Mickleden Round 2-day backpack

Pitch on Allen CragsA solo circuit around Mickleden, approaching via Lingmoor Fell and the valley path to Esk Hause and Allen Crags and returning over Martcrag Moor via Thunacar Knott and the Blea Rigg ridge.

The first backpack in winter snow this season, an excellent round in magnificent clear conditions with hardly any wind. The snowfall had been uneven in the Lake District, with these central and southern fells best covered while the north and north western fells had very little. In fact there was rather more snow here than I anticipated and I didn’t even think about taking the Kahtoola crampons, but I didn’t need them, as usual, and the walk presented no difficulty.

The highlight was a splendid pitch on Allen Crags, standing in the warmth of a down jacket in the calm very cold air and soaking up the sunset and sunrise views. It was the first outing for the LaserComp in snow, and it was fine as expected, but I must try to find a better way of packing it so that it doesn’t freeze my hands numb:- that ultrathin material when encased in frost is the coldest thing I’ve ever felt in my life by far.

Full report & photos

Posted by Geoff C on December 1, 2008 at 17:22. Filed under Backpack Trip Reports.
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9 Comments

  1. andy
    Posted December 1, 2008 at 9:56 pm | Permalink

    Fabulous photos - I’m deeply jealous!

  2. Gary R
    Posted December 2, 2008 at 12:53 pm | Permalink

    Hi Geoff - loved the photo’s, I did envy you camping out on Saturday night, I picked up your email from my blog on Saturday afternoon saying that you were going out, I did think about you when I was sat in front of the nice warm log fire in the hotel in borrowdale though! 8-)
    We couldn’t have got a better weekend weather wise, its not often you get two cracking days like that especially at the weekend!

    Gary

  3. Geoff C
    Posted December 2, 2008 at 3:50 pm | Permalink

    Andy, Gary
    Many thanks - it was one of those rare trips to preserve forever, the best the mountains can offer.

  4. alan.sloman
    Posted December 2, 2008 at 8:56 pm | Permalink

    Geoff - Sensatonal - Thanks fella - inspirational as always - must look out for a decent forcast…

  5. Geoff C
    Posted December 3, 2008 at 9:37 am | Permalink

    Thanks Alan, those are the ones to watch for, magical.

  6. Martin Rye
    Posted December 3, 2008 at 2:47 pm | Permalink

    Magic, great, amazing. That had it all and more Geoff. Thanks.

  7. Geoff C
    Posted December 3, 2008 at 8:29 pm | Permalink

    Thanks Martin, bound to be one of the best walks of the winter already.

  8. Marcus
    Posted December 8, 2008 at 10:21 pm | Permalink

    Hi Geoff

    Amazing trip and photos. Had a great trip myself the other weekend just over the way on Lingmel. Short but certainly sweet.

    Reading your report took me back, especially the packing the icy tent away!

  9. Geoff C
    Posted December 9, 2008 at 3:00 pm | Permalink

    Thanks Marcus, great conditions.
    I don’t think I’ve felt anything so cold as that flysheet, and I can’t do anything with gloves on!.

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