Two days in Wasdale - 17th / 18th May, 2014. Day 2.

Sheep pushes tree over!

The long plod up through Hollow Stones.

Scafell Pike's north facing crags.

Scafell and Broad Stand from the Mountain Rescue Box.

Lord's Rake from the stretcher box.

Great Gable seen from Scafell Pike.

Back at Stockley Bridge and Seathwaite. 

Two days in Wasdale - 17th / 18th May, 2014. Day 1.

Myself and Jon spent 2 days in Wasdale. Day one was from Seathwaite, up to Styhead Tarn, via Taylor Force Gill. 

From the stretcher box at the tarn, we took the path for the Climbers Traverse, crossing the Hell Gate gullies and the climbers crags.

Spot the climbers on Trophet Wall.

We didn't "Thread the Needle", as we were carrying large packs, so went below,
watching the climbing action as we did so.

Home for the night - Wasdale Head.

Scafells from Great Gable. 

Final look at the Napes Ridges as we descended the scree for the main path to Wasdale. 

Back on solid ground!

A welcome sight.

Great Gable from the campsite at the Wasdale Head Inn.

Threading the Needle, 11th March 2012.

With the prospect of little in the way of winter climbing (at our level !), myself and Ian decided on some easy-ish scrambling in the Lakes. The forecast was also a bit better further south and so we headed for Seathwaite with The Climbers Traverse, a "threading of the needle" and Sphinx Ridge. The walk via the alternative path alongside Taylorforth Gill was pleasant but sweaty in the unusually warm weather, and the Climbers Traverse was equally enjoyable. The low cloud came and went as we approached Napes Needle and we finally got a view of our route between the needle and the crag behind. The way up between the Needle and the main crag needs some squirming and grunting to get up before a brief rest on some blocks before the tricky (in the wet) downclimb.    

As it turned out, it was damp in the shaded side of the needle and together with the very polished rocks we didn't fancy trusting our boots on the greasy rock. We had put harnesses on in case of this so all we had to do was get out the 30m roped, place it round one of the blocks and abseil down.  

Ian abbing down through the gloom on the other side of the needle. We then made our way around the face of the crag to the Dress Circle for a well earned cuppa!  

Sadly there were no views of the Scafell's to be had through the cloud and there was only just a view of Napes Needle itself.

  Somehow I managed to draw blood, either on the way up through the needle or on the abseil down! 

 Sphinx Rock through the cloud and Sphinx Ridge behind it. There are various descriptions for getting onto the ridge, but in the past, in good weather I have tackled it direct from behind the Sphinx. Most guides have it as a grade 2 scramble, however today it proved really awkward and needed a bit of a cheat by pulling on some gear as we climbed up to the right of the slab into a notch in the first tower!? I can only guess I went left up the more exposed slab to the left the last time I did it? Obviously the more direct route is harder ,maybe Diff or V-Diff? 

 We did see a (very small!) brocken spectre further up the ridge though.

After the enjoyable scramble up Westmorland Crags, we were rewarded with a cloud inversion over Styhead and Wasdale, with the Scafell's in the distance.

Looking over to Langdale with Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle and Windermere behind.

Some of the locals down in Seathwaite.

Threading the Needle, Sphinx Ridge and Pinnacle Ridge - 20th June 2010

Another promising weather forecast lead us to choose Wasdale as our base for some walking /scrambling, so we headed south for the National Trust campsite near Wasdale Head. The campsite involves a longer drive to get to, via Whitehaven, but the location is stunning and as it's a car free site much more peaceful.

The campsite has views of Great Gable, Scafell Pike and Hollow Stones (shown above).

From the campsite we headed past The Wasdale Inn and up the path to Styhead with views of the Napes Ridges on our left all the way up to the stretcher box  near Styhead Tarn.

A closer view of the Napes Ridges and the White Napes to the left, with Westmorland Crags higher up.

From the stretcher box, we turned sharp left on the rising path that leads up and below Kern Knotts and Tophet Wall where the more serious climbers where heading. Scafell Pike is across the valley behind Lorna with Lingmell to the right.

This Gold Ringed Dragonfly kindly lead the way for a few hundred metres!

The grade I/II Climbers Traverse as it is known eventually leads to Napes Needle and the strenuous chimney that you shuffle up to reach the narrow gap between the needle and the main crag - difficult to make out the awkwardness from the photo. 

The view of Napes Needle from the natural viewpoint of the " Dress Circle", showing the grade II downclimb into the gully and climbers on the V-Diff  "Needle Ridge", which starts directly from the gap.

A better view of Needle Ridge and Needle Gully on it's left.

  

Sphinx Rock comes into view as you traverse around the gullies and ridges of the Napes. Our next route, the grade II Sphinx Ridge, rises up directly behind the Sphinx itself.

 

Before reaching the Sphinx you pass behind this large flake, the start of another climb I assume as we saw a team set off from there (?), and on past Arrowhead Ridge.

Climbers on the V-Diff Arrowhead Ridge. A grade II option exists to bypass the lower section and join above the climbing difficulties via the gully on it's left.

 

The Sphinx gazes down into Wasdale whilst I find a way up to the strart of the Sphinx Ridge.

From the top of Sphinx Ridge, a short path leads over to the right of Westmorland Crags and Pinnacle Ridge. Another nice grade II with a continuing alpine (ish) feel to it. The route rises from right to left up a central arete which is difficult to spot until close up. 

 

From the top of the ridge it's a short walk to the summit of Great Gable with views down over Hell Gate and the tops of the Napes Ridges

 

 

  

On Great Gable's summit is a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by members of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club during the First World War. Every year on Remembrance Sunday, hundreds gather here in all weathers to pay their respects.