Ascent of Lingmell in Wasdale 7 miles 2500 ft of ascent. Walkers Michael D and Danny K

The weather forecast was for high cloud and v.g visibility, but you can never guarantee the weather in lakeland. Arrived at Wasdale Head at 745 and looking forward to a good walk.

The path we were to follow, went up a valley with Kirk Fell and Great Gable to the left and Lingmell to our right.

I don't think I have seen Great Gable from this side before. My previous sightings have all been of a mountain easily identifiable with a large rounded dome. This view is altogether different.

                   Michael crossing Lingmell Beck. Lingmell crags behind him.

After leaving the broad path that we had been walking hitherto, we branched of to the right along a path which could easily be missed if you happened to blink when passing. We lost sight of the path on many occasions, in this rocky terrain, only to find it again, a little further on.

                                                 Looking back down the valley.

              Oh no! Disaster. The shutters have started sticking on Michaels camera.

He did manage to get it working again, but it was a bit hit and miss for the rest of the day. Piers Gill behind me was very impressive, and very deep. I wonder if a frenchman came to grief in it, hence the name?

 The path on the map only went so far and from their it was a matter of finding the way ahead for ourselves.

Michael looking across to Great Gable and trying to pick out Napes Needle among it's craggy outcrop.

Looking north, Styhead tarn can just be glimpsed. The summit of Gable is just starting to cloud over.

Having followed Piers Gill all the way up from the valley below, we must now part company. Turning left we must follow a lesser tributary but equally deep and craggy, to a place where we are able to cross it and head for the summit of Lingmell.

                                            A small pyramid alongside the path.

                         We decided to upgrade it's status to that of Cairn.

         Looking across again to Gable and Kirk Fell. The cloud has begun to lift again.

As we reach the crossing point. Skafell Pike loomed up in front of us, but was blanketted in cloud. We turned off to the right, towards Lingmell summit, which for now at least is clear of cloud.

                                                                           Michael on the summit.

                                                  The cloud is coming down again.

Across a rocky stretch of land from where we stood by the cairn was a largish outcrop of rocks which looked equal in stature, if not higher than our cairn. We decided to investigate, passing this impressive craggy feature along the way.

Having reached the second quasi summit we settle down for dinner while Michael plays with his camera, and plays where am I with his brother and fellow Meanderthal Anthony. A young couple had just reached the summit cairn opposite, and the lad shouts across to us,       "Are we on the summit or are you". Someone else who was as baffled as us!

The cloud was beginning to close in, so we decided to investigate other likely places to have dramatic features around the top of the mountain and then heading back down by a more direct route.

The path down was much easier than the one by which we came up, but nowhere near as dramatic either.

                       The View up Mickledore towards Skafell and Skafell Pike.

                                                     The mist clears as we descend.

The view up the Mosedale valley. Almost back at the car now. A walk that far exceeded expectations. Thank you Michael.              DK