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10th May 2008
Whiteside - Hopegill Head - Grassmoor - Wandope -
Whiteless Pike - Rannerdale Knotts
Completion of my 214 Wainwrights!!!
If you had told me back on the 23 April 2005, that 3 years later I would walk with my very good friend Chris (and his dog Wallace) around a circuit of some ten miles, ascending almost 4000 ft I would have probably told you to see a Dr. Had you said this walk would be the conclusion of all 214 Wainwright fells, I'd almost certainly have taken you there myself. And yet, here we were, Chris, his wife Becca and their daughter Emily, along with all my family camped at Castlerigg Farm, enjoying the swealtering heat, and the odd shower, with this walk in mind. I had only one regret really, that my other really good friend Pete couldn't make it. His mom is really very ill right now and we send him all our love and thoughts, it turned out that he needed to take this free weekend off to go see her on the south coast, so could not be with us in body - so to speak, but I knew he was thinking of us and my final Wainwright fell. |
The very bottom of Liza Beck below Whin Ben, this beck would later be a wonderful place
for the dogs to drink from and for us all to cool off.
Looking back through the haze to Mellbreak
Above Whin Ben now and two folks whose names we never got, but who came from Blackpool.
They had 38 AW's to go, and I do hope they get to post on the guestbook.
There are quite a few rocky little scrambles up to Whiteside's summit and if Chris looks a little out of breath
let me assure you he was not alone.. it really was very hot and very hard going.
... But man is it worth it!!
Almost on the top of the ridge now and looking towards Coledale Hause
The final push..
Not even there yet, but what a view down Gasgale Crags
Finally onto the ridge, Whiteside and in the distance Hopegill Head
Myself and Jay on Whiteside's summit
Looking back to Whiteside from Hopegill Heads summit
From Hopegill's summit, Sand Hill to the left, Crag Hill behind that and Grassmoor behind Chris
My buddy wondering where the next drink was coming from.
I always say that photographs never really tell the whole story. Trust me when I say this is the case here.
The view off Hopegill head down into the Hobcarton valley is awesome.
More of the same with the bottom of Grisdale Pike in the distance
Heading down off Sand Hill towards Coledale Hause and our long walk up Grassmoor.
The last time I was here was during a circuit of Causey Pike to Crag Hill,
over to Hopegill and then back via Grisdale Pike.
On that day I couldn't see a thing at this point, not a thing..
and it certainly looks a lot further than I remembered it to be.
You can see at the crossroads where all the paths meet, the one that leads off towards Liza Beck,
this was going to be a MUST for the dogs.
...and boy did they enjoy it.
If we hadn't got so far to go, and we were not set to meet Odette and Becca,
I think we may have taken our shoes off and had a little paddle here...
The climb to the bottom of Grasmoor was easy enough but the heat was getting even
worse so we took yet another break.
This looking towards Wandope.
You climb a quite steep section to reach this part of Grasmoor and then it's a gentle walk along this path...
Or at least it is unless you want to walk over towards Dove Crags (off to the right)
and get a view of the ascent route you have taken...
Whiteside from just east of Dove crags
Dove Crags on the left with our ascent route in the distance.
The highest Fell in the North West Region, the summit of Grasmoor, 2759 ft asl.
I'm not sure I will make it back here anytime soon, but if I do it will be on a clear day
when this view is not as hazy.. still pretty darn good though.
Out route up Whiteside
