Little Hart Crag and High Hartsop Dodd

Little Hart Crag and High Hartsop Dodd.

Date 02/07/2005

Walks done by: Jed, Susan, Chris, Pat, Eunice, Shirley, Gill, Jessica, Tom, Max and Andrew

Weather: Overcast, showers, becoming brighter late afternoon

Distance 4.5 miles.

Started at: Sykeside Camp Site, Brotherswater.

This walk was part of a weekends camping trip. Susan had asked me to arrange a walk, but for people who had done little fell walking. So I decided on the above walk as it is short and not to steep on the ascent. What I didn't realise was that most of the participants were more suited to a WI meeting ;-)

So, off we went - making our way towards Hartsop Hall which is a lovely old Lakeland building. After passing the foot of HIgh Hartsop Dodd we began the climb along Caiston Glen. Half way along Eunice fell after losing her balance after unsuccessfully trying to put a heavy toffee wrapper in her pocket. A few hundred yards further on she fell again. I was a tad worried by now because I knew that the steepest part was still to come. However, no further incidents occurred on the climb to the col on Scandale Pass, except for the odd humorous remark from Shirley. As we were climbing the steep section she said, "Jed, I have only met you once and I don't want to meet you again". I got my own back a little further up the slope. Shirley - whose hair looked like one of those dark curly lettuce said, "You wouldn't believe I used straighteners this morning". "No I don't" I said laughing aloud.

From the col we turned right and followed a wall towards Little Hart Crag. By now we were in thick mist and having to navigate by using compass bearings. The inexperienced walkers in the party, Gill, Shirley, Pat and Eunice and the children, were beginning to struggle with the constant climbing and so to cheer them all up I said, "There only another two hundred feet to go." Susan said, "I don't think it means much to them. Give them a distance from one shop to somewhere else". "OK", says I, "its like from my house to Wheelton Chippy." To which Shirley retorted, "Where do you bloody live? - Manchester". She's a wag.

Shortly after that remark we reached Little Hart Crag summit. Its the first time Pat has been that high for twenty years without the assistance of Rolls Royce engines!!

The mist was thick, and so after a brief rest we started the descent to High Hartsop Dodd. After descending a couple of hundred feet we were suddenly was out of the clouds and had great views at last. The ridge walk is easy going until reaching the wall at Bell Knott. The descent from here is very steep. After a rest at the wall - and waving to the lads in the pub at Brotherswater, we set off on the long slow descent. Myself and Gill staying with Pat to give her support down as she had hurt her ankle earlier in the walk. Eventually we reached the campsite and headed straight for the pub. Those lagers were superb - all three of them. As we drank we looked across to the splendid ridge of high Hartsop Dodd. Pat, Eunice Gill and Shirley couldn't believe what they had accomplished.

Special mention must be made to Pat and Eunice, both in their sixties, they did remarkably well to do what they did. Brilliant.

One other event took place during the night. A very fierce storm blew up at around 1.30 am. It completely destroyed a tent behind me, the occupants having to spend the night in their car. It also tore Kev and Gills tent, but with the help of four or five people they managed to stop it being blown away. Me - I slept throught it all.

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