June 3rd 2006 - 12.81 miles - 4,318 ft of ascent

Grasmere Village - Silver How - Blea Rigg - Stickle Tarn - Jacks Rake (Pavey Ark) - Pavey Ark -
Harrison Stickle - Loft Crag - Pike O' Stickle - Thunacar Knott - High Raise, Langdale -
Sergeant Man - Tarn Crag - Easedale Tarn - Sourmilk Gill, Easedale - Grasmere Village

Pavey Ark To Loft Crag

There were about 15 people (all out of shot) all heading towards the scree slope you see center.
I figured they were all either going to do Jacks,
or they were going to get to the junction, and head off right.

Here some of them are....

Quite amazing picture, and yes it does look much more awesome in real life!
Thing is when we got to the junction, instead of going either left up Jacks Rake,
or right up the other gully, 90% of these people all headed off back down along the side of the tarn.
This was never going to be an option for us, no way was I climbing this scree just to walk back down it.
The bloke you see in the white hat heard Chris and I discussing Jacks Rake and how I was not sure I could do it.
He offered to be our guide, he explained he had slings and hooks(??) in his bag,
BUT that it really wasnt that hard.

This is the same thing, but you can see more of Jacks Rake.

The man who would be our guide in the white hat was called Mike.

Two climbers preparing to go up via an even harder route.

One thing Mike had said to encourage us, was that we would get the most amazing views.

He didn't lie!

The outflow for Stickle Tarn.

Below a picture that I shall treasure for many, many years,
and that is currently my desktop pic.

Chris and I trying to look as if we were enjoying ourselves..

The man himself, Mike.

I'll add this here... On the OM forum this past week there had been a discussion about what you would do if you saw someone needing help. Would you stop to help, or would you leave them to it in case you got your head bitten off?
Mike didn't just offer verbal assistance. Had we gone to some web site and asked for a guide, some one that would not laugh at us shaking like a right pair of old women, but who would take the time to explain foot holds, go every single step of the way with us, I dare say it would have cost us a fair bit of money. Mike helped us without payment, just because I believe he is a top, top bloke.

Thanks Mike, really really.. thanks!

Chris looking confident..

Why is it that pictures never give a real idea of what something felt like?
This was a lot closer to the edge that it looks and it was a lot further down that it looks.

This looks so simple.. but you can see Mike with Chris explaining where he should put his feet.
If you start to slide down this slab there is a foot wide piece of grass below it.. after that..
SPLASH! ...... about 200 feet later.

Had you told me that I would have been doing this during this walk I'd have laughed at you.
Had you told me that I would want to go back and do it again,
but this time take much more time, and sit and enjoy the views..
I'd have said you were mad..

But I can't wait to get back there!

I got to Pavey Ark's summit a few seconds before Chris and Mike, this is them approaching.

Harrison Stickle behind Chris.

Bit out of focus, but this is Chris looking down off the edge of Pavey Ark..
I can't wait to see what his pics are like of this..

We carried onto Harrison Stickle, this is looking back to Pavey..

Off Harrison the views of the Langdale valley take you breath away.

Loft Crag, with Crinkle Crags behind it.

From exactly the same place, Pike Of Stickle with
Bow Fell, Esk Pike and Great End behind.

This was diner time.. Harrison Stickle's Summit 4th AW of the day.

Down to the Langdale Valley..

From here it was onwards to Loft Crag.. the next picture we almost missed..
it really does pay to keep stopping no matter where you are are doing a 360..
you never know...

Harrison Stickle from our ascent of Loft crag.

Fabulous picture of Chris, Summit five, Loft Crag, with Pike Of Stickle behind.

ONTO PAGE THREE OF THE REPORT