BB2037 : Ernie and the Whispering Sands

Thursday 15th October 2020

Another two-parter this week.  The first report from me, the second from Mike B.

1.  A Present from Uncle Ernie

It was only when I opened the post that I had a Billy Bunter surprise and started to feel better.

The day started out well enough.  Driving up the Great Langdale valley in the glorious sunshine was a delight. The Old Dungeon Ghyll Car National Trust Car park was already full (it was only 9 o’clock) but fortunately the one at the New DG had hardly anyone in it.  This would add a mile to the outing but so what?

Our objective was Crinkle Crags. 

The air quality was exceptional but unfortunately my brain wasn’t.  We intended to take the Red Tarn route onto the high fell.  I was looking out for the footbridge and when we saw it, we crossed it and followed the path up the hill.  Till it stopped.  Oh dear.  Wrong footbridge.  We had missed it.  We were now on the wrong side of Browney Gill. 

We debated whether to retrace our steps or pioneer a new route up to Great Knott.  It wasn’t the steep drop into the Gill that bothered me.  It was having to traverse steep ground, gradually climbing and turning towards the Gill chasm then the steep climb to the top.  I have to confess, it got to me.  Stan reckoned there was a way out through the crags and I know (now) that he was right but it looked too steep for me and I wimped out.  Ignominiously, I turned to retreat back to the valley.  The boys had a mountain-craft leadership discussion and determined that I should not be left by myself so Bryan kindly volunteered to accompany me back to the car.

Don, Bryan

In other circumstances that would have been a very pleasant walk but the lower we got the more I was cursing myself for being such a wuss.

I toyed with the idea of seeking Martin and Stan on their descent but as I didn't know whether they would come down The Band or via Hell Gill, I decided against it.  It clearly wasn't my day and I would inevitably make the wrong choice.

I reached home feeling rather sorry for, and cross with, myself.  However, listening to the day's C-19 news soon put things in perspective.  And when I opened my post the Fat Owl of the Reform came to mind.  At last there was a smile on my face.  Billy Bunter would have been delighted.  Uncle Ernie  had sent me a postal order!  My number had come up and I'd won £25.  

Drinks all round!  Eventually.

Don, Thursday 15th October 2020

PS  Unfortunately Martin's gps packed up but Stan did take a couple of photos.

Crinkles ahead:

Pike o'Blisco behind:

They had little else to report other than it was a very steep climb up and out of the Browney Gill ravine and they saw a big black bird!

They did add, however, that on the way back they looked for the footbridge that we had missed and that it was no surprise that we had missed it as it was missing! A victim of Storm Desmond or something like that.

2.  The Shifting Whispering Sands

What’s the “The Shifting Whispering Sands” got to do with the Great Langdale Valley?

Our walk plan was to stay low. Stuart has a tricky back, so it would be good for him to have some company. The alternative was Crinkle Crags and Bowfell, a climb I wouldn’t have minded doing, but the thought of it becoming a 12 miles and 3,000’ plus climb was holding my dodgy knee back. We met at Elterwater.

It was a beautiful day. Perfect temperature. No rain forecast. Would we need gaiters? Hope not. Half our walk was the Cumbria Way up the west side of the valley, and my guess was the return path would be equally well trod. Not much mud, I hoped.

It’s odd to think that over 30 years ago I used to come here almost every day. Why? Well I was lucky enough to work at Langdale. The commute from Patton Bridge most days was a joy.

So it was nice to come back and walk past the Langdale Estate and see it from the quarry side. It looked in good nick. There hasn’t been much development in all that time. A new mini hotel called Brimstone.  Alterations to the “club” or leisure facility. But otherwise not much has changed.  

A bit like the valley. It’s still stunning. We always referred to it as the honey pot of the lakes. It has it all. Majestic mountains, and Herdy sheep.  Amazing autumnal colours. It was so nice and laid back a day that Tony wasn’t biting when we said, just after 12, lunch anyone? You see, the benefit of a late start is that Tony has a late breakfast. We troughed by the stream, dangling our legs over the wall towards the water.

Stuart, Mike, Stephen, Tony

Stuart told us an amusing story about being banned form the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub a while ago. Another BB was involved apparently...... !

On the way back south down the east side, I had a very small hill planned in order to keep us off the metalled road and end up with a respectable 1,400’ of climb. But I didn’t expect rebellion on such a nice day. “You were doing so well up to now” one of the wise men said to me. Another said “How many contours?”

So instead we cut across to the Britannia at Elterwater.

We made our way to a well-managed Covid-safe table outside and enjoyed a beer with the sun on our backs.

So what’s with the shifting whispering sands?

Tony’s pub quiz question of the day was “With which song did Eamonn Andrews have a hit?”

The Shifting Whispering Sands

Unbeatable.

Mike, Thursday 15th October 2020

Comments

Stan:  Have just checked Wainwright and he says "Some walkers cut the corner by using a terrace route on the south side of Great Knott, reached from the West Bank of Browney Gill.  It is rough (and dangerous in mist, for the sheer wall of the ravine is just below) and not to be preferred to the longer path via Red Tarn."

Don:  I wonder if Stuart's ODG story is the same as the one about which I told Bryan this afternoon? At least 5 BOOTboys were involved, possibly a police car, definitely trousers ripped, tent wars and a BOOTboy sliding down stairs head first because a tree had fallen on him.  Happy days!

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Bonus Pictures from Tony:

Click on this picture to see Mike's interpretation of the same subject

 

Competition:

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Click on to submit your entry.  A modest prize awaits the first correct answer.

 

BB2037 STATISTICS

Date: Thursday 15th October 2020

Comitibus:

Don & Bryan

Martin & Stan

Mike B, Stephen, Stuart & Tony

Features:

Browney Gill

Crinkle Crags

Langdale Valley

Distance in miles:

6.8

8.2

7.8

Height climbed in feet

1,534

2,771

637

GPX track

BB2037i

BB2037ii

BB2037iii

Tracks:

Map  OS 1:25k

Down in the Zoombar :

Martin

Don

Terry

Tony

Stan

Mike B

 

Stephen

 

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