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The Wainwright Society Forum :: General :: Out and About :: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
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AuthorTopic: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012 (Read 281 times)
Frank
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Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Thread Started on Jun 15, 2012, 2:20pm »
Well I have been on with the second round now for just about 12 months and so far have only had the one trip to the Western Fells back on the 14 April when I joined Ray, Lindsay, Rob, Don, Bros and Topsy on a jaunt around the High Stile Range. So for the first of my two days in the park this week I decided to go for Pillar, but by the High Level Route, and then come back over Red Pike and have a look up Yewbarrow ( I left out Scoat Fell and Steeple as I want to include these in another route I am planning from Ennerdale).

Anyhow the day started out very wet although things did improve a little in the afternoon. I mention this simply as an excuse for some rather poor photography. The link below gives you the gist of my day which ended with a rally stile race across Hardknott to Ambleside to seek out some overnight accommodation.

Frank.

https://picasaweb.google.com/10018163711....feat=directlink

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duncan
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #1 on Jun 15, 2012, 7:49pm »
Well done, I recall doing this walk a few years ago in similar conditions and your photo of that sloping wet rock reminded me that my heart was in my mouth as I was going across, to slip on that rock does not bear thinking about.
I also recall that the start of the High Level route was a bit steep, thanks for posting your pictures as it brings back the memory of that walk.

Duncan
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Lindsay
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #2 on Jun 15, 2012, 8:16pm »
Frank,

Glad you enjoyed the Shamrock Traverse; one of my favourite bits!!

Please put us out of our misery and tell us you did find a room for the night ;D

Lindsay
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #3 on Jun 16, 2012, 3:40pm »
A good walk that one Frank.

Yewbarrow is my favourite Wainwright fell, and the high level route to Pillar one of the classics. I've always felt the Shamrock Traverse was a bit over-hyped, but then I've only done it it dry conditions.

Nice to see someone else finishing the Birketts in the classic manner.
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #4 on Jun 17, 2012, 12:59pm »

Jun 15, 2012, 8:16pm, Lindsay wrote:
Frank,

Glad you enjoyed the Shamrock Traverse; one of my favourite bits!!

Please put us out of our misery and tell us you did find a room for the night ;D

Lindsay


Lindsay,

You will just have to wait for instalment two of my Lingmoor Fell wander last Thursday.

Frank.
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greggy4
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #5 on Jun 17, 2012, 3:46pm »
great pics Frank
ive still to knock these off my list, and its good to get a 'walkthrough'!!
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Frank
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #6 on Jun 17, 2012, 4:42pm »

Jun 17, 2012, 3:46pm, greggy4 wrote:
great pics Frank
ive still to knock these off my list, and its good to get a 'walkthrough'!!


Greg,

Got a feeling that a 'runthrough' on Shamrock Traverse might be the best method, but I am glad the 'walkthrough' helps.

Frank.
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #7 on Jun 17, 2012, 5:04pm »
Good photos Frank.

Caroline :D
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #8 on Jun 18, 2012, 11:47am »
superb photographs...and which confirm that julie and I will tackle the Mosedale horseshoe by the strenuous but wimpish way, excluding (sadly) Stirrup Crag.

After this wekend trials and tribulations, we are down to 43 and 51 respectively.......
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #9 on Jun 18, 2012, 12:31pm »
Great pictures of a splendid walk, Frank. The high level route is superb and, in my experience, is a straight-forward (both senses) walk holding no terrors (even the Shamrock Terrace) and just requiring the usual care.

David
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #10 on Jun 18, 2012, 4:24pm »
More great pictures Frank.

When we completed last year Pillar was our final fell and we would have loved to do it by that route but the weather on the day was absymal all day as you may be able to tell from our summit picture :o ;D


[image]

We got soaked just loosening our jackets for a couple of quick summit pics so this is another one I really want to get round to doing again.

Cheers
Wendi
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Ray Bradshaw
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #11 on Jun 19, 2012, 4:55am »
Hi Frank, thanks for posting this route. It is one i am planning doing later this year. maybe in August / September depending on weather. ( thinking of a camping trip in Wasdale ) Do you think it too much to start with Kirk Fell if I have an early start ? I know it is strenuous and you know my pace (slow ) Are there any of those tricky bits on the route where I would have problems with Bross. Looking at the photos it looks straight forward, I enjoy a scramble but it can be tricky sometimes with a four legged friend with you.
Ray
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #12 on Jun 20, 2012, 10:03am »

Jun 19, 2012, 4:55am, Ray Bradshaw wrote:
Hi Frank, thanks for posting this route. It is one i am planning doing later this year. maybe in August / September depending on weather. ( thinking of a camping trip in Wasdale ) Do you think it too much to start with Kirk Fell if I have an early start ? I know it is strenuous and you know my pace (slow ) Are there any of those tricky bits on the route where I would have problems with Bross. Looking at the photos it looks straight forward, I enjoy a scramble but it can be tricky sometimes with a four legged friend with you.
Ray


Ray,

I am not sure how far you intend to go after Kirk Fell and Pillar High Level Route? I didn't find Kirk Fell (Highnose Head), Pillar (normal route), Black Crag, Scoat Fell, Steeple, Red Pike (Wasdale) and Yewbarrow too strenuous when I did this rather full Mosedale Horseshoe on the 12 June last year. The part I hated most was coming down Dore Screes after a long day.

From Kirk Fell (whichever route you take) you have to negotiate Kirkfell Crags to get down to Black Sail Pass and hence up to Looking Stead. I just came straight down through the steepest part and would not be happy for Bros to do this, but I think there is a more gentle way down to the east near to Sail Beck which meets the path from Beck Head.

I can't see Bros having too much difficulty with the High Level Path itself, but the start just above Looking Stead is now badly eroded and quite steep, but you can avoid this by keeping a little to the right and on the grass.

Shamrock Traverse will be no problem walking over on a good dry day - and if with Bros I would be happier if it was a good dry clear day. The final push up to Pillar, which starts opposite a line immediately across from the back of Pisgah, is steep in places with one near vertical bit of enjoyable scrambling (see my picture 15) bit with an easier path on the grass around to the left.

My only concern Ray is that on this latter part of the route you will need three points of contact at times and when you do will you be able to have sufficient control of Bros? What I am saying is that I would be easier in my mind if you did this walk with another person; and that comes from a reckless b----r like me 8-) ;D

I think after that (Kirk Fell and Pill HLR) I would then return via Red Pike and be happy with three great Western Fell summits.

Frank.
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Ray Bradshaw
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #13 on Jun 20, 2012, 11:04am »
Hi Frank thanks for that. You didn't mention Yewbarrow and Stirrup crag ? I have done Scoat fell and Steeple from Ennerdale side so won't be including them. Bross tends to find his own way up steep rocky sections and I feel I would be okay with that. My main concern is sheep he may encounter if I loose sight of him.
Ray
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Re: Pillar High Level Route 13 June 2012
« Reply #14 on Jun 21, 2012, 7:46pm »
Pity about the weather when others were enjoying sunshine, at least it did dry up. A great walk that, not sure I would have chosen to come down Dore Head, takes me as long down as up, despite the longer walk back from Overbeck.

Glad the weather was better for your Lingmoor walk the next day, some good photos of your route.
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