Optimism Wins the Day

For this year’s walk on the Keswick Trip Richard had arranged a stroll to Ashness Bridge from the car park under Walla Crag. The weather was not looking good but Richard said that it would clear up after 10pm so about 9.30 we set off.

The intrepid party comprised Richard & Penny, Frank & Margery, Hilary Turnbull (Brian had a bad knee so couldn’t walk), Colin Pickles and Jon Allanson. Frank had climbed Walla Crag in 1976 from the other side, consulted his Wainright and thought that now as an old man, he could manage the planned route. Colin photographed the party at the start and we did have about two minutes when it didn’t rain!!

We followed what Wainwright described as “the narrow trod” under Falcon Crag and encountered some viewpoints which in normal times would have had great views of Derwentwater etc We were just about able to see across the lake to Catbells but Skiddaw was invisible in the murk. The path was very wet but not difficult and involved crossing a few streams but all were safely negotiated.

We arrived at Ashness Bridge to find a few more hardy souls with cameras but it was still impossible to see as far as Skiddaw. We posed for a picture to prove we had done it and tried to return via the lake shore as the map showed a path along the shore below the road. Unfortunately, the water was just too high so we were forced to scramble up the bank to the road but didn’t have to walk very far on the road until we found the path back to the car park.

We were very pleased to find that the hotel has a drying room – boy was it needed!

Frank Hutchinson