navigation skills – Page 34

And finally …. Mont Blanc

Tuesday 8th September Day 1

Somewhat frustrating pre-flight irritations after being ready for days in advance! First of all a traffic jam at Yeadon, then my pre-paid car park entry wouldn’t let me in and lastly had to pay extra for my luggage. And all of this meant I missed my airport coffee!

Met up with Ann and we had a smooth, easy flight. Jet2, being budget, make you pay for refreshments so I was glad of my home made sandwich.

On arrival in Geneva, we were met by Mel plus Annie and Caroline. Straight off to Chamonix with me navigating Mel out of the airport and onto the right motorway, fairly straightforward, just followed the signs to France!

After an hour or so, we got to our hotel, La Chaumiere and met up with Liz who had been out for a run. Warming up for the big one! Lovely to see her (and Mel of course!) again.

Ann and I got a nice room with a balcony looking straight up at Mont Blanc. I whizzed into the town and bought a couple of pairs of cheap but warm trousers as had managed not to bring the right ones, grrr! I brought quite a lot of things I didn’t need at all but the trousers were the only thing I really missed. Still the $5 (keyboard needs a Euro symbol) ones did very well and now I’ve repaired them, I’ve passed them on!

On returning to the hotel, we met the guides for the trip, Pierrot Fiorucci who works in the Mercantour with Mel and Liz, and Stephane Benoist, who hails from Nice, and about whom, more later.

We ate a 3 course dinner which was very good.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Chamonix,+France&aq=0&oq=chamonix&sll=54.527028,-3.017583&sspn=0.06276,0.209255&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Chamonix,+Haute-Savoie,+Rhone-Alpes,+France&t=m&ll=45.923931,6.869202&spn=0.143292,0.205994&z=11&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=300&h=300]

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

Helvellyn 060909

Left nice and early so managed to get to Wythburn car park at 10.00. The car park would have cost me £5 but the ticket machine was “Not in use”. Great.

A group of Polish (I think) people were smoking in the car park and set off before me. A short time later I overtook them, to say they were inappropriately dressed just doesn’t cover it, ready to go clubbing more like it!

Lovely walk through pine woods, rising steeply onto the fell with a few craggy bits and water chasing down. I’m starting to see what Wainwright means, it’s more interesting in terms of variety of landscape.

Fairly got up quickly. Had a chat with a bloke on the way and even patted his dog. Turned right at the junction and whizzed up to Nethermost Pike. Windy and some hard drizzle on the tops. Short whizz up to Helvellyn having looked across at large quantities of mad people doing Striding Edge despite the great wind and cold. I was told it was only 5 degrees on the top, but in my new Paramo I didn’t feel cold at all.

There was a tent on the summit which may have been connected with a triathlon (swim, “run” [not when I saw them!], bike). Also saw another tent down by the tarn and another one on my way down.N

Quick look round the top, had my sandwich in the rather grim shelter, sharing it with a couple and 2 small dogs with coats on. Wretched dogs far too close to my sandwich for comfort so had to eat it fast. I did feel cold in the windiest section of the shelter so didn’t hang about. Then more whizzing back down. A little rain on the way down but got down very quickly.

I never saw the Poles again so think they must have given up quite early on.

Great to have a walk with actual views for a change and not loads of rain.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=helvellyn&aq=&sll=54.541601,-2.988281&sspn=0.125474,0.41851&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Helvellyn&t=m&ll=54.527059,-3.017635&spn=0.029885,0.051498&z=13&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=300&h=300]

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

Some Dodds 300809

Started off from home a bit later than usual as would have more time later in the day. Getting through the Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere bottle neck was immense fun and made the journey seem never ending.

My original plan had been to pitch tent and then walk but it was so late I parked at Legburthwaite car park and got walking.

Up to Sticks Pass having lunch on the way with my back to the wind and rain and then left this time to reach Stybarrow Dodd. The tops were in total mist although it did clear enough for me to get an idea of what was where. The now properly waterproofed jacket did the job fine this time, as did the new waterproof gloves. Went across to Watson’s Dodd and then returned by the same route.

Got down in almost half the time it took to get up, despite the wet and grassy slopes. Wainwright hated grassy slopes. During his account of his walk up the Pennines during the outbreak of WW2, almost 70 years ago to the day, he describes his footwear in detail and it was not up to the job so I reckon he skidded around too much on the grass and didn’t like it. In that book, he comes over as a very selfish and grubby man. No change of clothes for his weeks of walking and only one handkerchief! My favourite episode is where he arrives at a farm which has been flooded and Mrs Farmer is busy trying to deal with a flood. Instead of pitching in or offering to help, he demands tea from her!

As well as some more physical fitness, all this solo walking is also giving me more mental stamina and confidence which is great. So some good has come out of the apparent lunacy!

Back to the car, passing the old Thirlmere youth hostel at Stanah, now a very sorry sight, neglected and left to rot. The YHA shut it in 2001.

Decided to go to Castlerigg Farm Campsite as opposed to Castlerigg Hall Campsite. These are literally next door to each other but the Hall has lots of facilities and the Farm has fewer and is cheaper plus it has a “no noise after 10.30” policy.

