Issue #64 The Misc Adventures Digest
A "leisurely and detailed" exploration of Red Pike
It’s no secret that the weather has left us feeling low lately - our last few posts have been a kind of a downer haven’t they? Sorry about that and thank you for sticking with us. Thank you especially to those that sent kind words and messages of solidarity that helped us to feel less alone. Someone even sent us a book through the post!
You’ll perhaps be pleased to hear that this week’s post features sunshine and blue skies, read on for an account of our latest adventure…
A quick check of the mountain weather information service late in the day on Saturday showed that the forecast for Sunday had dramatically improved since we last looked. We needed a plan and we needed one quick - these fleeting windows of opportunity are not to be missed. Faced with so many hills to climb and places to explore, picking a hike in hurry can be overwhelming as we struggle internally with place names, distances, timings and wondering whether we have enough snacks in the house to pack for a full day in the mountains. Luckily Benji is not yet encumbered by the weight of such practicalities and made the decision for us by shouting “Red Pike” at the top of his voice. I’m not sure why but this has been top of his list for a while.
It was going to be a long hike, but that didn’t matter - with longer, lighter days now upon us and no impending threat of bad weather the day was ours to do whatever we wanted. It felt good to shoulder our packs and head out from the car park, following the tree-lined beck in sunshine. We climbed quickly and soon the beck lay below us on our left in a deep ravine, waterfalls tumbling and thundering into hidden pools. To our right stood the ominous tower of Yewbarrow which we had climbed last summer; its west wall would accompany us for the first part of our journey. Looking up at it now, it was hard to imagine ourselves scrambling up the craggy, precipitous face known as Bell Rib. The route follows the beck, past several pretty waterfalls and over foot bridges, but the trees sadly dwindle and fade as the valley opens up and we get our first glimpse of the mountains ahead.
Meadow pipits are back in the hills from their lowland winter haunts - upon hearing them for the first time, I noticed less their presence but more that I had been unaware of their absence all winter. It was good to have some company and we stopped to watch them soaring up and fluttering gently back down to earth.
We stopped for snacks at Brimful beck, perched on a boulder by its cascading ribbons of white water before heading for the col and the start of our ascent to the summit. Sometimes I wonder if the main purpose of our hikes is finding nice places to eat snacks.
Red Pike forms part of a long ridge of peaks, dropping down steep cliffs into the bowl shaped Mosedale Valley on one side and sloping more gently on the other - our route took us along the edge of the ridge running roughly south to north, the sheer drop to our right always a nagging presence as we climbed towards the summit cairn. It’s possible to join up several peaks along the ridge and make this into a much longer hike, something we plan to do soon as we get Benji used to the idea of hiking back-to-back days.
We pass a perfectly round boulder which sat perfectly poised on the edge of Gosforth Crag, looking like it had been rolled there deliberately. What were the forces that deposited it there? Why did it stop? We guess it was the work of trolls or giants, but glacial activity is perhaps more likely.
There is a clear path through the jumble of rocks and grassy sections and we zig-zagged our way up quickly to a plateau of sorts where we were met by an icy wind. We could see the summit up ahead and decide to pick up the pace, get to the cairn quickly and then head back down a little way to duck out of the wind for lunch.
The cairn is perched precariously on the edge of the ridge, it is only accessible from one side - the other is a sheer drop down jagged rock to the valley bottom below. It would be easy to tumble over the edge in search of the cairn in bad visibility, making this a hike best saved for a sunny day - not least because the views to the surrounding summits are glorious. At least if you do slip and tumble to your death, the views will have been good.
On our way back down and back through valley towards Wasdale, we stopped to dip our tired feet in the icy beck, a simple luxury that I’m surprised that other hikers seem to omit.
This was one of those hikes that makes you feel like you’re in the mountains - the high peaks all round, jagged rock and exposed ridges, a little scrambling and just enough impending danger to keep you on your toes. Yet, it was also surprisingly easy in a way that’s hard to pin down - the whole hike felt, just sort of, pleasant. Alfred Wainwright describes Red Pike as “a fell deserving a leisurely and detailed exploration” and I would have to agree.
Well, that’s all for this week. We hope whatever you’ve been up to you managed to find a patch of sun to sit in somewhere or a beck to dangle your feet in.
With warmest wishes,
Andrew, Emma and Benji
x
PS: We just wanted to share this post by
on the need for a Nature category on Substack. In the absence of such a category she has compiled a huge list of writers writing about Nature which is well worth looking through.
Phenomenal scenery!! I feel the weight of the season in late winter, too. I think my posts have also reflected that. But its warming up now and I'm excited for things to come!
It looks breathtakingly beautiful ✨and sounds like you all had a glorious day😊