Pillar (High Level Route)
AND CLICK HERE FOR THE WILD CAMP
DATE 28.07.2014 | DISTANCE 11.3KM | HIGHEST POINT 892M
Posted by Matt | Filed under lake district
Download GPX file
Here is a route I have been wanting to do for years but each time I visited Pillar in the past the conditions were not ideal for this indirect excursion. We also planned to wild camp on the summit and hopefully have a clear night. On the days leading up to our trip I thought very carefully about what I should take up with me. I wanted my pack as light as possible by only taking the absolute essentials. When I met up with Paul and Geordie in the car park at Wasdale I was shocked at how heavy their packs were. Nearly twice the weight of mine Later I wasn't surprised to see how much food they were carrying.
the route through Mosedale and along black sail pass was gradual and a decent path all the way up to looking stead. apart from a couple of mountain bikers we didn't see anyone else. It's always nice to feel like you have the mountain to yourselves. approximately 700ft beyond looking stead comes the choice of two routes. the direct route straight up to the summit or cutting right and joining the high level route.
the high level route is one of those routes where it's not obvious until you are on it. the start can seem a little confusing but if you keep looking ahead it starts to reveal itself. it's a very narrow track with some pretty big drops but not technical, just make sure you are even more careful on the wet slippery sections and on the loose scree parts of the path. as we got to robinson's cairn, shamrock traverse came into view. geordie didn't seem overly confident about the narrow looking ledge with the big drop. i think this was mostly due to the huge pack he was carrying and how it had a tendency to threaten his balance. once on the shamrock traverse though, it's a lot wider than it seems from a distance, in fact it was one of the widest sections of path on the whole of the the high level route.
reaching the end of shamrock traverse turns into a scramble up beside pillar rock (not on it!!) the way up is clearly warn into the side of the mountain although there are a few options. most of the time though there is loose track and plenty of hand holds. within 10-15 minutes of leaving pillar rock we were at the summit. not only were the views incredible but we also had it all to ourselves!
for the wild camp click here
wasdale head with pillar in the distance
great gable (maybe next time)
heading out into mosedale
looking back to yewbarrow. check out dorehead screes! i don't fancy descending it
clear summit and hoping it stays that way
top middle you can see the scree chute that runs down from wind gap. this is our descent route next morning. i have to say it wasn't in my original plan.
paul and geordie on black sail pass
selfies!
heading towards looking stead
the direct route to the summit would be straight up the rock face. we fancied the longer and more adventurous high level route which you drop down onto by the right of the rock face. if i recall correctly i think there was a cairn showing it's start point. you have to climb down to the path by about 20 ft.
a quick look back to wasdale
looking across to great gable and green gable
approaching the start of the high level route
looking down into ennerdale
zooming in on scafell
big drop down to the valley below. nice place for a snack
on the high level route. watching our feet
looking back
at robinson's cairn. geordie looking out to shamrock traverse
look at the sun flare and you will see shamrock traverse. it sweeps up from left to right and up to pillar rock (the large lump of rock to the right)
as you get closer to shamrock traverse it looks more straight forward
a section of zigzagging scree to burn the calves
on shamrock traverse. wider than expecting and easy going apart from one wet and very slippery section
Next to walkers gully. a notorious section. be careful
leaving pillar rock and continuing up
easier going up than coming down. Paul and geordie taking a breather
high stile and high crag directly across from the ennerdale valley. you can even see skiddaw and blencathra way off in the distance
nearing the summit now
pillar summit with the scafell range in the distance. scafell pike with cloud on its top.. shocking!!
now check out the wild camp on the summit here