BB1437 : Getting High.  Twice!

Tuesday 15th October 2014

Two items today, both about getting high.  Let's kick off with Philip's trip to the Everest region of Nepal, you can't get much higher than that.

This is not a BOOTboys adventure, nor is it a jolly.  It has a much more serious intent.  
Here is what Philip has to say about Khiraule: The Tale and the Trail.
 

Khiraule: The Tale and the Trail

The trek will be led by Lhakpa Sherpa, a native of Khiraule, who is now resident for part of each year, with his wife Pat, in the village of Barbon close to Kendal.

I am happy to support their appeal because, like all funds raised by Rotary, they will be put to good use and spent entirely for the purpose which they have been raised.

I would like to express my gratitude in advance to everyone who sponsors my trek to Khiraule. I intend to send a report to all of them following my return from Nepal at the end of November.

Philip, 15th October 2014

To find out more about Philip's expedition, click on:

Khiraule: The Tale and the Trail

where you will find two pages.  One tells you more about the Tale of the village school and also about the floods. The other describes Philip's Trail and will be updated regularly so you can follow his progress.

If you would like to support Philip in raising funds for Khiraule, click on MyDonation.

Now we move on to the second tale of getting high.  Terry explains:

The Famous Five Get High

OK maybe the five are not that famous, however Bryan, John, Martin, James and Terry set off from Ambleside to climb High Pike, so not the ‘high’ you were thinking of!

Walking through the town at 10:15 a.m. and without the benefit of a Linthwaite sausage, the first test was to resist the temptation of breakfast fare at the various cafes, then turn off the main street and up Nook lane.

Once again the weather was dry for the start of a BB outing, with a reasonable chance that waterproofs would not be needed. Climbing out of the town the first landmark we encountered was a Thirlmere Aqueduct Gate; noteworthy since last Sunday, 12th October, was the 120 year anniversary of the opening of the 95 mile aqueduct.

We pondered the remarkable achievement of Victorian engineering that created the Manchester water supply entirely fed by gravity and flowing at 2 to 3 miles per hour. How many computers and consultants would it take to replicate that today ? ! 

Soon after, Bryan suggested that it might be a good time "to take off a layer" since it was going to be uphill. Psychologically it was good that he didn’t say when the uphill would end, which was over two hours later.

As usual the conversation covered a wide range of topics; however when discussing the current Ebola crisis, the realisation that John had spent a few days in Madrid only a couple of weeks previously, ensured that there would be no further bodily contact with him (as in shaking hands!).

The route up to Low Pike was rewarded with fine views looking back over the head of Windermere to the left and Loughrigg and Rydal Water to the right.

Although quite still at the start of the walk, the higher the ground the windier it got and by the time High Pike was reached it needed a dry stone wall to shelter from a very stiff and cool wind. Unanimously agreed, at 1:15 p.m. it was time for lunch and also adding a few layers to keep warm.

High Pike is sometimes referred to as Scandale Fell, although this name only applies to the high ground at the head of Scandale and is 2,152ft. / 656m..

A relatively level path lead to the next landmark, which was the cairn at High Bakestones with good views over to Scandale Tarn and Brotherswater beyond.

Red Screes and Scandale from near the Pass

Decision time: should we go on to Red Screes or start the descent back into Ambleside? Looking to the northern skies the weather threatened to deteriorate, so an hours walk down to the nearest inn seemed the most prudent course of action.

It was surprising how the wind abated the lower we descended and after passing Sweden Bridge we arrived to a mild afternoon in Ambleside and a very welcome refreshment at the Golden Rule.

Many thanks to Bryan for a well lead and well paced walk.

Terry, Tuesday 15th October 2014

For more about the Thirlmere Aqueduct see

Navvies and the local community :  The Thirlmere Aqueduct, 1888-1893

Behind the News : Thirlmere Aqueduct's 120th anniversary by Westmorland Gazette

The Thirlmere Way : A long distance walk by Tim Cappelli

Up The Pipeline : Don & pals' report on following the pipeline to the source

Finally, a further reminder that if you would like to support Philip in raising funds for Khiraule, click on MyDonation.

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1437 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - see: Which Wainwright When?

For the totals of the mileages and heights (ditto) see: BB Log.

Photos have been gleaned from many sources although mostly from me!
Likewise written comment.  
Unless stated otherwise, please feel free to download the material if you wish.
A reference back to this website would be appreciated.
If I have failed to acknowledge properly the source or infringed copyright, then I apologise.
. Please let me know and I will do my best to put things right.

 E-mail addresses on this web site are protected by

 Spam Trawlers will be further frustrated by
 Spam Blocker: help fight spam e-mail!.

BOOT boys  

If you want to join
The
Inter-continental
Fan Club
let us know and
you will receive
automatic notification
of new BOOTboys reports.

Click on
to contact us.

For the Index pages
of our various outings
click on the relevant
link below:

Click on the photos
for an enlargement
or related large picture