I recently watched a You Tube video by a chap called Thomas Heaton, he is a photographer who is based in the North East of England and often photographs in the Lake District, in this video that i was watching he trekked up Dale Head, a link to his video is here: I Live For Moments Like This | Landscape Photography, Hiking, Camper Van. - YouTube
After lock down has finished and we can explore the outdoors again, I have realised that my fitness levels are not what they were, and that i need to improve these so that i will be able to hike up the higher fells again.
With this in mind I latched on to Thomas's visit to Dale Head and decided that i would pay this a visit as you can drive up to Honister Slate Mines, park the car and you are most of the way up. (I know this is a lazy way, but needs must)
I chose my morning after consulting the weather man, and selecting the best morning of the weekend. There has been a substantial snowfall in the week before in the Lake District, but after careful research I found that it was not that heavy around Dale Head.
So bagged packed, food prepped, and woken by a 3.30 am alarm call, off I set, arriving at the car park well before sunrise and ready for the challenge ahead.
I had allowed a hour to hike from the car park to the summit of Dale Head, with the map indicated a straight forward route which was steep at the start, but eased off as you approached the summit.
I was surprised how cold it was, especially as his was the first week in May, minus 3 degrees showing on the cars temperature dial.
I Wrapped up against the elements and set off, finding my way using the head torch.
Straight from the edge of the road the climb began, eager and as enthusiastic has I was, I began to gain height but the effects began to show, becoming hot, sweaty and out of breath, again showing that i was struggling to get up the slopes, after 20 minutes I stopped to remove my hat and gloves as i was roasting, another 15 minutes further on another stop to remove my outer jacket.
I had now reached the stage where a thin layer of ice was visible, then about another 100 meters further on the fist sign of snow was found, by this time the light was bright enough now and I could dispense with the head torch.
I was surprised how quickly the sun was rising in the east, despite it having to clear the mountains it was arriving with some speed. I decided to stop walking and see if I could get some photos of the first light began to shine over the hills in the east.
I ended up spending about 30 to 40 minutes here, using the 70 - 200 mm lens to pick out detail within the large vista in form of me.
By the time I decide to carry on the walk, the light was quite bright, but the sun was now hidden by a large bank of clouds that had formed to the east, has I gained height the snow became thicker, I was struggling to pick out the path, mainly due to the path being at a lower level than the surrounding ground which had a greater depth of snow covering it, I decided to walk on the grassed areas, as the snow was slightly thinner here, and it reduced the chance of turning a ankle on the rocks that were on the path.
The effects of the constant climbing were effecting me and slowed my progress, the effort of walking through the snow, akin to trying to walk up a sand dune were also draining what energy levels I had remaining.
I continued to battle on, falling for the old chestnut of looking up, thinking the top was in reach, only to find that there was another rise once you reached the top of the ridge!!
Never the less, I eventually got to the summit after one hour and 45 minutes, but this did include my earlier stop to get some photos.
On the summit the snow was around 150 mm thick, which surprised me, so I carefully walked around the summit looking for compositions.
I have to say the views were well worth the effort, fantastic in all directions, unfortunately the sun had beaten me, but it was still relatively low in the sky and it offered some side light on the fells around and below me.
I began by getting some shots of Newlands Valley that reached out from below me towards the Skiddaw range of fells, the cloud inversion over Bassenthwaite Lake and the surrounding valley adding more interest and atmosphere.
I was like a kid in a sweet shop, using my wide angled lenses to capture the larger vistas, and the 70 to 200 mm lens to pick out the detail within the views.
After 20 minutes on the summit, I noticed how cold it was, so on went the coat, gloves and hat to keep me warm. I stood and took in the views, the silence, the isolation, what a place.
Soon after the weather began to close in, mist, clouds then it began snowing, I was well, equipped for a hiking trip, with plenty of clothing, food and map and compass, but did not have any specialist snow gear, so I thought the logical decision was to pack up and head down whist the conditions allowed and enabled me a safe route back to the car.
I had probably spent nearly two hours on the summit and had thoroughly enjoyed it, this enjoyment putting the pain and frustration of the struggle to walk up the fell to the back of my mind.
The surprise being how quickly the sun rises at this time of the year, and how quickly the light becomes quite harsh, maybe 30 minutes of soft warm light then its gone.
Once back at the car I had a well earned cuppa and some food before setting off back home via Buttermere and the Lorton valley in the hope that there might be some favorable conditions, sadly the harsh light, and windy conditions were not providing any thing special, so i continued home, whilst making a mental not to oneself, I need to get fit to enable me to get up these hills more easily in future.
Comments