A great day today climbing Great End from the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in the Langdale Valley, taking in the summits of Esk Pike, The Allen Crags and Rossett Pike along the way.
We set off from the Old Dungeon Ghyll at 10am and headed up the Mickleden track towards Rossett Gill, Great End is hidden from view in the valley, it wasn't until we were above Angle Tarn at the top of Rossett Gill that we had our first view of our highest peak of the day.
There were plenty of people heading up the Rossett Gill path today, but as we turned off the main path towards Ore Gap we were alone with a steady stream heading up towards Esk Hause and Scafell Pike.
After a few short stops we were on the summit of Esk Pike in bright sunshine, the distant views were still a bit hazy but generally the air was much clearer than it had been the last few days.
We stopped by the cairn on the summit of Esk Pike to eat our packed lunches before descending towards Esk Hause, crossing the hause to climb to Calf Cove and then up to the summit of Great End.
As we reached the summit of Esk Hause the cloud came in, taking away our views from the fifth highest summit in the Lake District. We headed back by Calf Cove to Esk Hause and dropped down this time to the wind shelter below the Allen Crags, by now the cloud was clearing off the higher tops and as we climbed to the summit of the Allen Crags we were rewarded with some great views.
We descended back towards Angle Tarn and took the path up to the summit of Rossett Pike, our final summit of the day with it's wonderful views down the Mickleden Valley to Langdale.
We dropped back down onto the Rossett Gill path and descended back to the Mickleden Valley following the track back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll.
A long but good day in the mountains.
