16 June 2014

Fairfield and Dove Crag

Filed under Catstycam, Dollywaggon Pike, Dove Crag, Eastern Fells, Fairfield, Grisedale Tarn, Helvellyn, Seat Sandal, Striding Edge · Tagged Eastern Fells

Baitstops Facts and Figures

Height: Fairfield – 873m, Dove Crag – 792m
Height: Fairfield – 2864 feet, Dove Crag – 2603 feet
Bible Position: The Fairfield Group
Conditions: Warm and Cloudy

Wainwright Facts and Figures

Book: The Eastern Fells
Position: Fairfield – 5th highest in Eastern Fells, Dove Crag – 12th highest in Eastern Fells
Other Wainwrights on this walk: Hart Crag

After a good walk last time out considering my dodgy knee, we set off again after a little more recuperation. It was Peters turn to drive and he arrived for me in daylight just after 6.30 am. We had already planned to do Fairfield. On the journey I suggested we also consider Dove Crag as Wainwright suggested it was a fairly flat summit walk of just under 2 miles each way – it would seem a shame not to fit two in today!

Start of the walk

We arrived at a very busy Dunmail Raise just before 8.30, strapped on the boots and crossed the road ready to start walking. We were setting off on exactly the same descent of the previous walk to Seat Sandal, Grise Beck. This was a fairly steady walk up to Grisedale Tarn taking in the black and white of the landscape at this still early hour.

It was quite warm as we climbed and I could feel drips of water on the back of my legs. At first I thought it was dew being kicked up as I walked. However when I stopped I realised my water bladder had sprung a leak and was dripping out the bottom of my rucksack. Possibly the warmest walk of the year with a limited water supply, so much for my time saving gadget! Fortunately Peter stepped in with a spare bottle he had.

We walked around Grisedale Tarn stopping for a bait stop before the final steep ascent to Fairfield. As we were sat eating our bait, the summit was in mist but it was clearing up as the morning went on. We set off for the final climb getting to the point where the path set off to the left and began to zig zag up the mountain. It was at this point when we were eating our bait that the mist started, however by now it was clearing as we climbed and eventually cleared all the way to the summit.

Fairfield summit

It was a very steep climb and I knew it would be an even steeper descent. We reached the top at 11.20, stopped quickly for a photo and then headed in the direction of Dove Crag.

Fairfield summit with Helvellyn behind

My knee had been fine on the ascent but now we were on the flat, as soon as I set off towards Dove Crag I could feel a twinge. I kept walking though towards Hart Crag but stopped at a short descent followed by a rise to Dove Crag and I thought it would be tough to add this part of the walk on AND still have that heavy descent of Fairfield. We stopped for 5 minutes, had a cuppa whilst I decided what I wanted to do.

Dove Crag with Fairfield behind

Dove Crag summit

I set off on this short descent and it seemed OK so we decided to plough on, it would be such a shame not to get 2 tops in today when we were so close. We arrived at Dove Crag around noon, again a quick photo and turned around to retrace our steps back to Fairfield. The views today were fantastic, in particular a great view of Helvellyn and Striding Edge with Catstycam behind..

Helvellyn and Striding Edge with Catstycam on the right

We arrived back at the summit of Fairfield about 12.40. It was a very confusing summit with a number of cairns and a shelter and it was difficult to tell which one was the actual summit. We went to a couple of cairns just to be on the safe side before deciding that the first one we visited was definitely the top!

Beginning the descent from Fairfield

Grisedale Tarn and Dollywaggon Pike

The descent

That long, steep descent was still ahead of us but I knew that once we got past those zig zags it started to flatten out back down to the tarn and then it was a steady descent back to the car. Our last walk to Seat Sandal was on our left as we came down Fairfield and seemed tiny in comparison to where we were today.

Seat Sandal from the Fairfield descent

When we were back at the tarn and walking round it, I stretched to step over a large rock and my left thigh tightened and now I couldn’t move. We were still a good hour from the car. I sat motionless for a few minutes whilst we had a cuppa and fortunately it was just cramp. We got up and set off again – phew! Whilst we were sat though we got a great view back up Fairfield, a view that was shrouded in mist earlier this morning.

Looking back up Fairfield from Grisedale Tarn

On closer inspection you can clearly make out the path we took and those zig zags to the summit.

A closer look at todays ascent

The walk down by Grise Beck was slow and very steady. It was a much tougher descent than it felt last time. However we had the extra height of Fairfield and the walk to Dove Crag in our legs.

On the final stretch back to the car

We arrived back at the car around 3.30 and stopped off for an ice cold Pear Cider at the Sportmans.

Nice cold Pear Cider

Delighted to have got 2 tops chalked off today leaving only 22 to do and the milestone of top number 50 coming up on the next walk.