Pike O'Stickle

10th October 2010 (10.10.10)

My walk today has been a Fell Walkers dream, today of all days on this historical calendar date of the month to top it too, Pike O’Stickle dominates the Lakeland skyline no matter where you are & if the visibility is good Stickle Breast is a great landmark to get your bearings, today I was  blessed with wall to wall sunshine in fact if the colour of the dying bracken hadn’t of given it away I would go so far as to say it felt spring like this is not October weather & so I’m remembering a quote from a friend of whom I’ll be walking with next weekend  ‘We are as likely to see glorious sunny days in December as we are in July’  there’s nothing more can put a spring in your step than knowing the weather is going to be with you for the duration of the day, yeah ok I was walking on the tail end of yet another cold but absolutely nothing could put a hamper on a day as beautiful as this.

 

Wainwright Guidebook

The Central & Couthern Fells

 

 

Overview
Ascent: 2,916 Ft 888.7 Mtrs
Wainwrights: 4 Loft Crag, Pike O’Stickle, Thunacar Knott & Rossett Pike
Weather: Warm & Sunny Throughout The Day, No Wind, Hazy Lows of 6° Highs of °20
Parking: Stickle Barn Great Langdale
Area: Central & Southern
Miles: 9.25
Walking With: On my own
Ordnance Survey: OL6
Time Taken:  
Route:  
 

Map and Photo Gallery

 
 

 

Harrison Stickle from Stickle barn,  & although its nice & sunny its still early & there’s a definite nip in the air.


 

Low lying mist in Great Langdale.


 
And beautiful blue skies

 

Crossing Dungeon Gill & I’m at it again with my happy medium so its off with the Jacket & out with the knees again!


 

Looking back, It’s days like these & views like this that all the times I’ve questioned my integrity on why I Fell Walk & there is my answer.


 

And onwards & upwards towards my first Fell of the day Loft Crag.


 

Possibly the first time I’ve ever seen Crinkle Crags as clear as this, the Fell running parallel is The Band.


 

Esk Pike to the left & my first view of Loft Crag to the right of the grassy path.


 

A hazy view onto the Southern Fells, the Tarn centre is Blea Tarn.


 

Looking towards the Summit of Harrison Stickle.


 

Loft Crag Summit with Harrison Stickle in the background.


 

The hugely impressive Pike O’Stickle from Loft Crag Summit.


 
 

 

Looking down the steep gully found before I headed for the summit, this gully is actually Navigable all the way down to Mickledon but way too risky for my liking.


 

Pike O’Stickle Summit cairn with a host of Fells LtoR Bow Fell, Esk Pike, Rossett Pike (my final fell) Allen Crags & Great End.


 

Bow Fell,Esk Pike & Rossett Pike domineering the skyline of Mickledon.


 

Thunacar Knott from Harrison Comb & my third Fell of the day, my path is the faint one to the left of the picture which leads you straight to the summit, I don’t think which path really matters there all angle deep wet bog! in all seriousness this route is something I’d only attempt in good visibility GPS or not I wouldn’t like to find myself in bad weather & low cloud on here!


 

Trail Blazing my way towards Thunacar Knott.


 

Thunacar Knott Summit.


 

And the small un-named tarn found near the Summit.


 

My first choice was to re join the main path towards Martcrag Moor and to leave the path & make my own way, but being as wet as it was I decided to stick to the faint  path seen here & head back towards Pike O’Stickle & over the crags seen centre.


 

The vast openness of Martcrag Moor, again with Bow Fell & Esk Pike still domineering the skyline.


 

A close up of Rossett Pike (centre) my final Fell of the day, but I’m a long way off yet.


 

The un-named tarn found as I leave Martcrag Moor & cross over Stake Pass.


 

The M6 of stepping stones, now here’s the perfect chance to try out your balancing skills Paul.


 
Now that’s what I call a ridge walk

 

Looking over the Drumlins towards Pike O’Stickle & Mansey Pike from Langdale Comb.


 

Looking back with Green Up Edge to the right leading towards Sergeants Crag & Eagle Crag.


 

Rossett Pike bound & a little  descent is needed first.


 

Great End taking centre with Esk Pike to the left & Allen Crags to the right.


 

Rossett Pike Summit with Pike O’Stickle in the background, have I really come that far! Its time for lunch & a much long awaited view of Angle Tarn.


 

Angle Tarn, off the beaten trail a little & away from the crowds its time to get the beef barm cakes out & see if the shop assistant was right in telling me ‘these are the nicest barm cakes you’ll ever taste’ he was right..


 

That’s the look of tasting the nicest barm cakes Ill ever taste ha


 

Lunch over & time to head down, over a mile in descent & two back to Stickle Barn but I’m not complaining, its just beautiful.


 

I think my H2o pack had a kink in it because for the last hour or so I’m sucking like a mad man & getting only a trickle through, so as I crossed Rossett Gill I cupped my hand & took a couple of handfuls & not to mention a splash over the face & hair.


 

Passing the path makers hut as I enter the valley floor.


 

Looking back towards Rossett Pike from Mickledon.


 

This is the gully seen at the side of Stickle Breast earlier in the walk, I can pick up a faint path faintly through the bracken & onto the prominent path you can see, I don’t think I could ever eat enough weetabix to get me up there!


 

Stickle Cottage, & almost back where I started, I was going to treat myself to a pint of cold still orange at the Hotel but after not so much careful consideration to other customers I thought it best not to, Paul needs a good bath!




 

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