16th July 2001 - 5 Miles & 2800ft Ascent

This years slightly modified annual event, 3 days camped on the NT site below the Langdale Pikes. Due to the foot and mouth restrictions in place, only two access points were available in Langdale, those allowing access to the North side of the Langdale valley at the ODG and NDG hotels. Our intended walk up-to Red Tarn, across Cold Pike and the Crinkle Crags to three tarns and descend The Band was all restricted. Instead, our modified plan was to ascend via Stickle Ghyll, scramble Jack's Rake (for some of us) and traverse the Langdale Pikes, descending to the Cumbria Way between Pike O' Stickle and Stake Pass.

The fact that I was on Helvellyn the previous day meant that I was already on the site when everybody else began to arrive at lunch time on the 15th. This was the first time I had been to this site, and on arrival I had to call into question Richards choice of site due to the signs around (below left). Fortunately it was dry and the views of the Band, Crinkle Crags and the pikes from my tent were worth it (below right).

The welcome in Langdale wasn't quite what it had been on previous occasions due to the foot and mouth restrictions in place. Signs indicating paths being closed and others being open (below) causing some confusion for several of the few people I had spoken to that evening in the Stickle Barn Inn. Indeed, I was the only person in their at 10.30pm.

A 10.00am start on the 16th found us disinfecting our boots at the access point (below left) and making the steady ascent up Stickle Ghyll (below right) to Stickle Tarn.

The next obstacle upon reaching Stickle Tarn was to scramble Jack's Rake - a diagonal scramble from bottom right to top left across the face of Pavey Ark (below left). Pavey Ark being just one of 7 recognised summits which make up the Langdale Pikes (below right).

Out of the nine of us Richard (below left) and myself took two others (Neil - below right) up Jack's Rake for the first time, the others preferring the easier back route to Pavey Ark summit. This was the third time I had climbed it and usually make it a must do whenever I may be in Langdale.

Lunch was enjoyed on top of Pavey Ark as the others arrived just as we finished the scramble. It was quite windy across the top of the pikes, particularly between Loft Crag and Pike O' Stickle. Richard and myself made the short scramble up onto the summit of Pike O' Stickle where we spotted the track leading down to the Cumbria Way from the boggy Martcrag Moor. This route is not obvious on Martcrag Moor but sticks out from Pike O' Stickle summit, and Richards navigation to the top of this track was spot on (good job since there was no water to keep on the left - in joke). The descent on this track is quite steep and rocky in places (below), depositing us on the Cumbria Way just before the Stake Pass.