Walk : High Street (2,718
ft), Rampsgill Head (2,581ft), High Raise (2,634 ft)
and Kidsty Pike (2,560 ft)
from Mardale Head
Date : 5th
May 2021
Weather : Initial sunshine, passing hail showers,
cold @ 7°C
Distance : 7
miles round trip
Time Taken : 2 hours 10
mins to first summit (High Street)
Which
part of Lakeland is this walk situated
Terrain Overview
Overview
The so called best
weather day in
High
Raise and Kidsty Pike. High Raise would see me complete the Far
Eastern Region Book Two of the Wainwright Fells.
The route we
chose to initially get to High Street via the ridge of Rough Crag and Long
Stile under normal conditions is an adventurous but reasonably
safe way directly to the summit. In the
weather conditions we had today (Snow and Sleet)it was
dangerous and therefore I would personally recommend
that if you are in doubt of your scrambling /
rock handling abilities its best to leave this route for better conditions.
That said, the views are amazing
As we approach
the car park at Mardale Head a clear view of our
chosen route along the ridge leading to High Street
The free car
park is capable of holding several cars
Harter Fell from the gate at the south end of the car park
Through the gate
turn right to get on the path to the Rigg
The path to the Rigg
Heading towards
the Rigg and the start of the climb
At the gateway
turn left and prepare from some steep climbing
The start of the
climb
Looking back
down to the car park at Mardale Head
Looking across
to Branstree from the climb
Looking back to Haweswater from the climb
With High Street
poking up behind the ridge the route forward is in no doubt
Looking at Blea Water from Long Stile
Looking right to
what will be our final fell of the day – Kidsty Pike
(the pointy bit)
The final push
up to the summit and a bit of rock handling is required
Looking back
from the climb
At long last
after tussling with the steepness and snow – we get on top of High Street
Sue, Ste and
Spud on the summit of High Street. Click here for a 360 degree view from the
summit of High Street … https://youtu.be/0BtZfht6b20
Fine views over Riggindale towards the Eastern Fells
From the summit –
turn right and follow the path as it drops down to Rampsgill
Head
Looking down on
to Hayeswater from the drop down to Rampsgill Head
Looking back
from the descent to Rampsgill Head
At a point where
the path meets a stone wall veer right to pick up the track to Rampsgill. With there being so much snow down, the paths
were
a little difficult to follow
We eventually
correct our route and though snow covered we get back on the track leading to
the summit
A severe belt of
weather heading our way en route to Rampsgill Head
summit
Sue on the
summit of Rampsgill Head – Click here for a 360
degree view from the summit of Rampsgill Head … https://youtu.be/NvkoVTltnLA
We don’t hang
about on the summit as a severe weather belt is approaching us. Here the
straightforward track up to High Raise
Me on High Raise
(Book 2 completed) – Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit … https://youtu.be/EmAjPHYIfdU We then quickly
head off back to Kidsty
Pike
On the track to Kidsty Pike, we encountered thigh deep snow in parts
The weather belt
catches us up
On the summit of
Kidsty Pike, we don’t hang about for long. Click here
for a 360 degree view … https://youtu.be/gkePiD3Rw8c
From the summit
we make a sharp exit left down the band that follows the Riggindale
valley back towards Haweswater
Nearly back down
as yet another weather belt approaches
Safely back down
– just and where’s all the snow ??
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