Winter Mountaineering, The Deepdale Horseshoe

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

You must bring an ice axe. Crampons and crampon compatible boots may also be useful depending on conditions. An axe is essential. You don't need anything fancy. Something like this will be fine:

https://rockrun.com/products/grivel-g-zero-axe-black?variant=43361144668341

While not a graded technical winter climb, this more than a simple winter walk. There will be scrambly moves on rocky terrain and airy positions on ridges with the possibility of some snow and ice.

Route: St Sunday Crag, Cofa Pike, Fairfield, Hart Crag

Meet at: Outside the Patterdale Hotel on the main A592 road through the village of Patterdale, postcode CA11 0NN. The best place to park is in the large pay and display car park across the road from the hotel. As an environmentally conscious group, we actively encourage car sharing. Further details of car sharing arrangements from Sheffield, Manchester and elsewhere will appear in the comments section nearer the time.

Deepdale is one of the finest Lake District horseshoes with its rocky ridges, lofty summits and stunning views. It is also one of the less frequented which makes it even more appealing. In full winter conditions it makes for a very entertaining and worthwhile outing.

The full day will include a long steady ascent of the north east flank of St Sunday Crag and on to the summit (this is quite a slog but it gets all the hard work out of the way early on!), a slight descent over Deepdale Hause to take us to the highlight of the day, an airy and scrambly traverse of the rocky summit of Cofa Pike, followed by a short steep ascent to the summit of Fairfield (at 873 metres the high point of the route), a drop down to the col before a brisk ascent to the spiky summit of Hart Crag, followed by a sustained scrambly descent leading to a long leisurely traverse of the narrow Hartsop Above How ridge before a gradual descent to the valley floor and a short walk back to Patterdale.

Difficulty: Not quite Grade I winter climbing but close enough if the conditions are right. For more information on winter climbing grades see:

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/winter-climbing-grades

Experience Required: Some previous mountaineering experience in The Lakes or Snowdonia with our group is advised.

Duration: Approx. 15 km with height gain of approx. 950 metres. Estimated time 6 to 8 hours.

Ordnance Survey Map: OS 90 Penrith & Keswick 1:50,000 scale.

As always, if everybody wants to contribute £2.00 towards our Meet Up site fees and other operating costs that will be great, thanks.