Stone, it was thick cloud right down to sea level.  I set off walking from Cockley Beck in poor visibility and had to walk on compass bearings cross country to find my way to Slight Side. It was only in the last 100 feet or so that I suddenly broke through into bright sunshine with the cloud tops spread out like a duvet all around with just the peaks poking through.  Very spectacular

STATISTICS:

Click on the map for an enlargement.

If you have Memory Map on your computer, you can follow the route in detail by downloading BB1038

To see which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing see
Which Wainwright When?

For the latest totals of the mileages and heights see: BB Log.

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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 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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Archive

2010 Outings

BB1001 :
The Most Perfect
 Winter Day
Thursday 7th January

BB1002 :
Snowcumabulating
 Potter Fell
Thursday 14th January

BB1003 :
A Snowy Equipment Test
Thursday 21st January

BB1004 :
Leave It To The Professionals
Thursday 28th January

BB1005 :
That's A Lyth Record
Sunday 31st January 

BB1006 :
Reasons To Be Cheerful
One, Two, Three
Thursday 11th February

BB1007 :
Can You See Clearly Now?
Thursday 18th February

BB1008 :
In Memory Of
Thomas Williamson
Thursday 25th February

BB1009 :
Almost a Mountaineer!
Wednessday 3rd March

BB1010 :
The Beginning Of The End
Thursday 11th March

BB1011 :
The Free Men on Tuesday
Tuesday 16th March

BB1012 :
We'll Get Them In Singles,
Stanley
Thursday 25th March

BB1013 :
The Fools on the Hill
Thursday 1st April

BB1014 :
The Windmills on the Moor
Wednesday 7th April

BB1015 :
By Lake, Ridge and Wainwright
Sunday 11th April

BB1016 :
The Ten Lake Tour (+5Ws)
Thursday 15th April

BB1017 :
The BessyBOOTboys
Thursday 22nd April

BB1018 :
The Kentmere Challenge
Saturday 24th April 

BB1019 :
Winter in Springtime
Thursday 14th May

BB1020 :
Red Screes and Sausages
Thursday 20th May

BB1021 :
The Mile High Club
Thursday 27th May

BB1022 :
What A Difference A Day Makes
Thursday 3rd June

BB1023 :
Something Brutal
 Thursday 10th June

BB1024 :
Rendezvous on Haycock
Thursday 17th June

BB1025 :
The Men of Gragareth
Thursday 24th June

BB1026 :
The Smardale Round
Thursday 1st July

BB1027 :
Don't Shun The Shunner!
Thursday 8th July

BB1028 :
All Around the Edge
Thursday 29th July

BB1029 :
The Return of Uncle Jamie
Thursday 5th August

BB1030 :
The Examination Results
Thursday 12h August

BB1031 :
Nick by Haggis
Thursday 19th August

BB1032 :
And Then There Were Two
Thursday 26th August

BB1033 :
A Surplus of Sheepfolds
Thursday 2nd September

BB1034 :
A Good One For Tony
Thursday 23rd September

BB1035 :
The Wainwright Triathlon
Tuesday 21st - Thursday 23rd
September

BB1036 :
The Nine Standards
or The Battle Of Birkett Hills
Thursday 30th September

BB1037 :
This Is The Way
The Wainwrights End
Thursday 7th October

BB1038 :
A Return To Sanity?
Thursday 14th October 

BB1039 :
A Succession of Scars
Thursday 21st October

BB1040 :
Three Old Men Of Lochnagar
Monday 25th - Friday 29th October

BSB2010 :
BOOTSKIboys in Zillertal
Saturday 30th January
to Saturday 6th February

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

Wainwrights

To see which Wainwright top was visited on which
BB outing see Which Wainwright When?.

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

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