It's been three years since I last visited Bow Fell and five since I last climbed her from Old Dungeon Gill, my preferred route of ascent being via The Band and The Climbers Traverse but with the increase of tourism to the district I've been put off from visiting Great Langdale during the weekends but come back on a week day, and it's like going back ten years. I passed up on the free parking at Rossett Bridge where I spotted at least three parking spaces, instead I'm going to cough up the nine quid to park at ODG. There was only one other car on the car park which had centered itself right in the middle of the car park its engine gurgling away whilst the driver scoured over his mobile phone, the car was so obstructive that I couldn't get a swing on the car park, the driver saw my dilemma and drove further into the car park eyes still glued to his phone. It was a glorious morning with just a slight nip to the air easily compensated by adding a thin base layer over my T Shirt.

I was almost ready to leave shouldering my pack which hit my back with a thud, jeez that'll be the three litres of hydration plus a couple of bottles of Lucozade Sport, I decided there might be scope to lose some weight so off came the pack whilst I set about my weight saving measures. Leaving a spare pair of gloves and even a spare hat didn't loose that much weight but I reckon given todays rising temperatures I won't need my hat and gloves let alone, spares. My butty box had some weight to it too but there was no way I was leaving food behind so I re shouldered my pack with another thud, locked the car and left the car park.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky as I sighted the path where I will leave for The Climbers Traverse just when I was overtaken by a guy a little younger than me who stopped for a quick chat. A quick chat soon turned into ten minutes as we put the walking world to rights after which we shared routes.

All he knew was he was heading for Bow Fell, after that "I haven't quite made my mind up" but Esk Pike and a return through the Mickleden Valley sound good. The chap left soon widening the gap like I was stood still.

Pike O'Blisco was calling and I had to really talk myself out of not making an ascent, equally I was a tad worried about the steep stone staircase that twists its way back into Oxendale, it was six of one and half a dozen of the other, again I thought it best I stick to the route and besides, I'm planning on walking Pike O'Blisko and Cold Pike from Wrynose another day. I passed two couples then a large group of thirty something lads who'd stopped for a break where the path passes over a very infant Browney Gill "alreet lads" I nodded and got hi's back. I spotted two walkers on Pike O'Blisco and one in ascent who was making good progress. By now Red Tarn was close and shimmering in the sunlight and despite the proximaty to Wrynose Pass, you could hear a pin drop.

I reached the crossroads at the top of Browney Gill and forced myself to turn left at a point when my eyes were looking straight ahead at Pike O'Blisco 'just forget it now Paul I tow'd myself' It was exactly 12:00pm even with two good knees the descent into Oxendale can be testing on tired limbs but I tried not to think about it instead thinking 'light' on my feet - positives and all that. The stone staircase weaved its way into the valley the heat scorching my forehead leaving my lips feeling gooey - I sipped at free will from my bite valve knowing I had a good litre of hydration left whilst soaking in the sunshine. Below Fix The Fells have been doing repairs to the path leaving half a dozen bags of stone on the valley floor, forty two minutes later I was walking besides them taking in the view over a bone dry Oxendale Beck, just the odd trickle before making my way towards the footbridge for the last photo of the day. I had been waiting months to walk Bow Fell again to the point when I felt like I owed the fell an apology, its always great to see an old friend.