Page 73 - The Wish Stream Year of 2022 CREST

Day 1
On the first day we started on an easy climb to judge how experienced the group was, and to slowly introduce them to Harvey maps, which are very different to the OS maps we are used to. We started at the parking lot at Buttermere and went around the lake to climb Red Pike via Bleaberry Tarn. We went up the waterfall up to Bleaberry Tarn to get some cross-country walk- ing and some beautiful views. We then climbed past the lake at 500m to go to High Stile, which was a tough climb but well handled. We then followed ridge to Haystacks and climbed down past a quarry and the waterfalls on the far side of Buttermere Lake and back around to the other side of the lake to a parking lot. The group was confident but tired, after the first day.
Day 2
Due to the weather, we had a late start as it was a difficult climb. When the weather cleared, we started our climb up Helvellyn. We began at a car park in Glenridding and climbed along a path to the disused mine, following it up the difficult route to Whiteside, which was challenging but spirits were high. We then followed the ridge to Helvellyn along a striding edge which would have led to wonderful views but the weather decided to close in again as we summited. We then fol- lowed the ridge around to Birkhouse Moor and descended back to the car park.
Day 3
The group was coming into their own at this point and were showing some good mountaineering skills, and today we went for one of our longest
OCdt Hine
walks, starting at the parking site by woodlands to north of Braithwaite. We then took the path west to Grisedale Pike over some beautiful ter- rain. We continued to climb to Hopegill Head and followed the ridge around to Grasmoor Peak, where we stopped for a scenic lunch. From there we started the descent around to Crag Hill and followed the ridge back to Braithwaite, to then go back to the parking lot for a well-deserved group meal back in Keswick.
Day 4
The group was tired after our long walk on the previous day, but we soldiered on. We started the climb in Keswick and went up Jenkin Hill through forests. We then followed the ridge to Little Man and enjoyed the arduous climb up to Skiddaw, where the group took a well-earned rest. We then started the descent down the NE side of Skiddaw to Hare Crag, following the val- ley past Lonsdale Fell to the base of the river val- ley where the weather started closing in again, and we were happy to get back into the forests and back to Keswick.
Day 5
We started early today to get the walk done and begin the long journey back to RMAS. We climbed up Blease Fell, which at the time appeared to be a near-vertical footpath on the way past Knowe Crags and Halls Fell Top. We got an amazing view from a sharp edge in the early morning light. Then we started to descend on Scales Fell past the river to the base of the mountain, following the path back to the tourist centre and back into the centre of Keswick.
Exercise DISTRICT CADET
SANDHURST 71