Another 2-day circuit from Rosthwaite, taking the Grey Knotts ridge approach to Great Gable and the corridor route to Scafell Pike, then returning via Esk Pike and the Rosset Pike edge down to Langstrath.
I had two days of warm unbroken sunshine and very light winds for this last minute trip, and the long climbs concentrated in the first day made good training. There were fewer people than expected for such glorious weather in May, but clear signs that the summer rot is beginning to set in.
This trip was the result of a failure of my Golite Quest pack (more of which in a separate post). The Golite website says that it must be returned to the retailer, which is in Keswick, and I was scratching my head wondering how to package it up for posting when I decided it would be quicker and easier to drive up there and take it, making the most of the opportunity to do a backpack at the same time.
8 Comments
Geoff,
Looks like you had a good trip. Every time I end up in Langstrath I try and find that cave with the secret door. “I’m still looking”. How many summits you got left to bag in the Lakes?
Martin,
That cave rings a bell, can’t remember where I read about it, if it’s the one I’m thinking of.
No summits left at all (unless you count the very small ones in Birkett’s list and a few outliers). In the Hill Lists section on the main site, for most lists including the Nuttalls, Marilyns etc. there is a column showing how many times we have visited each summit. We completed all the Nuttalls of England and Wales around 12 years ago, and the Wainwrights (by accident) about a year later.
Geoff,
The cave got a mention in Trail (TGO fan myself with the odd relapse into Trail), I looked with a load of residents from the hostel I work in. We couldn’t locate it, and I’ve looked before and since. Last Feb I wild camped up on Stake Pass with a mate who like me is fixated with finding it. On that occasion we resisted going into Langstrath to look. We have asked around in Rosthwaite and we think from tips that it’s on Cam Crag. Apparently it’s got a chimney and all the mod cons and is on the side where you have three streams converging on the map. On doing all the Wainwrights and other summits well done. I’ll let you know if I do find that cave.
Now that’s interesting - I’ve just looked at the map for Cam Crag, and walking down Langstrath yesterday I saw a group of what I thought were climbers at the foot of that crag. From the valley floor it looks unassailable to walkers but the appearance may be deceptive, it could be easier than it looks (it would certainly need to be!).
If it’s located on the side of the crag, then perhaps a steep ascent up the stream (Woof Gill) might reach it.
Geoff,
Been a while since I goggled the cave and I found this, enjoy the search.
http://www.boydharris.co.uk/080128.htm
Can’t believe I found this.
Till another time.
Hi Everyone,
I must be lucky then. I’ve slept in this cave about 20 times after 1994 when I was shown by an insider. Pure joy the first time I saw it & the legend is true. Upstream to Blackmoss Pot. Look right. See that crag half way up?
enjoy the search - I don’t want to give too much away.
Rob - this is going back a bit!.
I haven’t been up Langstrath since, but I might take a detour if one of my routes takes me that way.
Hi Geoff,
I’ve been googling this a lot lately & I think the door got smashed in 06! I wanted to take my son, he’s seven now. Don’t want to show him a broken door though… it was very James Bond.
what’s that tarn called on tutherside of Glaramara? walk up towards great gable & Bowfell etc right beside Windy gap…
Thanks for the contact.