Reg 2E0LDF and myself planned to activate Bakestall LDW-100 AND Great Calva LDW-095 on Sat 2nd Oct 2021. As the weather forecast was not great we still planned to meet up at Peter House Farm. I arrived at 0830 hrs local to find Reg already waiting and we decided to go for it.
The path leading to the start of the ascent follows the Cumbrian way. The path itself made for good walking although further on there was big puddles of water. As we got further along Dash falls came into view and there was a lot of water coming down. It was quite spectacular.
After setting off at 0837hrs we arrived at the start of the steepish ascent of Bakestall at 0918hrs at a distance of 1.8 miles. It was quite boggy on the way up but it was not to bad going. The worst was yet to come.
Turn right ahead for Bakestall and Great Calva.
Dash falls.
Route ahead.
Dash falls.
Looking back towards Binsey.
Looking back to the Cumbria way on the ascent up Balestall LDW-100.
Onward and up.
We arrived at the summit at 1000hrs. The wind was fierce and Reg had a wind speed gauge with him and the wind was gusting at up to 47 mph. 5 contacts were made and these were as follows:-
G0TDM
2E0XUP/M
2E0IKM
M0AYB
2E0MIX.
Because of the weather conditions we only stayed 10mins. We would have liked to stay longer and would have done if the weather was good but it was not. The descent took 20 mins and we continued along the Cumbrian way for about 1 mile before turning off the left for Great Calva.
Me and Reg on Bakestall summit.
Summit view.
The ascent to Great Calva LDW-095 took 55 minutes in horrendous conditions both weather wise and underfoot. The wind was vicious and the ground was so wet and boggy that it was very hard going. The path was more like a beck in places and it was so boggy for quite a distance! In fact we stopped a few times on the ascent to rest!!!
Ascending Great Calva
Looking towards Skiddaw and Bakestall.
Heading upwards.
Great Calva LDW-095 summit.
When we arrived at the top by the fence we decided to have something to eat before moving to the true summit. The wind was a steady 40mph with gusts of 50 mph with a high wind chill factor. We were both dressed up for full winter walking but when you stop for a while you soon cool down. I had taken 2 chocolate bars and they were as hard as rock!
We quickly moved to the true summit and operated slightly below it just to get out of the wind. Unfortunately, only 4 contacts were made as we wanted to move off as quickly as possible. The contacts were:-
G0TDM
2E0IKM
M0AYB
2E0MIX.
It is a pity the weather was bad as the views were great when the cloud cleared. As we were leaving the summit we met another walker heading for the summit. It took us 23 mins to get back to the Cumbria way and there followed a 2.8 mile walk back to the car. In all we did about 8.5 miles.
View from summit.
Although the wind was bad it was ok on the Cumbrian way and the rain was just steady away not coming down like stair rods. Although the weather was poor it did not spoil the day as when you are walking with great company it does not matter. Reg is fantastic company and I would like to thank him again for doing the walk with me.
I activated my first Northern fells summit on Sat 18th April 2009 and that was Blencathra so it took me only about 12.5 years to complete the book.
Thank you to all stations I worked. I would have liked to work more but safety came first.
73’s Geoff GM4WHA
