It couldn't have been a more perfect day to ascend Scafell Pike.
As usual we met, a group of 11, at Seathwaite in the bright sunshine to begin our walk. We had a light cold wind for the whole day which kept us cool in what otherwise would have been a searingly hot day. The smaller streams coming down from Green Gable and later from the Scafell massive were nearly dry, showing how much little rain we've had in the last three weeks.
We stopped by the stretcher box above Styhead Tarn for a much needed food break whilst looking across at the corridor route ahead. This is a view to appreciate on a good day, as you can even see the false paths detouring off the main path, resulting in an easy deviation but a much steeper climb later on. Our group, including the two children with us, made it down 'that' rocky step (you know what I mean if you've done the route) with no trouble, with one of the little ones very politely telling me that no thank-you, she didn't need any help!
Steady progress and some great views opening out of Wastwater and Scafell took us to the summit where we sheltered from the cold south westerly wind behind the summit platform of Scafell Pike and enjoyed the views down to Esk Pike and Helvellyn beyond.
The Scafell Pike route via the corridor route and then down via Esk Hause is interesting not just because of its variety but because of the several deep gills that you pass, especially the start of the descent down Ruddy Gill below Great End. We stopped and looked at some of the plants growing in the shelter of the gill sides before descending into the windless furnace of the valley. So much for bad weather in the North West!
