Grisedale Pike was a spur of the moment decision, I originally intended on Lingmoor from Elterwater which I hoped would be below the forecast cloud. It was a surprise to see Grisedale Pike looming over the mist boiling up from the forestry plantations above Wythop. All the other hills were well & truly obscured so the decision was made for me - it also gave me an opportunity to have a closer look at the current works around Force Crag Mine.
Over the last year or two the mine road had been improved, there has been a period of drilling/boring, and last summer I saw people taking samples from the beck. The latest ongoing project is for the construction of a series of lagoons to capture various metals (3 tonnes a year) being washed out of the mine and improve the water quality flowing into Bassenthwaite. It will be interesting to see how well it all blends in.
Some info:-
Slightly annoying, roadside parking it is...
views down Bassenthwaite & Binsey, Skiddaw in cloud...
Grisedale Pike, Eel Crag & Sail all free from cloud...
looking down to Kinn, low cloud everywhere else...
Grisedale Pike, majority of the climb now complete...
getting buffeted by the wind fortunately it's a nice wide ridge...
there was quite a lot of water coming down Coledale, worrying about the stepping stones now...
the summit was cloud free up to the point I arrived!!!
I hung around for a few minutes then began the descent to Hobcarton Crag...
just as quick as it came, Hobcarton Crag to Ladyside Pike...
Grisedale Pike, now clear...
still clear from Hobcarton Crag (Head)...
Hopegill Head & Ladyside Pike...
Eel Crag...
Coledale...
threading between Eel Crag & Grasmoor...
Hopegill Head, Sand Hill, Hobcarton & Grisedale Pike, all clear...
of course it wasn't on Eel Crag, its crumbling trig hasn't toppled yet..
cloudy & gusty on the short ridge to Sail...
at least it was clearing...
the wind blasting over Eel Crag...
slowly clearing...
Wandope comes into view...
somebody is particular about the correct positioning of the summit cairn, a new embryo cairn is born...
still think the zig-zag path repairs are an overkill...
looking back to Sail Pass...
Force Crag mine buildings & new additions, at least the mess the NT made has been cleared up...
lagoons in progress...
nearly at the valley floor, managed to cross the beck with dry feet...
lagoons...
No. 0 level...
lagoons & Outerside...
hopper, conveyor & mine buildings...
No 1 level, no more water issues onto the fellside...
looking back up the mine road, Eel Crag cloud free...
heading back to Braithwaite...
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