Hall's Fell That Ends Well

Dunmail Raise. 8am. Yes, it’s Leg 1 of BG, and possibly Leg 2.

Today we have Stu, Jarv, Mike McKenna, Mark Bell, Martin Benson, and Andrew Smiley. And Millie the dog.

Usual yomp up Skiddaw – legs a bit tired after walking the Lakeland Four Passes the previous day, where Doc Martin went past in a blur of Lycra, more Lycra and shorts worn over Lycra.

The cloud’s down, strong wind, and a bit of moisture in the air, but we’re soon off down to the stone track to begin the climb to Great Calva.

Food recommendation of the day: Fig rolls courtesy of Martin. It’s at this point that we strike up a conversation in Italian. I’m doing nightclasses; he’s been listening to Ianguage CDs. Fig rolls in Italian incidentally is Panino al fico. That bit of knowledge may come in useful. Anyway, after much Italian-style gesticulating, my arms are now tired. From Great Calva, it’s bouncing through the heather to cross the stream at the bottom. I fall in. In an attempt to get back to my feet, I stuck my other hand in. Today is not a good today for wet gloves.

Our route on Mugrisdale Common

The summit, well ok, pile of stones, of Mungrisdale Common is today proving elusive. It could be to the left. Or right. Or was that is over there?

Who knows, so we push past, probably swinging too far to the left, but with the clagg right down, it’s hard to tell. The important thing is to hit the summit of Blencathra dead on. Which we do.

Coming out of the Cloud on Hall's Fell Ridge

Down Hall’s Fell Ridge – I really dislike this route, particularly when the rock’s wet – and we’re at the bottom (and in my case with an intact bottom having not spent 10 yards on it sliding across jagged rocks – as on all my previous visits).

Millie’s looking a bit peaky so that shapes the decision that we’ll call it a day at Threlkeld. Time taken is just over four hours. Calories burned are 2,641 – or one packet of fig rolls.