DATE 03.08.2011 | DISTANCE 12.9KM | HIGHEST POINT 902M
Posted by Matt | Filed under lake district
This route in reverse
Download GPX file This route in reverse
Day 2 with Raz. Our Everest Base Camp Trek guide from Nepal
Setting off early and it's already roasting hot
Crinkle Crags and The Band 
Lambs at Stool End Farm 
Pike O'Stickle 
Looking back down into Langdale from The Band 
Feeling the heat 
Heading towards BowFell 
Cutting right whilst ascending Bow Fell has taken us onto the Climbers Traverse 
From the Climbers Traverse we headed up the rock fall next to the Great Slab 
Alan and Raz on the summit of Bow Fell searching for a signal 
Summit shot. Raz, Paul, Alan and Me 
On our way down Bow Fell to Crinkle Crags. The Great Slab ahead.
The Great Slab 
The tarn way off in the distance is where we will descend from after the Crinkles 
Looking out from Bow Fell to Crinkle Crags 
Scafell Pike 
Bowfell
Master Himalayan Guide Rajesh Karki 
Carrying his own bag for a change
The Scafells and BowFell 
Looking down from the Crinkles into Langdale 
BowFell from Crinkle Crags 
Pike of Blisco to the left and Lake Windermere behind. Coniston Fells in the distance.
Scafell, Scafell Pike, Great End, Esk Pike and BowFell
The Bad Step on the second Crinkle 
Descending with Pike Of Blisco directly ahead with the Langdale Pikes in the distance 
Crinkles to the left and BowFell towering above behind
Crinkle Crags and BowFell taken near the deep gouged Browney Gill 
Descending into Oxendale. Langdale Pikes in the background
Oxendale Beck 
Himalayan Guide visits the Lake District continued Day two started at 4a.m awaken by some rather inconsiderate people in the tent next door. Full blown, full volume conversations in the early hours never go down well with the neighbouring tents. We could hear the unhappy mumbles of other campers sharing our frustration until Paul couldn’t take it anymore ‘Are you lads having a laugh?’ he called out. Suddenly the campsite was deathly silent. We looked at each other, chuckled and fell back to sleep.
8a.m and the heat inside the tent told me it was time to get up. We boiled up some brews, packed the tent away as swiftly as it had been erected and set off on our next adventure.As we headed up the grassy slopes of The Band with our sights on Bowfell, we were breathing heavily. The Band is a bit of a slog but the heat this morning was very uncomfortable. I looked to Paul and Alan to see them both wiping their brows and a passing fellow walker told us it was 30 degrees in London today. Raz looked bone dry as he said ‘Are you ok dudes?’
We pushed on, leaning into the hillside as Raz ambled beside us. He looked as if he was on the simplest of strolls. ‘I must get out more’, I thought. Instead of the most direct route we decided to detour along the climbers traverse and up the rock fall beside the Great Slab.
We briefly chatted to a lady who was sitting on a rock close to the summit and we exchanged the usual questions. ‘Where are you heading?’ and ‘Where did you set out from?’ She told us about her recent trip on the Inca Trail so we recommended the EBC Trek and introduced her to our friend.
‘What do you think of the Lake District?’ She asked. Again Raz’s response was ‘Beautiful!’As we reached the summit of Bowfell the clouds cleared the fell tops. I was pleased that Raz would get to see the views out to Upper Eskdale and the Scafells although I felt that my pasty complexion was about to feel the full force of the sun. Schoolboy Error! No sun cream!
We pushed on over Crinkle Crags in the baking heat. I was conscious of the fact that I needed to be drinking plenty of water today and I could feel I was catching the rays on my head. Looking at the back of Paul’s now bright red neck confirmed that it was just as well that we had reached our descent path.As our weary legs carried us down and we chose to avoid as much impact to our knees as possible, Raz skipped behind. He asked us how we were and we all confirmed that we were tired. It became very clear at this point that over the last two days he had still been the mountain guide and I felt like we were back in the Himalayas, tired but with someone looking out for us.Back in the car and heading for home, Raz thanked us for taking him on a wonderful trip and I received a text message from Andrew, another friend from the EBC Trek saying ‘Has Raz kicked your arse on the hills?’ I laughed and replied, ‘You could call it that’.
This site is my way of documenting the few walks that I have done so far with my camera either alone or dragging along some of my misfit friends. Within this site you will find Photos and Route maps detailing my days spent at high places. I hope this will help you in planning your own adventures. Learn more...
