Langdale Pikes

8th February 2015

Route. New Dungeon Ghyll - above Dungeon Ghyll - Stickle Tarn - North Rake - Pavey Ark - Harrison Stickle - Pike O' Stickle - Loft Crag - Mark Gate - New Dungeon Ghyll

(about 5 miles 2900ft ascent)

The weather in the Lakes over the past week or so has seen some of the best winter conditions I can remember and Sunday was no exception. Today we tackled the short in miles but long in ascent round of the Langdale Pikes.

After driving through fog for most of the journey we were pleased that the skies were clear when we arrived in Langdale.

Looking to Crinkle Crags at the head of the valley.

We again took the lesser used path on the west side of Stickle Ghyll, but due to too much chatting and not enough paying attention we missed the branch off to keep with the ghyll. But it only meant a slight diversion and no extra climbing and we also got this view of the Dungeon Ghyll ravine with Harrison Stickle above.

Looking back we realised that the cloud we thought we had left behind was following us along the valley

Stickle Tarn with Pavey Ark above. One of the first places I visited in the Lakes and still one of my favourites.

Three climbers taking the hard route to Harrison Stickle

Sue admires Pavey Ark on our elevenses stop.

We realised that we were in for a real treat as a full blown cloud inversion rolled in. This is looking down over Stickle Tarn from low down on the North Rake.

The sheltered north rake still held quite a bit of snow which made for an exciting climb.

The view from the north rake to the eastern fells with St.Sunday Crag peeping up in the background.

The view from Pavey Ark.

We made very slow progress today as a lot of time was spent just standing and gawping

Next stop Harrison Stickle.

Which looks very popular.

Looking southwards from Harrison Stickle.

Bowfell across the valley. The line of the climbers traverse path is clear to see.

The inversion looks to be over the western lakes beyond Coniston as well

Heading down from Harrison Stickle. Our original plan was to climb Loft Crag then Pike O' Stickle and then walk along to the top of Stake Pass and back along the valley but we realised that we would be waling for two or three miles in the cloud so we headed for Pike O' Stickle first and doubled back to Loft Crag. we wanted to keep on the tops for as long as possible.

Zooming in on what I think might be Ingleborough

And zooming in on what I'm pretty sure is Skiddaw.

Looking to the north west. Green and Great Gable centre right then Great End to the left and I think the tiny bit of fell visible further left is Scafell Pike.