Showing posts with label jacks rake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jacks rake. Show all posts

Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Langdale Pikes from New Dungeon Ghyll

Date : 10th April 2011
Start/Finish : New Dungeon Ghyll
Wainwrights : Pavey Ark (2297 ft), Harrison Stickle (2415 ft)
Distance : 3.5 Miles
Height Gained : 2074 feet

The route : anticlockwise from the New Hotel


For this short but exhilarating walk I had the company of my 12 year old cousin. Having proved himself more than competent in the fells on previous hikes we decided to tackle the 'Jacks Rake' route on Pavey Ark. It was perfect weather as we set off from the New Dungeon Ghyll car park. The first section of the walk, up to Stickle tarn, is steep but on a good path with plenty of scenic interest along the way.


The iconic Langdale Pikes from the drive in

The initial steep ascent path
As the top of this first section is reached the view suddenly opens up in spectacular fashion over Stickle Tarn towards the imposing face of Pavey Ark, the largest uninterrupted rock face in the Lake District, and Harrison Stickle, the highest of the Langdale Pikes. Its an impressive vista with a knack of making you feel quite small.

Harrison Stickle

Pavey Ark over Stickle Tarn

 The shore of Stickle Tarn is a great spot to rest from the previous hour of uphill labour and then to ponder the options for further upwards progress. The are easy paths up onto Pavey Ark from both right and left of the above picture but the connoisseurs route is straight up the face along the infamous Jacks Rake. This diagonal gouge into the rockface can be seen sloping steeply upwards from right to left across the main face of the crag. It is not a route for bad weather but on a day like this it is a surprisingly straight forward scramble well within the capabilities of most fit fell walkers, despite its savage appearance from below.


Looking up towards Jacks Rake

Stickle Tarn

Jacks Rake with many tiny hikers visible along the route
The start of the Rake

Me, halfway up, by the tree

Rock climbers on the main face

Steep, but not as exposed as it looks from below ... so far

Hands & feet required

The hardest section is right at the end

Views back over Stickle Tarn

The final push before ...

... the Summit !

Pavey Ark summit panorama West

Pavey Ark summit panorama East

It was then an easy hike up to Harrison Stickle, the true summit of the Langdale Pikes and a place worth lingering for a while as the views are up there with very best in Lakeland.

Harrison Stickle summit

Harrison Stickle summit panorama West

Harrison Stickle summit panorama East

Views over Pike of Stickle towards Bowfell and Crinkle Crags

A popular spot for paragliders

Looking back over to Pavey Ark

Views over towards Blea Tarn

Views of Windermere from the descent path

The obligatory post hike paddle in the cool waters of Dungeon Ghyll

A last look back at the Langdale Pikes from near Blea Tarn



Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Langdale Pikes from Grasmere

Date : 16th March 2010
Route : from Grasmere via Easedale Tarn to Pavey Ark, Langdale Pikes and High Raise. Back via Sergeant Man and the Blea Rigg ridge.
Wainwrights : Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle, Loft Crag, Pike of Stickle, Thunacar Knott, High Raise, Sergeant Man, Blea Rigg.
Distance : 12 miles (19.3km)
Height Gained : 3425 feet (1044 meters)
Time Taken : 8.5 hours



The route : from Grasmere

 This is a great little 'figure of 8' walk from Grasmere. It is a long days hiking but has the advantage than you can bail out and head back at any point and by a variety of routes. For example you could cut it short at Harrison Stickle and come down the other side of Stickle Tarn and return over Blea Rigg, or continue on but at the cross over point return the same way via Easedale Tarn. There are many options.

I set off at 6:30 am mindful of the daylight available at this time of year and wanting to avoid heading back in the dark. I had reached Easedale Tarn an hour later with the morning mist still clinging to the fell tops. As I headed upwards past Belles Knott the mist began to clear but it was still swirling around Stickle Tarn when I arrived there another hour later.



A misty Easedale Tarn


The upwards path from Easedale Tarn


Belles Knott 'the Matterhorn of the Lake District'


Still Misty


First view of Pavey Ark & Harrison Stickle


Mist over Stickle Tarn


A Frozen Stickle Tarn

By 9am I was stood under Pavey Ark contemplating the fearsome looking Jacks Rake. According to Wainwright, it looks worse than it is and so with the benign weather, and visibility continuing to improve, I headed cautiously upwards. 

Jacks Rake is a diagonal route which cuts into the sheer face of Pavey Ark. It heads steeply upwards from right to left (as you look at it from over Stickle Tarn). It looks very exposed from below, appearing more like a rock climb than something within a walkers capabilities. Once on the 'Rake' however, the expected feeling of exposure largely vanishes as the route is cut deeply into a gully of sorts which is protected on both sides by rock. 

There is a section towards the top, where for perhaps 30 feet or so that protection dissolves, and care is needed as you scramble up the crags onto the summit. I would guess this is where accidents happen as unfortunately there have been a number of fatalities over the years on Jacks Rake. Care and full attention is therefore required at all times along this route. There are alternative ways up either side of Pavey Ark which do not involve the use of hands. So consider all options, particularly regarding the weather and your own capabilities before committing to this route.  



Pavey Ark with Jacks Rake just visible rising steeply on the left


Jacks Rake centre


It looks steep - and it is!


Looking up whilst on Jacks Rake

When I emerged onto the summit of Pavey Ark there wasn't much to see as the mist was swirling over the summit. I headed over to Harrison Stickle which is an easy stroll on a good path. At this point the mist finally lifted for the rest of the day.



Looking back to Pavey Ark


Harrison Stickle view down the Great Langdale Valley


Harrison Stickle view across to Blea Tarn


Loft Crag and Pike O'Stickle from Harrison Stickle


Harrison Stickle view down to Stickle Tarn and Pavey Ark


High Raise & Sergeant Man from Harrison Stickle

After spending a good 30 mins on Harrison Stickle summit I headed off to Loft Crag and Pike O'Stickle.



Pike O'Stickle looking unimpressive from this approach


Looking back to Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag from Pike O'Stickle

Loft Crag

Compared to the drama  of the past 2 hours the grassy stroll up to Thunacar Knott and High Raise was positively benign. 

Looking over Pavey Ark towards Windermere from Thunacar Knot

Looking back to the Langdale Pikes from High Raise

High Raise summit view west

High Raise summit view north-west

High Raise summit views east towards the Helvellyn range

 There was a surprising amount of snow on the way to Sergeant Man sometimes in drifts up to knee deep which made for interesting progress.


Sergeant Man

The back of Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn from Sergeant Man

Looking along the Blea Rigg ridge from Sergeant Man


Harrison Stickle, Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn from near Blea Rigg

Pavey Ark with Jacks Rake visible climbing steeply leftwards

Codale Tarn from Blea Rigg

Seat Sandal & Fairfield

Easedale Tarn

The onwards path looking towards Loughrigg and Windermere

And so concludes a highly recommended route given enough daylight hours and plenty of stamina.

Wainwright Count : 21/214