Knott Haloo

Looks promising, stopping off at Bowness briefly for a photo

Sometimes you just have to go there!  The minute I read the name of this little summit I wanted to be there.  It just sounds perfect and now having been there I can tell you it is.  Of course, some folks won’t need to be told that this little fell is just above Threlkeld and is joined to the main ridge of Blenthathra by a short arête to the summit of Gategill Fell.  It once boasted it’s own fell race which I believe was won at least once by Horwich’s very own Colin ‘Mad Man’ Jones. 

From St John’s in the Vale - Knott Haloo is in the centre, the triangular buttress with the summit shown in relief about the beginning of the snowline on the Blencathra massif

Conditions were perfect with not a cloud in the sky, for FSS and me the first climb from the car, parked at Threlkeld, took us directly up to the summit of Knott Haloo.  Hard to believe that anyone could run on such a gradient and I’m sure most of them didn’t.  But what a descent , nerves of steel and knees of iron would be required.  

Approaching the summit of Knott Haloo

FSS on the Knott with Blencathra beyond

Beyond Knott Haloo – doesn’t look too bad at this stage!

We came round this bit!

Beginning to get a bit concerned!

Not a problem!

I can tell you it was a bit of a shock to the calves to be back on the high fells after some considerable absence.  I was just lovin’ it until the short ridge onto Blencathra and then it became a bit of an ordeal for me, even with ice axes and FSS cutting steps and breaking through the cornice onto the main ridge of Blencathra’s mighty summit, I was still a bit of a wreck – no head for exposure I’m afraid. 

Safe at last!  A welcome respite and a bar on Blencathra

Looking back at our route from the safety of  the Blencathra Ridge  

….and across to Hall Fell Summit

Anyway that out of the way, the day continued in splendid form with a fantastic run down to the ‘summit’ of Mungrisedale Common.   We first visited this spot some ten years ago when we were walking the Wainrights, no thoughts of running at that time.  Today there’s a fine cairn, but back then the ‘summit’ was marked by a single flat stone.

Our route took us southerly down to the Glenderaterra Beck and sharply up over Jenkin Hill before taking the main track up to the summit of Skiddaw.  Lots of ice and snow tempted us to don Kahtoolahs (FSS) and my newly (that morning in Ambleside, and highly commended) acquired ‘Pavement Crampons’.  These proved fantastic for running in the conditions, fitted in seconds and extremely lightweight to carry.  (Also be good for the car park at work.) 

 

In the shadow of Little and Lower Man the temperature dropped considerably and the clouds rolled in with sunshine streaming through onto Derwentwater, giving spectacular views from the summit.  More layers gained before a thrilling descent down the tourist track pasing the car park below Latrigg before heading easterly to pick up the old railway line back to Threlkeld.  Meeting on our way our friend Tony Bland out for a walk with his two lurchers. 

            

Dramatic weather above a semi-frozen Derwentwater

Fantastic day on the fells amounting to 14.3m and 4,775ft of climbing.  Just out of interest the Garmin recorded 4.679ft climbed but the former figure is measured from the map this morning (thanks FSS).  Just puts paid to the rumour about Garmins overestimating height gained.  Last week’s run of 24.5m ten miles longer than yesterday, only gave 3,629ft of climbing, but the combination of both must be good for the legs, although I’m not sure they would agree today!

NLN