Grasmere to Patterdale - August 5th

Today and tomorrow are our last two days in the Lake District. From then on out, everyone tells us the walk gets easier. If it’s at least less rocky, I’ll be happy!

Rain was in the forecast for today, one Brit describing it as “biblical proportions” of rain. When we started out, the skies were overcast, but not threatening. We stopped to remove our jackets about a mile into the walk as the sun was peeking through and it was warming up. Less than 1/2 mile later, we were in a hail deluge and scrambling to put on our rain gear (not a quick task to don rain pants over hiking boots even when you unzip the legs). From that point on, we had rain gear on the entire day, even though the rain let up after a few hours (thankfully, the hail only lasted a short period of time).

Today’s walk ended up being what we’ve come to expect on our Lake District walks: wet and rocky trails (though not as rocky as in days past, but quite a bit wetter as at least 50% of the trails were actually streams), disappearing or non-existent trails, streams to cross (more roaring streams today and at one point, the top of a waterfall to navigate across), and of course, jaw-dropping scenery. Mileage today was 8.3 with an elevation gain of 1,942 ft.

The fell we'll climb in the distance










What the Brits call a drywall snaking into the distance

Rich navigating a wet and rocky path

Brief stop at a mountain refuge 




Posing for a picture during a respite from the rain

One of the many rivers and streams
we've encountered on our LD walks











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