Eagle Crag and Sergeant Crag

An early start had me a parking place in Stonethwaite  in front of the
postbox.

Adrian, a friend at work had done this walk a couple of weeks back and I remembered that last time I did it there were a couple of ponds full of frog spawn.

The forecast was better for the Sunday but as is the way of these things I was tied to the Saturday.  So I trudged up the valley in the flat light of a cloudy day.

The route from here appears to be impossible as it goes up the front of the crags in the picture above. The secret is to go up the fell to the col between Bleak How and the fell behind.  There is a series of ramps and ledges to the top.  Having said that the path does swing off right at the top and a more 'interesting' direct route can be made up the top tier.

The top has a wonderful slab of rock that makes a grand picnic table in summer.  At this point a few bright intervals were appearing in the clouds.  Off to the next peak, Sergeant's Crag.

View to Bowfell /Esk Pike.

 Just down from the next summit are two small tarns which I can't see on the OS map.  I'm sure others will spot them straight away.  I was here in the past when the tarns and the surrounding grass were covered in frog spawn.  We spent half an hour rescuing it and putting it in the water.  Must be  bit early this year as no sign of anything.  Still it 's a good place to sit and contemplate the meaning of lif.

The descent is straightforwards down the side of Greenup Gill, in which, if you deviate from the path, there are some good waterfalls to see.

No frog spawn , but I did see four buzzards, one red squirrel and a hare.

Karrimor Alpiniste 45

I have not owned a Karrimor rucksack since 1978 ish.  But I had a look in the Field and Trek store in Ambleside last week and they had Karrimor at 40 or 50% off.  I had priced up Lightwave and Black Diamond sacks and they were nearer £100 pounds.  So I took the plunge and bought the above sack for £50.

The reason I need the sack is because my Black Diamond sack, orange one above, is 30l and I find it a bit small for winter use.  I generally carry a belay type jacket plus waterproofs, spare hat and gloves, map, sarnies, flask, and not to mention crampons and/or skis etc.  So I had been using my Gregory Z pack above ,  another great sack and plenty big enough.  I just thought something around 45 litres would be better.

The Karrimor has all the relevant attachment points for axes etc. and has a separate slot inside for a platypus.  It seems well made.  The only thing , so far, that I dont like is that the chest strap is one of those that slot onto a rail.  I have not had much luck with these in the past.

So today I had a walk up to the Lake District Ski Club hut on Raise carrying the skis and gear.  If you click on photos they enlarge.  The sack was comfortable and coped with the skis no problem.  

Terrible conditions today , snow poor crusty stuff and visibility nil on the slopes.  Ah well it was a good walk and the vegetable korma and cappuccino in the Lakeland Pedlar were spot on.

Seat Sandal

Havent posted for a while.  We were up Skiddawweek before last  and there was a hunt on.  We saw the fox being chased and it really spoiled my day.  Dozens of men, dogs, guns and one fox.  They' re so brave.  Asked one of the lads on a quad bike if it was a hunt , "no just exercising the dogs."  The fact that they can get away with such a feeble excuse is contemptible.
Anyway, back to this week, the weather was a bit cloudy and not feeling too energetic we went straight up from Dunmail Raise.

It's a bigger hill than I remembered, and i was glad of a cup of tea at the top in the lee of a small crag. We followed the wall down to descend Raise Beck.

So back to the car and into Ambleside for a cappuccino.  Bought a half price rucksack in Field and Trek.