Favourite Photos

This weeks blog comes from the South Lakes Upland Footpath team and comprises some of our favourite photographs from 2014.

Our biggest upland footpath project of the year was on the path from Red Tarn to Crinkle Crags and seems a good starting point for pictures.....

Atmospheric bag filling for the Red Tarn to Crinkle Crags Upland path project
(Rock from screes near Gaitscale Gill)

Bag filling up close
(Ian & Luke hard at work)

A pleasant journey home after a good day of bag filling
(On a "crisp" March day)

Our daily commute past Red Tarn for this project was very nice too

Constructing a temporary shed for shelter and storage

Shed construction finished
(Complete with a Crinkle Crags backdrop)

A wet day working on the project
(Although we did have mostly good days during our 2014 upland season)

Our other main project was on Striding Edge. We get to work in beautiful locations but it is fair to say that working on this iconic Helvellyn route was particularly special. It has become a favourite location and we are looking forward to working there again in 2015.....

An atmospheric Striding Edge as we walked along it
(in April for the Helicopter lifts)

'High Spying How' on Striding Edge poking through the  cloud
(Viewed from Helvellyn headwall in September)

Moving rock for the project by helicopter

During some of the helicopter lifts walkers had to wait until a break in flying
(We were very grateful for people's patience & understanding)

Work in progress on Striding Edge
How many Upland Rangers can you spot?

In the winter we come down from the fells and spend most of our time working in (equally beautiful) lower level countryside.

View along Coniston Water
(One we get to enjoy every day)

A very nice lunchtime view from Harrowslack, on the West Shore of Windermere
(Whilst we were building a stone slipway in December)

Bonus Picture: an old favourite from January 2013
(A Wintery Coniston Old Man & Wetherlam viewed from Tarn Hows)

SEASON'S GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES FOR 2015
FROM ALL THE SOUTH LAKES COUNTRYSIDE STAFF

For more pictures or to know more about the daily work of the South Lakes Upland Ranger team why not follow us on Twitter @NTLakesFells.

The tale of 2 ranger's adventure to Wasdale...

You can't beat a good old adventure.  You know the kind, good friends, amazing scenery, hopefully some nice weather.  Well all of these aligned this weekend just in time for Rangers Clair and Sarah to have an adventure over to the National Trust campsite in Wasdale, a splendid wee spot!

Our destination!

Starting from the NT car park at Old Dungeon Ghyll we shouldered our packs and headed on our way.  It was looking to be a beautiful day so our plans included Great End, Scafell Pike and Lingmell before finally arriving at the campsite in Wasdale and our tipi for the night!

The adventure starts!  Heading along Mickledon

Coming off Great End towards Scafell Pike

Lingmell and the last of the sun

As you can tell we were really lucky with the weather, but even if it had been wet that wouldn't have been a problem as the tipi we stayed in was just plain awesome!  If you've not stayed in one before we would highly recommend it.  The one we used on the NT site in Wasdale was all we needed it to be, simple and spacious with a brilliant wood-burner that kicked out the heat.  As it says on their website all you need to bring is what you'd bring if you were camping normally, minus the tent!  More information can be found here.

Getting ready for another day on the fell.

With a toasty night in the tipi and everyone well rested and fueled up on porridge it was time to make our way back to Langdale.  With most of the high fells covered on our way over, we decided to take a more leisurely route home, taking in Sprinkling and Styhead Tarns, Seathwaite Fell and Rossett Pike.  Again the weather was glorious, something we took full advantage of!

Getting the legs going again

Enjoying the sun!

By the time we reached the our car down at Old Dungeon Ghyll our legs were weary and the night well and truly drawing in, but it had been a fabulous adventure and I would encourage anyone with a spare few days to grab a couple of friends and give it a go!  The campsites have lots of great offers on at the moment including 25% off their tipis mid week until 16th December (more info here).  The campsites also offer a green discount to encourage you to arrive minus a car, whether that be by public transport, foot or bike.  So there's no excuse, get out there and find your adventure!

Scafell Pike

Written by Upland Ranger Sarah
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