Langdale Trip Reports

Sunday 10th November 2002
The weather in the lakes couldn't make up it's mind what it was doing. After poor weather forecasts all week, things looked promising on the drive from Manchester. As we came along the shores of Windermere, there were fine views right up Langdale to the Pikes and Bowfell. As we meandered along the valley of the River Brathay towards Skelwith Bridge and Langdale, the low winter sum and the remenants of the early morning mist made for fantastic views. In the end 5 hikes set off, but this doesn't give an idea of the split..., almost half the people on the coach decided on hike 2, Bowfell and Crinkle Crags. The group was split in two early on, letting the quicker people get a move on and leaving the rest to walk at a more leisurely pace. The two groups were never far apart and there was plenty of switching between the two and the odd bit of route altering, mainly to avoid Bowfell! The weather never really did clear properly on this side of the valley and while the hikes on the Langdale Pikes were out of the cloud (but not necessarily in sun!) all day, Bowfell and Crinkle Crags kept their tops in cloud for most of the day. This was infuriating to those of us up there as, during the short breaks in the cloud, we could see across the eastern Lakes to the Pennines, all in bright sun...! A few spots of rain and the setting of the sun got everyone hurrying off the hills to the warmth and comfort of the valley's pubs. Only Hike 1 (Esk Pike, Bowfell and Crinkle Crags) was completed in darkness and only just in time for the coach to leave for Manchester on time. All other groups having plenty of time to enjoy a pint or two.

Sunday 30th September 2001
Returning the the ever popular Langdale after an absence of almost a year was not the good day out it could have been. The weather was perhaps the worst we've seen on a day hike in several years. I have reliable sources that tell me that the weather was fine in Manchester. It was even quite nice in Kendal, but in Langdale in rained. It rained and it was very windy. Only Hike 3 was completed as planned, all the others being changed or shortened in some way so that most people were back in the pub by three o' clock, at which time it stopped raining and was nice enough to sit outside the pub and try to dry damp waterproofs.



Mustn't grumble. We'd like to be able to promise good weather all the time but we seem to have lost touch with 'im upsatirs, so the best we can do is encourage everyone to bring good waterproof clothing and to remember to keep their spare stuff in plastic bags so that doesn't get wet too...

Fri 13th - Sun 15th October 2000
The trip didn't start too well - there was a very low turnout and the kit bag was left in Manchester! (oops, Tim.) But things soon started looking up. Saturday was cloudy, and everyone climbed the Langdale Pikes in mist, stopping at the Stikle Barn for refreshements before returning to the Hostel.





On the Sunday, the weather was better. Alistair, Chris and Tim scaled Bowfell and Crinkle Crags, Alistair cursing the clouds before they finally cleared late in the day. The rest of the group had a nice little walk which finished in the pub.







Everyone enjoyed themselves, the gingerbread was apparently up to its normal standard, and the minibus (wonder of wonders) didn't break down.

Sunday 5th December 1999
Time for Snowball Fights



This was our second to last hiking trip of the year. It was also the second dayhike so far this winter year to have snow! This hasn't happend like this since 1996 so it makes a nice change! The day itself was cloudy in the morning with snow / rain later on - temperatures steadily rising during the day. Two days before, widespread floods were reported along with storms. Next Dayin Langdale was also flooded! So despite the rain, we were still lucky to choose today!



All the hikes were completed successfully though those on Crinkle Crags didn't bother tackling 'the bad step' Someone else reported to them that:

'The Bad step is very BAD today!'

Subsequently that hike chose to avoid the step .... bar one or two nutters! Meanwhile those who were wondering over the Langdale Pikes had a successful trip - even though all but two couldn't be bothered to climb the Pike O' Stickle. 'I'm too tired' was the general consensus. Despite that, the summit just rose 30m above their heads!







Snowball fights were reported in most hikes though no-one was picked on in particular and thus no-one was pinned to the ground to have snow stuffed down their backs!

A reasonable day for hiking but poor for photographs. Still the editor got 15 pictures taken.