The mices have country cousins

I arrived at Langdale campsite on Monday afternoon.

By Monday evening it was chucking it down.

Still I had a good night at the ODG - including a chat with a couple about Nepal (where the man had been too). A bit weird sitting in Langdale talking about Gorak Shep and Kala Pattar.

Still, I have had weird conversations in the ODG - last memorable one was with 2 Munro Compleaters and a woman of 70+ who was still doing the rounds. That was before I started on my quest: 152 and counting.

The tent was soaking inside and out with the wet gear I took off getting to bed. Still I was good and comfey in my PHD Combi Bag and PHD 400 - nothing like being real toasty. It was raining when I got up. It had rained all night. I know Langdale campsite well - it can get flooded. I was on a slight rise, but the ground was very soggy.

The day was to be good. A wet walk up to Pike of Blisco, where Microspikes were handy on the icy paths and snowy bits near the top. Then down to Red Tarn before setting off for Cringle Crags. Visability was generally poor. Microspikes were worn up to the start of the Crags. Then it was time for crampons. The snow was mixed - some hard and some more slushy and giving, but crampons were definately required. The weather improved as the day went on. I had always gone up the so called bad step (it's nothing) on crossing Cringle Crags from Red Tarn. This time I headed left to a very inviting snow field and round to the top.

I've always said that compared to Scotland - walking in the Lakes was like playing in your back yard. So, I always carry maps and compass, but they remained tucked away inside my pack. Cringle Crags can tend to mislead in variable visability. Well, I was well and truely misled. I ended up coming down the same inviting snowfield I has so enjoyed going up! Then I realised I had gone round in a circle! Back up the very inviting snowfield.

I even said to someone, also on the same stretch, I would always check my map and compass every few 100 metres in Scotland, but knew this area so well. He agreed and then went too far left later on and had to retrace his steps. No matter how well you know an area, you can still make simple errors.

I eventually arrived at the top of the Band, by which time visability was good. Down the Band and back to the tent at around 1800.

Now, the sad bit. We have had mice in the garage. My fault; leaving food in there from my walking trips. And, they went for the veg we left in there to keep cool.

So, I opened my inner tent to see all my Alpen all over the floor of the tent! Wet mushy Alpen. I was really annoyed with myself! In all the years I had been camping I had left food in my inner tent. Nothing had happened to it - or my tent. This was pay back time. I cleared up as best I could and looked round for how the mice had got in. Not very obvious. Then I saw a small hole in the corner of the mesh door. Not too much damage.

Off to the ODG. Back later to find a large new hole in the tent proper! Can't mice use the same entry point? This was bad news. I have a food source ready for the picking. The floor was still covered with bits of Alpen. It was a very cold night and my last in Langdale this trip. If mice could be relied upon to use the same entry and exit point - OK - but there is no way I'm going to leave a TN Quasar to be chewed to bits by rodents!

So, the mice in the garage have country cousins!

And, I will never leave food in my tent again!

PS Bless the folk at Terra Nova - they can repair the damage by patching it. Cost around £26 or so. If I catch any mice they will pay for it!

Keep moving

One of the problems with living in this area is the dire lack of hills.

So, its down level walking alongside canals, or, a walk in the area around Shustoke - just a couple of hours. The main thing for me is to keep moving.

I was planning to go to Scotland next week, but, when I've gone up there at this time of year the weather has been so fickle: usually it fickles down stair-rods.

So, its back to old haunts. Langdale and the ODG.

Four days should keep the urge-to get-up-on-the-hills satisfied and be some practice for nirvana aka Scotland.

Each time I read the Met office report for the lakes the snow is receding further. But, I'll still have the crampons and those nifty little Microspikes; these are ideal for non technical stuff and get you over nasty icy non-technical stuff. In a nutshell; they enable you to keep moving.

Everest ......and a need for double glazing!

Well, I went away to get hill fit for the 2010 TGO Challenge.

Then when I got back I found that I was No: 131 on the reserve list.

Ho hum, so it's the Cape Wrath Trail next year........... maybe with the WHW and a few Munros thrown in. Well, nothing like having high plans.............

Talking of which.......... here's a little hill that came in to view a few times recently. One day I might climb it........................... in my dreams!!