I put the tent up very quickly, the dry run in the sitting room proved useful. It actually stopped raining whilst I did this which was nice, although not strictly necessary as the tent pitches with the fly attached, fab.

Got settled in and cooked my supper, pasta with stir in sauce, excellent. I was so hungry. Pocket Rocket worked like a dream, heated water fast. Pots also efficient as well as light.

Got warmed up with Paramo gilet and got into sleeping bag. Also warm and comfy. Dark early so read my book and tried to sleep but foam sleeping mat just not enough for my bones. Then it rained and rained and blew and blew so finally dozed off sometime around 3.00. Woke at 7.00, very groggy.

Brewed up coffee and had breakfast. Now so wet that decided to cancel walk to Helvellyn. Felt a bit crap about giving up walk, that had been purpose of camping trip but rain was extreme.

Struck camp, throwing all wet stuff, i.e. nearly everything, straight into the boot. The tent had kept me warm and dry and did very well for its first outing. A good test for future wild camps. All gear had worked well.

Went to Castlerigg stone circle and wandered round it in the rain. Then went and took some photos of the youth hostel at Stanah. Into Keswick to wander round all the gear shops for an hour.

Set off for home. Yet another crawl most of the way. Bit disappointed but the mountain will still be there next week.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=watsons+dodd&aq=&sll=54.534087,-2.970821&sspn=0.125498,0.41851&ie=UTF8&hq=watsons+dodd&hnear=&t=m&ll=54.534231,-2.971115&spn=0.119521,0.205994&z=11&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=300&h=300]

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

Seat Sandal 230809

WET, that’s really all there is to say about this walk.

Arrived in good time at the lay by next to the AA box at Dunmail Raise. Waterproofs on straightaway. Went along according to wretched AW to the wall and ended up head high in the bracken trying to find the start of the path. Anyway it’s not by the wall, it’s actually to the south of the then dry beck.

The path leads up along the beck and is pretty even in the torrential rain and there is some fun in crossing the waterfalls. The ascent was very wet but I managed to stay dry myself. At the top of the gorge, there is a crossroads marked by a rusty old iron post. I stopped here to make sure of my position. What fun trying to change the batteries on the GPS in the downpour. In a very brief lift of the cloud, I saw Grisedale Tarn ahead of me so didn’t really need the GPS anyway.

Took off up to the right and quite quickly arrived at Seat Sandal. The summit was also windy in addition to the wet, so had my beef sandwich very quickly and soggily and set off back. Far too horrid to go any further. At this point started to feel very wet on top as my jacket clearly needs reproofing.

Fairly whizzed back, only stopping to take the photos of the waterfalls. By now the fairly wet path had turned into a torrent. How glad I am that the boots are so good.

Getting back I managed to find the “right” path staying south of the beck all the way. Where the beck had been dry a few hours earlier it was now filling up.

Back to the car to steam it up. Pools of water in the boot.

Treated myself to a pair of waterproof gloves in the cheap shop on the way home as reward for sticking it out.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=seat+sandal+lake+district&aq=&sll=54.508042,-2.91625&sspn=0.062789,0.209255&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Seat+Sandal&t=m&ll=54.49472,-3.01446&spn=0.014955,0.025749&z=14&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=300&h=300]

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

Raise 160809

Managed to get up early enough to arrive at Legburthwaite car park at 10.15. This was really down to having packed and prepared every thing the day before. This car park is pretty quiet and has loos. They’re not very nice but what’s more important is that they exist and are free. The car park fee is hefty at £5 for over 4 hours. I couldn’t guarantee that I would get the walk done in that time but only had £4.60. It took 4 and a quarter hours. Luckily a nice woman gave me 50p. But then I felt I had to chat a bit with her so ended up not starting until 10.45. Short walk along the road then straight onto the fell, very steep for the first section but no scrambling. Once I reached the sheepfold it looked necessary to tog up for the wet, judging by those on the descent. So everything on. Steady ascent up to the crossroads – Sticks Pass. By now no sight of anything except my feet. Turned right onto what looked like a municipal track. Lots of people descending out of the gloom. A white dog appeared from nowhere, laid down and whimpered, only to disappear just as quickly. Short steep part and then just as suddenly arrived at the summit of Raise. The weather at this point was so hideous – big winds, horizontal and rattling rain and quite cold, I decided to descend quickly to somewhere to eat lunch. Got back to the crossroads very speedily, carried on back down and then sat on a rock for my sandwiches. And then the mist cleared for me so I enjoyed actually having a view across to Thirlmere Lake.

Carried on down, gradually getting warmer and drier. On way down saw 10 of the Red Arrows in formation. They were on their way from Kent to Scotland and were flying low and slow! Drove back via Settle to avoid the M6 roadworks, big mistake as lost all the time I had gained otherwise.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=raise+lake+district&aq=&sll=54.482,-2.898778&sspn=0.031414,0.104628&g=kentmere+pike&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=54.508127,-2.916183&spn=0.059799,0.102997&z=12&output=embed&w=300&h=300]

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.