Wednesday 16 November 2011

Gathering of Remembrance on Great Gable 2011

Went to the annual gathering of remembrance on Great gables summit on November 13th 2011.
Parked up  at the car park off the Coast to Coast route near Ennerdale Water just past Ennerdale bridge.


Left there at 0655hrs and needed the headtorch for just the first 15 minutes.
Lovely red sunrise and little wind.






Headed out on the C2C path alongside Ennerdale water and over Anglers Crag.
Carrying on past the end of the water, through the gate to the right instead of going left towards Gillerthwaite I entered the forest and crossed the river via the new bridge, built slighter further upstream from the site of where the old bridge was washed away during the bad floods of a couple of years ago.






I kept to the South of the river Liza through the forest path as far as the memorial footbridge, where I left my Poppy and crossed to the North side track.







Soon I was at Black Sail Hut and walked most of the rest of the way up to Wind gap between Green and Great Gables with aguy who had driven as far up the track as possible, as he was late getting away from his B&B in Frizington.
Made a slight error by erring over to the right hand side of the 'Tongue' and came across a couple of hill shepherds gathering their sheep. I had a short chat with one of them who told me they were taking them to Seathwaite.










I left him and joined the queue for a short while before opting for the scramble route on Great Gable, joined the hoards and arrived at the summit at 1050hrs. Really strange weather, the breeze on top was actually warm, and I didn't need a jacket.









I made my way to the highest boulder and shop a short video of those already there. A bit down in numbers this year, but still over a thousand were present and more still arriving all the time.


After the silence it was time for a quick exit as it can become quite hazardous getting down with many feet sending rocks flying all over the place.


I returned virtually the same way I had come up, except that I stayed more on the broad crest of the 'Tongue' and remained on the North track until the 'Track/Road bridge and then rejoined the South route.



















Saw quite a few of the Abderdeen Angus herd in various places and evidence of their presence on the track (mind your step!)

Lovely views of the water and surrounding hills.



I got back to my car after 8hrs and 5 mins and my SPOT log showed a distance of just over 18 miles.
Really nice day out.