We decided that I should get some new walking boots and Niki needed another base layer and a pair of walking trousers. So we went into Keswick shopping this morning. I found a nice new pair of Scarpa boots and Niki got a base layer and a lightweight jacket. It was a bit of a nuisance that on a Sunday some shops don’t open until 11am so we didn’t leave Keswick until about 12.
We came back to our little cottage and got some lunch and decided that we would attempt Skiddaw (again!!!).
We drove to Milbeck and parked the car up. The path to Skiddaw was well signed and it was very obvious on the ground which was the correct way. The climbing was very steep and we took lots of rest stops on the way up to Carl Side. We were also being constantly fooled into thinking we were near to the top of Carl Side. When we though we were nearly there and every time we got to the top, another climb appeared from behind the top. The weather was beautiful, in fact I even got down to my short sleeved base layer because the climbing was making me too hot. We eventually made the summit of Carl Side and looked at the ominous looking Skiddaw.
The path to Skiddaw looked treacherous, it goes straight up through some very loose looking scree out of sight to the top. We were both very nervous about taking this path, in fact I wished that we’d taken the main route to the top from Keswick via Skiddaw Little Man but we were here now. My mind was also put at rest by the fact that a few other people seemed to be taking this route. Our main concern though was Niki who is very scarred of heights and I think she was doubting that she could do it.
We set off up the scree and we both just got our head down and put one foot in front of the other. Molly on the other hand seemed to run up the mountain and was wondering what was taking her mummies so long! It is a very long, very steep (very steep) path, but we eventually got to the top.
Once we got to the top the wind got up and we just had to make a 500 metre walk along the top to the true summit. It was amazing up there and this is something that I had wanted to do for years. The weather had never been quite right or something had always got in the way………….but today………….WE DID IT!!!
We came back to our little cottage and got some lunch and decided that we would attempt Skiddaw (again!!!).
We drove to Milbeck and parked the car up. The path to Skiddaw was well signed and it was very obvious on the ground which was the correct way. The climbing was very steep and we took lots of rest stops on the way up to Carl Side. We were also being constantly fooled into thinking we were near to the top of Carl Side. When we though we were nearly there and every time we got to the top, another climb appeared from behind the top. The weather was beautiful, in fact I even got down to my short sleeved base layer because the climbing was making me too hot. We eventually made the summit of Carl Side and looked at the ominous looking Skiddaw.
The path to Skiddaw looked treacherous, it goes straight up through some very loose looking scree out of sight to the top. We were both very nervous about taking this path, in fact I wished that we’d taken the main route to the top from Keswick via Skiddaw Little Man but we were here now. My mind was also put at rest by the fact that a few other people seemed to be taking this route. Our main concern though was Niki who is very scarred of heights and I think she was doubting that she could do it.
We set off up the scree and we both just got our head down and put one foot in front of the other. Molly on the other hand seemed to run up the mountain and was wondering what was taking her mummies so long! It is a very long, very steep (very steep) path, but we eventually got to the top.
Once we got to the top the wind got up and we just had to make a 500 metre walk along the top to the true summit. It was amazing up there and this is something that I had wanted to do for years. The weather had never been quite right or something had always got in the way………….but today………….WE DID IT!!!
We had to get back down the scree and Niki decided that she would prefer to go down on her bum, which she did most of the way. Then it was just a case of a gentle stroll back down from Carl Side to Milbeck.
What an amazing day, beautiful weather and I finally achieved one of my goals.
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