The Misadventures of OP: Langdales Via Jacks Rake 12.11.11

Pavey Ark From Harrison Stickle

So with an early start we set out for the Langdales to have a go at Jack's Rake before the snow and ice came. We had arranged this a couple of months in advance and going off last season's weather I was expecting it to be a little icy. Surprisingly is was a mild day and just a bit damp, I was gutted as we walked up the killer path to Stickle Tarn into the clouds and no view of Pavey Ark and the scramble we were about to climb.

Approaching Stickle Tarn

Pavey Ark From Stickle Tarn

Then as we sat at the tarn to have a brew and catch out breath the clouds began to clear and Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle eerily emerged through the clouds towering above us. In the distance we could see a party begining their ascent, in scale they appeared to be ants climbing the side of a house. When you can't see it as you climb up the path to the tarn, you forget how big it is!

Stickle Tarn from Half way up Jack's Rake

We walked round the tarn and ascended the shale path up to the foot of Jacks Rake one last brew and prepared for our assault on the face. With it being November, we were the only group at the time we started like the previous year in April 2010 where we were in a slow shuffling line to the top. Lower down the rocks were slippy but dried out from about midway up. I noticed this year there was a lot more loose rocks, probably due to a harsh winter and increase in traffic. The group I lead had little or no climbing experience and to say they impressed me would not do them justice, they turned out to be regular mountain goats with the exposed sections not phasing them at all. About half way up a spaniel appeared, a mountaineering dog, excellent!

Jack's Rake Top Section

Bit of exposure!

After we topped out and had some dinner up top we then headed to Harrison Stickle and then Pike'o'Stickle which had a little bit more scrambling. Stood on the top of Pike'O'Stickle I can see how the Langdales are a favourite area of the Lakes for many people with the sudden steep drop down over 600m down to the bottom of the valley. We made our decent down Dungeon Ghyll to the Stickle Barn for a well deserved pint and then home!