St Sunday Crag

On Sunday I climbed St Sunday Crag. It was cloudy, drizzly and windy at the top, so not much of a view, but there were some great views of Ullswater on the way up. I started at Patterdale, and took the path past the public toilets into Grisedale.

Stepping Stones across the stream

 The path follows the contours to cross a stream by some stepping stones, and after that there appeared to  be a path leading up to the area marked Glenamara park on the map.  The next path the the left was the one I took, a steep climb onto the lower end of the ridge, followed by a more gentle section before it began to rise steeply again.

There were some great views of Ullswater on the climb up

From here you could look across Grisedale at pick out the familiar path that leads up the other side of the valley to Hole in the Wall and Striding Edge.
On the way up I met three guys who had camped at the top overnight. They warned me to expect it to be drizzly and grey at the top. They also said that Fairfield, at the far end was very slippery from the snow, as well as in cloud, so I reckoned by then to either retrace my steps or come down into Grisedale. Then I passed a group of three who were doing that route, down by Grisedale Tarn.

There was snow at the top

The steepest scramble came soon after that, and then there was a long section with a gentle wide path, along the top of the ridge with, presumably, very good views on a good day. After the peak, which is 841 meters and called The Cape, the ridge sloped very gently downwards, and became more narrow. Nothing like Striding Edge, but you could see the ground sloping away gently on both sides, and I would love to see it in a good day.
The path down to Grisedale Tarn was quite easy to spot, and marked with a small cairn, and at the point where the path started to rise again over the section called Deepdale Hause, which I left for a brighter day.  The path down was steep at first, and quite distinct, until I was quite close to the stream, where I missed it in the mist and cloud.
I did not want to take the map out of the pocket to change the fold, so I ended up following the stream down the valley, but looking at the map now I would have done better to walk up the stream to the tarn, and find the path.  I was glad when I was out of the cloud and could enjoy the impressive outcrops of rock on the Helvellyn side of the valley.  Then further down it was great looking up at St. Sunday Crag and thinking - I have been up there.

Glenridding in March

I called in at Glenridding Sailing School on Saturday. It was great to see many of the folks. Both my instructors from 2009 were there, Pete had brought someone to the first aid course for instructors, and Neil had brought his RS Vision there for the season.  Another couple had brought their Swift 18 for the season.  It looked very impressive, an 18ft yacht with a retractable keel.
The first aid course was taking place in the new block - a classroom, office, plumbed in toilets changing rooms with a shower. It was all very impressive.
Tom was there with his Nimrod, another boat with a retractable keel. Like last year in March, he took me out in it, and it was great. It felt so good to be out on the water again.
There was a mixture of clouds and sunshine, and the hills and and water looked great and as the light and shade was constantly changing the colours around us.
A couple had come from Lincoln to sail their Laser 3000, which looked great with its spinnaker up.  They had each fallen in multiple times, but were nicely warm in their dry suits. They were very exhilarated when they came in.
So thanks again to Tom, sailing without having to prepare for getting wet does have its attractions.