Tag: phone

Bowfell Via Crinkle Crags

Bowfell Via Crinkle Crags

Starting from the National Trust Car park near the Old Hotel  I headed off westwards out of Langdale into tiny Oxendale. A short while after passing Stool End, the last farm in the valley   a footbridge was reached which crosses Oxendale Beck and I began toclimb. Climbing up Brown Howe, passing near to Red Tarn and finally to Great Knott was the chosen route. In less than two miles over 500 metres if climbing was achieved, a great start  as climbing always seems easier when you are fresh and tiredness is a long way off. Up to Great Knott (often confused as one of the Crinkles) and then the walk eased down to a gentle stroll. The approach to Crinkle Crags was before me.

Deciding to take the high route over the Crags I progressed steadily and encountered no difficulties at all, not even on the Bad Step section of Long Top Crinkle. The views from The Crags are just wonderful. Some two miles north west are the Scafells,  to the north east are the Langdale Pikes and look south  the Coniston Fells are three miles off.

From the Crags I started walking due north down to Three Tarns which are perched on a saddle connecting the crags to Bowfell. Here I stopped and took on board some refreshment and contemplated the walk in front of me. Rested I set off once more and commenced the short stiff 200 metres climb which was reached without difficulty. The summit of Bowfell is a boulder field that plays havoc with your ankles and care had to be taken here. As a lone walker I need to take additional care – mobile phone coverage is not to good in Lakeland and help can be a long way off. At the cairn there was a fair wind blowing which soon chilled the body so I sort shelter and rested.

Restarting a walk after a lengthy rest can be difficult especially when the wid is blowing hard into your face but from the top of a lakeland peak you have no option. I headed for Ore Gap  and commenced the drop down to Angle Tarn, the going quite wet underfoot but not too taxing. Having achieved my target a made the short climb round Rossett Pike and Hanging Knotts to Rossett Gill. There followed an awkward decent down the Gill I faced  a gentle walk over ;level ground for acouple of miles. By now the wind had dropped as I descended from the peaks and it was quite pleasant. Most of this section follows Mickleden Beck which is flanked by Pike of Stickle and Gimmer Crag on the one side and by Earing Crag/The Band and  Crinkle Crags on the other. Tired and leg weary I arrived back at the car park delighted with a strenuous but enjoyable day. Alas I still faced the long drive home but it had been worth it!

The overall distance covered on the walk was some nine miles and with over 1000 metres of climbing involved.  It is a very hard walk with strenuous climbs and descents and is not for the faint hearted.  Having said that it will provide you with 6 to 7 hours of true Lakeland splendour that lasts in the memory.

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Tips For Traveling Safely

Tips For Traveling Safely

Just days ago, a massive earthquake hit the country of Haiti. Unfortunately there are many people who were killed, and many still the missing. Some of those people are from other countries, either visiting Haiti on vacation or visiting Haiti to try to offer assistance of some kind even before the earthquake hit.
This is a very unfortunate incident, but it points out the dangers that can sometimes be fall travelers when they go to other countries, or even other cities. You never know when a natural disaster might come up, and you’re caught off guard because you’re in unfamiliar territory.  While there’s nothing you can do to completely protect yourself while you’re away on vacation, there are a few things you should think of while you’re traveling that might help you, or at least help other people to help you.
First, try to always have a cell phone handy. It’s true that cell phones don’t work everywhere because everyone is in on the same network around the world, but every country has to sell phones, and even temporary ones are easy to obtain. With the cell phone, at least have programmed the number of the hotel you’re staying at an emergency number of at least one person who’s not where you are. If that person has to be someone at home, then so be it. Also make sure that if you have a temporary cell phone that other people know what that phone number is in case they need to try to reach you.
Second, always try to have something to drink with you if you’re traveling around town. Caring about of water or a small bottle of some kind of drink could become important if you don’t have the opportunity to get to anything fresh to drink for long period of time. Also, there are a lot of countries were drinking the water could give you physical problems later on, so there’s another extra layer of protection you will have.
Third, always have a couple of snack foods to eat, and something to suck on to keep your mouth moist. You can survive longer without food than you can without something to drink, and having at least a little bit of something else to take the edge off if you can’t get to any other food for a long time. The same thing with having something to help keep your mouth moist such as gum or some kind of lozenges or even some kind of hard candy. These items might not save your life, but they will help you stay comfortable.
Fourth, always have some kind of identification on you. Whether it’s a drivers license, passport, or just some kind of identification like a little card that comes with the wallet, it’s more important that someone can identify who you are when you’re not at home than when you are at home. At least when you’re home, there are a lot more people that know who you are and what you look like. You don’t have that same luxury when you’re out of town, so if a disaster struck and someone at home starts inquiring about you, if something bad happened to you it’s easier to identify you.