Straight up was more popular than the WWT
re long reccie, chickened out.
Went from dunmail to rosset. Bowfell and hanging knotts were in clag, was cold and knackered so thought better of it.
No particular route discoveries other than to say, many of the trods that used to be faint are now massive. Not at all convinced that the path to seargant man is the best on offer & still wonder whether - high raise- sergeant is not the better order.
Checked out the high raise to calfcrag as a descent and it is a pleasant run down, although it would be a bit tussocky boggy as an ascent.
If you havent done this section before Mr1740 a couple of things to bear in mind:
There is a trod thru the bracken to steel fell that follows the gully in line with the stile. Hang a left at the top. Stay close to the fence line from steel fell. I have tried a variety of other things, but that seems to be the least worst option!. Trust your compass to calf crag after the tarn - you wonder whether the ridge to your left is calf crag. It isnt, follow the path, and calf crag is hidden behind a bulge on the skyline. Once down at the col from calf crag.The path to sergeant man is off to the left of the stream gulley. You will see what I mean when you get there. Nobody ( I have found) knows which is the top of thunakar: The best running line to harrison is left of the straight line. The best ascent of harrison is at the centre then left to the top. Backtrack, then go well to the right of the path to aim at pike of stickle ( you can cross the stream at the bottom, if you look carefully, honest.) I think the best descent of the pike is more or less in the direction of rosset, although it starts with a bit of a scramble: it is not as hard as a backtrack. The best line from pike is probably right of the path to start with, crossing later. BUT if I made a discovery it was this. I tried dropping 100 feet down the scree, then started a traverse towards martcrag, and although I didnt solve all the rock problems, I think there may be a good running route there. Dont try it yet, but watch this space. Some people swear by the path round the ridge to rosset, others use the langdale race route.