Scrambling Fest, Jack's Rake & Much More

Route: Stickle Gill, Tarn Crag East Rib, Jack’s Rake, Harrison Stickle South West Face

Meet at: New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel car park, Great Langdale, postcode: LA22 9JX, OS map reference NY295064. 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.

Rising diagonally across the spectacular cliff face of Pavey Ark, Jack’s Rake is undoubtedly the most recognisable bona fide scramble in the Lake District. Equally popular with humble Wainwright baggers and seasoned mountaineers alike, it is one that people keep flocking too and justifiably so. This is one of the very finest easy scrambles in the UK and one that everybody needs to tick off at some point in their mountaineering career.

We will do Jack’s Rake as part of a big mountain day that includes three further scrambles in the heart of Great Langdale, one of the most scenic areas of the Lake District. Stickle Gill provides a couple of enjoyable pitches between waterfalls, the East Rib is a pleasant ridge line on perfect rasp rough rock, the South West Face is a proper mountain route with a steep entry pitch (avoidable) followed by a fabulous airy rib leading nicely to the summit of Harrison Stickle, the highest point of the famous Langdale Pikes.

The full day will include a steady ascent along the banks of Stickle Gill with some nice Grade 1 scrambling along the way, a traverse under Tarn Crag before a Grade 2 scrambling ascent of the East Rib to take us to the summit, a stroll round the highly picturesque Stickle Tarn then a Grade 1 scrambling ascent of Jack’s Rake followed by a circumnavigation of Harrison Stickle leading to a Grade 2 scrambling ascent of the South West Face to reach the mountain summit before a descent via the precipitous banks of Dungeon Ghyll and the flanks of Pike Howe to take us back to our starting point.

If Jack’s Rake is your main objective, the other scrambles can all be avoided.

Photos from some of our previous scrambling adventures in Great Langdale can be seen here:

https://www.meetup.com/sheffield-mountaineering-rock-climbing-meet/photos/31448798/

https://www.meetup.com/Sheffield-Mountaineering-Rock-Climbing-Meet/photos/31606179/499397890/

https://www.meetup.com/Sheffield-Mountaineering-Rock-Climbing-Meet/photos/31448798/

Difficulty: Jack’s Rake is a Grade 1 scramble as is Stickle Gill. The scrambles on Tarn Crag and Harrison Stickle are both Grade 2. For more information on scrambling grades see:

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/understanding-scrambling-grades

Experience Required: Some previous scrambling experience is strongly advised.

Duration: Approx. 8 km with height gain of approx. 700 metres. Estimated time 5 to 6 hours.

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

Guidebook: Scrambles in the Lake District Volume 1: Southern Fells published by Cicerone Press.

Accommodation: For those planning an overnight stay we can make the following recommendations:

Baysbrown Farm Campsite: http://baysbrownfarmcampsite.co.uk/

Great Langdale Bunkhouse: https://www.greatlangdalebunkhouse.co.uk/

Langdale Youth Hostel: https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/langdale

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