Day 3. Days one and two were 14+ miles each. We were up and on the path right after breakfast. Day 3 began a bit later - we breakfasted at 8 (scrambled eggs on brown toast) and left shortly after 9. The skies opened shortly thereafter. We wore rain gear all day -- pants, gaitors, hat, rain flies on the day packs. Today's trek took us up 2200 feet straight up -- again no switchbacks -- to Greenup Edge, the literal high point.
As we're climbing up to the top, the wind picked up and the rain began to pour. (Notice the rain drops in the photo of our climb up!)
The paths are rocky; sometimes they are constructed of large stones and other times they are the beds of streams. Another feature of today's hike was crossing through peat bogs. The object is to step on the rocks if there are any ; otherwise, to step lightly to minimize sinking in. Amidst the bogs were numerous fast flowing streams. Guide Ben and Peter have been helping me across; I don't trust my footing on the wet rocks. At one stream through one of the peat bogs, we were to cross by a peat-covered log. (After my falls this summer, I wasn't too keen to chance a fall in the bog.). Fellow walker Dave spied a crossing with a solid layer of rocks that faced a 4.5 foot bank. After Dave and Peter crossed and hoisted themselves up, I went across and they pulled me up until I was sitting up on the bank.
Once up and over, we made our way down the valley walking in the stream beds. Rocks and more rocks; a lot of focusing on each foothold and step. At a dodgy stream crossing just below a waterfall, Dave lost his footing and fell in. Ben wasn't going to take a chance with me. He grabbed me from a mid-stream rock hoisted me over to the bank where we both slipped but did not fall! The figurative high point of my day? There are two: (1) I made it across all streams without slipping and falling in! and (2) the spectacular view of the valley behind us as a rainbow appeared! Breathtaking.
Anything not covered by Gortex was soaking wet by the time we reached our destination of Grasmere, another scenic village here in the Lakes District. Driver and weather forecaster Dave told us tonight at dinner that tomorrow will be "bright."
Sounds like fun. Good thing you are from the northwest so the rain doesn't bother you! It was also lucky you were all able to cordinate your goretex jackets to match one and another. Keep on trekking and don't mind those logs!!
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Looks like rugged terrain and a pretty good challenge. No problems with the knees?
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