Our garden bath tub hut was looking out over Blencathra so I felt like we should probably hike up it. With shaky legs after the Via Ferrata the day before and being headache drunk at midnight I was pretty skeptical I would make it up the 860m height mountain the next day.
It made it to the list so I obviously did manage but only because:
– I ate a lot of sweets
– I complained a lot
– I used those hiking sticks popular with retired people to drag myself up
– I drove down the road to an easy starting spot as I was too scared to do either of the two ridges
In my defence of the last point nine people have died walking Sharp Edge and I am aware how clumsy I am.
Taking the less dangerous route up (starting just left of the pub in Scales) was an acceptable amount of views versus risk. We had a picnic overlooking a tarn which was beautifully clear but really fucking cold.
Then at the top my hiking buddy went far too close to the edge for my comfort level to get some photos like this (whilst I sat somewhere safe and tried to not have a nervous meltdown about the death risk).
But then we had saved some coffee and fudge and sat well away from the edge and I felt better.
By the time we started to head down it was pouring with rain so we only got some sheep photos as any view further was just cloud.
(my photo)
(not my photo)
Despite the rain and shaky legs and death fear it was fun. 8 out of 10.
EmilyBea&Me 