Wet weather programme - Wasdale Head, 10th - 11th July 2010.

It was a case of damage limitation as myself and the Gunner set off from Seathwaite in the pouring rain. We were hoping the rain might stop later in the day, but we changed our plan of going up to Styhead Tarn and over Great Gable to going up Ruddy Gill from Stockley Bridge, detour past Sprinking Tarn, over to the stretcher box below Gable and straight down to Wasdale.
Even then we still got soaked and it was a relief when the rain finally eased so we could get the tents up.
Then it stareted raining again!
The tents; Coleman Epsilon 2 and Easycamp Star 100, both coped well with the almost constant rain. Unfortuneatly when you have such small tents, gettingwet kit dry isn't easy.

           

Luckily the Wasdale Head Inn is right next door to the campsite (not the National Trust site which is about 1km away), so we managed to get some gear dry as we sat and ate our meals in the bar. The food is simple but filling and served extremely quickly. The beer is nice too!

The following morning, the rain finally stopped about 10am and we were relatively dry aswell, so we set off for Brown Tongue and Hollow Stones. It was still quite windy though as we climbed the little path/chimney at the head of Hollow Stones which brings you out at Mickledore, before reaching Scafell Pike at 977m. The sun almost came out as we stopped for the last of our rations, before descending to the col between the Pike and Broad Crag, and then the path down to the Corridor Route and back to Seathwaite via Styhead Tarn.  

Lessons learnt; 

Take spare socks -  I hadn't planned on getting so wet

Wear gaiters - I hadn't planned on getting so wet

Take more plastic bags - I hadn't planned on getting so wet

Invest in a dry bag liner - yeah you guessed it

The slightest forecast of rain - Don't go out with a small, one man tent!