Saturday 18 February 2012

Yewbarrow 2060ft................................... a scramble in 2003 with great views

I have been poring over my maps and books trying to decide on routes etc for walks I hope to manage during the summer months.

While searching through by books I discovered a pack of old photos from 2003... of a lovely walk/scramble up Yewbarrow in Wasdale... Taken on film I have scanned some to share.

Wasdale... Great Gable in the centre and the hull shaped Yewbarrow om the left.
The lake is Wastwater the deepest lake in England (258ft).
This view has been voted the best in the country.

Yewbarrow (2060') and Great Gable (2949')

The path up to Bell Rib on Yewbarrow... a long steady plod... the rock face to the left is Dropping Crag. The route goes left on reaching the rock face with a steep scramble up between Bell Rib and Dropping Crag.

The view back to Wastwater from the base of Bell Rib.
Wastwater is three miles in length and a third of a mile wide... the scree slope on the eastern shore is about 2000ft high from top to base... the base being 200ft under the water.

Beyond Bell Rib is Great Door and an oppotunity to look down a sheer drop to the lake.

Great Gable from the summit of Yewbarrow.
It was late March 2003 and quite cold but I couldn't have wished for a better day.

Looking east from the summit to the highest land in England... Scafell Pike (3210').

Looking back up to the rockface I had just descended on my way off Yewbarrow.
I was using a Minolta SLR film camera which spent most of the climb in my back pack.

Back on level ground and a close up view of Watwater Screes.

These images don't do it justice... it really is an awesome sight.

Yewbarrow in the centre behind my car... while I am admiring the Screes.

I really am quite pleased how these old film images have scanned... they look a lot better than some of my first digital efforts.

In the 1990's I thought nothing of getting up at 6am and doing a 250 mile round trip to climb the highest mountains we have in England... (up to eight hours walking) before driving home the same day.
Better still were the long weekends with nights out under the stars camping.

 For about ten years I have enjoyed walking the footpaths around the valleys and lakes with only the occasional hillwalk... I have just checked the dates and the last climbs of note were Grisedale Pike (2424') during 2007, Coniston Old Man (2635') in 2005 and Yewbarrow (2060') in March 2003.

25 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

the mountains are beautiful! that one scene looking into the river valley w/ the farm or pasture plots to the side... WOW!!!

jewaicious said...

What a beautiful set of imagery, filled with wonderful textures and contrasts of nature's loveliness.

Kay said...

The mountains in the photos look like the mountains in our southern California desert.

Rambling Woods said...

These are beautiful Andrew...we share the same birthday on the 19th so I will wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY and hope this year is a wonderful one...Michelle

Bob Bushell said...

You are a hill walker, and a lover of true nature. Miraculous photos.

Anonymous said...

Hi Andrew, I love those photos of the mountain. Magnificent. Have a great weekend!

Eva

Pantherka said...

Andrew, these are amazing photos ... beautiful mountains ... just beautiful!
Greetings.

Susan Scheid said...

I imagine I've written this before: there is simply no place like the UK for walking (even if one is beyond the stage of an 8 hour climb), for nowhere else I know has the rights of way. Here, beautiful though it is, it's simply not the same.

Let alone looking at the gorgeous scenery in your photos, I began to swoon at the very sight of an Ordnance Survey map! (We have a collection here, built up over many years.)

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

What great country to take a walkabout in. Ah yes, ten years ago I too would not give it a second thought but now, although I suspect I could manage the trek up to those peaks I'd be tapped out by the time I got back to the car. My legs would be twitching for the rest of the day. Great post Andrew. And yes, those film photos look great and different tha digital.

Sylvia K said...

What an awesome place, Andrew! And such a great place to walk! I love the water! Your captures are superb and amazing that they are as old as they are! Terrific post for the day, thanks for sharing it! Hope your weekend is going well!

Sylvia

Pantherka said...

I've already made ​​a change ... thanks :-)

Carole M. said...

admire your stamina having achieved what you did Andrew. The photos are testimony to spectacular scenery. Keep on enjoying your planned escapades, big or small; we all benefit from them.

Art said...

Amazing pictures of the landscape! Breathtaking!

Anonymous said...

As usual, magnificent! It's funny how we look back (not that far) and remember things we use to do with endless energy, yet in a short time span our lives somehow slow down and those small hills that were once nothing to climb are now more like mountains!

I am also looking forward to walking again come warm weather, but will stick to nature trails and paths.

genie said...

What gorgeous photos...and they scanned beautifully. I wish I was sitting here with my hiking books from England trying to decide where I was going to hike this summer. I must admit I am terribly jealous. This area is one I know my husband would love to hike in. Thanks for such a nice post. genie

Sallie (FullTime-Life.com said...

Andrew, even your scanned photos are absolutely amazing! I don't think I was EVER young enough to do those kind of hikes after a 125 mile drive and then drive back home. I'm sure I wasn't. Thanks for sharing your beautiful trip. (Sounds like a great way to spend the cold winter evenings, looking forward to summer and planning your hikes@!)

Gillian Olson said...

Looks like a great area for a walk. The view looking down over those checkerboard fields is lovely.
These pictures scanned really well.

Susan said...

Amazing! That's a long way up to take pictures! You must have the greatest legs ever!

ADRIAN said...

A perfect day. grand shots of my favourite area.

Brian King said...

Your scenery is just gorgeous, Andrew! I love the mountains! Excellent photos!

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Great find! Beautiful work !!!

Unknown said...

Great views, great post!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

You have been rambling, presumably with your camera, for decades. You must have seen most of England first hand by now, often on foot.

Kathie Brown said...

Beautiful shots! You make me want to get on my hiking boots!

Ruby said...

These pictures are stunning! I love the rugged mountains and the Wastwater picture. Thanks for sharing! Ruby