Post by mick on Mar 4, 2015 5:40:35 GMT
Sometimes I think that I must be brain dead, and then I do something to confirm it, this time I was laying in bed wondering about where my next walk was going to be, when something that another amputee said to me on our last walk, about being challenged & how good it felt to challenge one self, they where on about themselves after there last walk with me, but somehow it struck a nerve, when was the last time I challenged myself? When was the last time I pushed myself out of my safe little area?
I was going to wake up my better half Yvonne and ask her but from the amount of snoring coming from her I though better of it. (Just kidding).
So there and then I thought of the hardest route that I could think of. And drifted off to sleep dreaming of the next days walk & sheep...
The Target for this walk was going to be to reach the trig point on top of Northumberland highest mountain .the Cheviot, and if all goes well come back down as well , because it would be pointless struggling all the way up there if I wasn’t coming down would it ?. And I had to get back home in time for tea. So I couldn’t hang about. (No pressure there then)
Anyway the walk:
Parked the car on the grassed area near the Harthope burn just before Langleeford.
The route that I had set my self was straight up to the summit of Scald Hill, from there walking along the “ridge “ (which is really just a stretch of boggy path) to the Cheviot and then straight up to the summit. Simple!
And then straight back down retracing my steps.
First photo, the start of what was a very long haul up hill
Looking up to Scald Hill (that’s not the top just one of many blind summits)
The very distant Cheviot, notice the cloud covering. (Taken at max zoom)
Looking back down the valley
Some shooting stands? Not really sure what these are called. But looking at the amount of tissue that was scattered around inside perhaps they should be call open air toilets
Still heading up Scald hill, the path has gone from grass to boggy peat with heather waiting to trip the unwary up.
Approaching the summit of Scald Hill, there is no carne that I could see; perhaps it’s sunk in all the boggy peat, something that this area is well known for.
Now at the foot of the cheviot, looking up (ugh why do this to myself?)
Looking back down, the cloud is just starting to come down now. I think that I lay down at this point for a well deserved 10 minute cat nap.
Ugh!! Still going up
Looking across at what I think is Comb Fell
Finally made it to the stone pathway which will take me to the cairn .I has made it to the top but not to the summit yet.
This is why there is the stone path up here, this area is nothing but a huge series of peat bogs.
Made it to the summit
There is a tiny bit of grass round the trig point where it is possible to sit down for a well deserved rest.
Me looking like some sort of escaped loonies. The picture isn’t blurred it’s just the wet cloud cover.
Typical top of the Cheviot peat bogs
Looking along the pathway which will take you to join up with the Pennine way
More boggy ground
Looking back at the trig point, there should be some good views but the cloud has ruined that
On my way down, just starting to get out if the cloud, just about make out Hedgehope.
Still descending looking down towards Langleeford
Still trying to get below the cloud
Looking across towards Comb Fell
Looking towards Preston & Broadhope Hill
Still heading down, unfortunately still a haze ruining the photos
Looking across at Hedgehope
Still heading down, I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get off this mountain
A
A few shots as I make my way down
looking back at the Cheviot
At this stage I have decided to take a much shorter but steeper route down at least I am off the slippy boggy bits now on rough grass heading down to Langleeford hope.
An old hut
Slowly making my way down, looking up the valley
Looking across towards Long Crags & Housey Crags
Me showing a very tired foot, still got a section of downhill to go but at least I am out of the haze
Looking down the valley
Looking up the valley
Looking back up this never ending hill
Finally made it to the bottom, now it’s just a case of following the river back to where the car is.
River shot showing old flood damage
Last look up the valley before I get back to the car.
Note to myself next time I feel like challenging myself; go for a lay down till I forget all about it.
I was aching all over by the time I got home Much to every ones amusement.
I was going to wake up my better half Yvonne and ask her but from the amount of snoring coming from her I though better of it. (Just kidding).
So there and then I thought of the hardest route that I could think of. And drifted off to sleep dreaming of the next days walk & sheep...
The Target for this walk was going to be to reach the trig point on top of Northumberland highest mountain .the Cheviot, and if all goes well come back down as well , because it would be pointless struggling all the way up there if I wasn’t coming down would it ?. And I had to get back home in time for tea. So I couldn’t hang about. (No pressure there then)
Anyway the walk:
Parked the car on the grassed area near the Harthope burn just before Langleeford.
The route that I had set my self was straight up to the summit of Scald Hill, from there walking along the “ridge “ (which is really just a stretch of boggy path) to the Cheviot and then straight up to the summit. Simple!
And then straight back down retracing my steps.
First photo, the start of what was a very long haul up hill
Looking up to Scald Hill (that’s not the top just one of many blind summits)
The very distant Cheviot, notice the cloud covering. (Taken at max zoom)
Looking back down the valley
Some shooting stands? Not really sure what these are called. But looking at the amount of tissue that was scattered around inside perhaps they should be call open air toilets
Still heading up Scald hill, the path has gone from grass to boggy peat with heather waiting to trip the unwary up.
Approaching the summit of Scald Hill, there is no carne that I could see; perhaps it’s sunk in all the boggy peat, something that this area is well known for.
Now at the foot of the cheviot, looking up (ugh why do this to myself?)
Looking back down, the cloud is just starting to come down now. I think that I lay down at this point for a well deserved 10 minute cat nap.
Ugh!! Still going up
Looking across at what I think is Comb Fell
Finally made it to the stone pathway which will take me to the cairn .I has made it to the top but not to the summit yet.
This is why there is the stone path up here, this area is nothing but a huge series of peat bogs.
Made it to the summit
There is a tiny bit of grass round the trig point where it is possible to sit down for a well deserved rest.
Me looking like some sort of escaped loonies. The picture isn’t blurred it’s just the wet cloud cover.
Typical top of the Cheviot peat bogs
Looking along the pathway which will take you to join up with the Pennine way
More boggy ground
Looking back at the trig point, there should be some good views but the cloud has ruined that
On my way down, just starting to get out if the cloud, just about make out Hedgehope.
Still descending looking down towards Langleeford
Still trying to get below the cloud
Looking across towards Comb Fell
Looking towards Preston & Broadhope Hill
Still heading down, unfortunately still a haze ruining the photos
Looking across at Hedgehope
Still heading down, I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get off this mountain
A
A few shots as I make my way down
looking back at the Cheviot
At this stage I have decided to take a much shorter but steeper route down at least I am off the slippy boggy bits now on rough grass heading down to Langleeford hope.
An old hut
Slowly making my way down, looking up the valley
Looking across towards Long Crags & Housey Crags
Me showing a very tired foot, still got a section of downhill to go but at least I am out of the haze
Looking down the valley
Looking up the valley
Looking back up this never ending hill
Finally made it to the bottom, now it’s just a case of following the river back to where the car is.
River shot showing old flood damage
Last look up the valley before I get back to the car.
Note to myself next time I feel like challenging myself; go for a lay down till I forget all about it.
I was aching all over by the time I got home Much to every ones amusement.