With the heat wave continuing into the weekend what I should have done was think of a route that matched the conditions but I'd been stuck in work all week and couldn't wait to get out onto the fells even if it meant the getting a tad sweaty. I prepared as much as I could hydrating the whole week and carrying 3 litres of hydration plus two 750ml bottles of Lucozade having already necked two previous bottles on the drive in I felt like a walking reservoir and, had probably over done it. I left home at 4:00am and arrived at a bustling Wasdale Head car park at 06:40am. I'd normally stop for a few photos from the lake shore but knowing the car park was going to be busy today I wasn't going to take any chances and I was right not to.

I arrived at the car park and had to scan around before I spotted a place next to the end of the line in the middle of the car park, other than about four empty spaces two rows behind me, that was it, the car park was almost full and it wasn't even 7:00am. I had only packed the essentials due to the weight of all the hydration and after spraying myself with suntan lotion I gave my hands a quick wipe with a hand towel I'd remembered to bring. I locked the car and headed towards the old school house from where I'll pass through Down in the Dale towards the footbridge over Lingmell Beck.

I continued my ascent towards Mickledore spotting four walkers on the zigzags below the ridge and one solo walker taking a break next to a huge familiar boulder at the base of the zigzags. I caught the walker up who turned out to be a young lad who had driven up from London yesterday to climb Scafell Pike this morning.

The lad quizzically asked about my walking poles which are going on for 11 years old and asked if they helped "I reckon the poles have put another ten years on my walking career I replied" We joined the zigzags together but with youth on his side he began to break away so we bid each other to enjoy the rest of our walks.

What I first thought was a fossil has turned out to be dendrite crystal growth, I think that's the end of my paleontologist career! Thank you to Simon Lockyer for the update.

I arrived at Lambfoot Dub cupping my ears wondering whether I should dip my hands in the tarn to try and relieve the pain but I decided against not knowing what parasites could be lurking in there so instead I spat juice from my bite valve into my hands and rubbed the juice over my ears which eased the pain.

The ground around the tarn was bone dry and I couldn't help but think what a great wild camp spot this would make. I circled the tarn once, the heat seemed to intensify more than likely because I'd been used to the cooler summit temperatures but the lower I descended, the hotter it got.

I decided to descend just as I had during my previous visit by Spouthead Gill but this time I only followed the gill for a short section instead plotting my pathless descent whilst still cursing the mindless idiots who decided to bring two dogs onto England's highest ground in 31° heat. I had to put the two dogs behind me and concentrate on my descent.

I soon linked up with the path which in places was just as rough underfoot as my pathless descents had been and I was getting quarrelsome with myself, it had to be the heat. The path zigzagged into a smooth grassy trod where Spouthead Gill flowed into Lingmell Beck. I could hear children's laughter in the Lingmell pools below and the sound of rock against rock from Great Gable to my immediate right.

The sound of children grew louder while they played in pools, mums and dads watched on or joined in. I gave the pools a wide berth and passed the lone tree below Bursting Knott on Great Gable before continuing though the familiar wooden gate. Families continued to head towards Lingmell Beck but I guessed by now all the sweet spots had been taken, It was baking hot. The sound of Gable Beck washed out the childrens laughter where I crossed the footbridge which is a great photo location but I bollocksed up the shot. Passing more and more folk heading towards the pools I wondered where all of these people where coming from. Prior to reaching the gate I passed another couple, the lad nodded with an "alreet pal" I replied the same and before we knew we'd struck up a conversation; him asking where I'd been, me where they were heading. Before they left I turned around and asked "where you from mate?" "Wigan" I laughed, and replied "me too"

We went our separate ways before I passed through Burnthwaite Farm where I got an 'hello' from the farmers wife. Hot and dusty now as I joined the track towards Wasdale Head fields either side of me full of grazing sheep whilst Pillar dominated to the north. I'm approached by a white pick-up who I assumed belonged to Burnthwaite Farm but as it neared the driver sent the window down and asked me where was Scafell Pike? Taken back I pointed left, the driver attempted to ask me another question but I continued walking. Impressed as always by how the late great fell runner Joss Naylor had left his mark on this land with stone walls so thick they could keep an army back. Joss passed away in June 2024 and was laid to rest with his family members at St Olaf's Chapel where in the shade of a Yew Tree I stopped for a few moments to pay my respects.