Tuesday 16th February, 2004

St. Sunday Crag via Pinnacle Ridge

Warning: Part of this route involves a grade 3*** scramble. 

Start Point: NY 396 159

End Point:  NY 396 159

Distance:   10.7miles / 17.2km

Max Height: 2,864feet / 873m

Height Ascended:  3,724feet / 1,135m

Estimated Time:  5hrs 16 mins

Weather: 2°C to -4°C at 700m  Clear with ewxtensive views in all directions.  Blackpool Tower was visible today.

General Description:  A vigorous walk with an ascent of one of Lakeland's finest scrambles.  Although altogether short, the whole ridge being confined to about 600m, the scramble is a fantastic experience across exposed edges but with strong rock.  There is one 6m 'crux' which would be better ascended with the safety of a rope if solo climbing is not your forte.  Descending the ridge if one becomes nervous is not to be recommended.

Route description

Nethermost Cove from Grisedale valley.  Snow above about 2500'.

Turning uphill behind the Elmhow Plantation - the key to the start of the Elmhow 'zig-zags'

On the zig-zags.  A surprisingly easy ascent up one of Lakeland's steepest and longest mountain flanks.  The engineers of the path new how to make the route less harsh.

Looking back every now and again revealed a breathtaking panorama of the Helvellyn massif.

An unnamed tarn south-west of Blind Cove.  Ullswater and Silver point in the distance.

Staring up at the Pinnacle Ridge - rather awe inspiring but without sense of scale in these photographs.  You just have to be there!

A rather spikey ridge - is that really the way?

Coming off the talus slope to reach the ridge's base.

Boulders as large as Land Rovers and with limb breaking cavaties between adorned the ridge like a badly jointed dry stone wall.

The ridge narrows as one climbs higher.  Crampon scratch marks guide the way but in places make the stone rather smooth and slippery.

Looking out into Grisedale - a vertical panorama.

You can see the tip of my shoe at the bottom and the snows of Helvellyn at top.

Looking back down the ridge at an easier point.  Snow covered the rock and at this point the ascent was decidedly 'airy'.

Looking down the 6m rock wall.  This is the crux of the ascent and it would be difficult to retrace your route from here.  Such an impasse would frighten away the usual fellwalker - AW certainly never graced this rock.  The rock wall was rather a shockj for me at first, but was easily overcome by using a four inch wide crack at a corner junction.  By using a fist jam and hand jam or two I was quickly above looking down.

Looking back from the terrace above.  The whole route is one of Alpine majesty - it was great.  Possibly the best.

Unfortunately my battery failed and the spare was in the car.  Shots of the Priest's Hole on Dove Crag will have to wait till next time. 

These two shots show the Pinnacle Ridge as seen from Striding Edge.  Next time you are there, you might take binoculars and spy out the view.

At the Ullswater Pier afterwards.

The view south

And most people thought the 'action' took place at Coniston Water.

A moment or two spent thinking about one of my heroes.

I have to say that this goes down as one of my best Lakeland days.  The Pinnacle Ridge, the snow, the views and the time spent in the 'Prist Hole' made this a very special day.  Even guiding two groups of walkers away from the tops made me feel a whole lot better.  Who can beat Lakeland?  What a place!

Peter M. Burgess, 2004

'fellrunning'