Great Langdale

I haven't walked alone over any mountains since my accident last November.  it was something that was bugging me, had I still got the confidence to take myself out over mountain fells with all the inherent risks associated?  Today I planned to walk the same route on that fateful day.  Starting out at 9 am I headed through Stonethwaite and up Greenup Gill to make high ground at Greenup Edge.  Things were looking less than promising as a hailstorm hit me just as I was ascending past Lining Crag, but I shouldn't have worried, it was the last of any bad weather all day.

Although initially I was engulfed in cloud as I topped out, it soon lifted to provide views to the Hellvellyn Range, Grasmere and beyond.  I reached High Raise just as the Scafell Range appeared from beneath the cloud, it was looking like a great day.

I ticked off Seargent Man and Thunacar Knott, before reaching the first of the langdales, Pavey Ark.  it was getting well towards lunchtime but I still had the mass of Harrison Stickle in front of me.  In our walking folklore you never have lunch unless you can tick off everything on the checklist; A great view, somewhere to sit and enjoy it and a downhill next section of the walk.  Well the image is the view from the summit and it tickled off all of the requirements.  The arctic air coming across the fells was nullified by the rock I was resting my back against but it had the added advantage of providing really clear conditions.

After lunch I ticked off Loft Crag and Pike of Stickle before heading down towards Stake Pass and into the Langstrath Valley.  in the end the predicted 14 miles turned out to be 16 miles. I walked into the hotel grounds just as the sun set. I'm really surprised how well I feel after the exertions, maybe I'm getting back some of the fitness I had when I walked more regularly and completed the Coast to Coast and Lakeland Haute Route.in the early part of the decade.  I'm certainly looking forward to more opportunities to 'go high'.