Scafell Pike
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| Scafell Pike
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| Elevation | 978 m (3,210 ft) |
| Location | Lake District, England
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At 978 metres (3,210 feet), Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England. It is located in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria.
It is sometimes confused with the neighbouring Sca Fell, to which it is connected by the pass of Mickledore. The name Pikes of Sca Fell was originally applied collectively to the peaks now known as Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Broad Crag, which were considered subsidiary tops of Sca Fell (which looks higher from many angles). The contraction Scafell Pike originated as an error on an Ordnance Survey map, but is now standard.
The land was donated to the National Trust in 1920 by Lord Leconfield in memory of the men of the Lake District "who fell for God and King, for freedom, peace and right in the Great War".
Scafell Pike is one of three British mountains climbed as part of the (National) Three Peaks Challenge.
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[edit] Geology
Scafell Pike consists of igneous rock dating from the Ordovician period, and is geologically part of the Borrowdale Volcanics. The summit plateau of Scafell pike, and the other neighbouring peaks, is covered with shattered rock debris which provides the highest altitude example of a summit boulder field in England.<ref name="SSSI"/> The boulder field is thought to have been caused in part by weathering, such as frost action. Additional factors are also considered to be important, however opinion varies as to what these may be. Clifton Ward suggested that weathering with earthquakes as a secondary agent could be responsible, while J E Marr and R A Daly believed that earthquakes were unnecessary and suggested that frost action with other unspecified agents was more likely.<ref>Hay, T (1942). Physiographical Notes from Lakeland. The Geographical Journal 100 (4): 165-173.</ref> To the north of the summit are a number of high altitude gills which flow into Lingmell Beck. These are good examples in Cumbria for this type of gill and are also biologically important due to their species richness.<ref name="SSSI">Scafell Pikes SSSI citation sheet (PDF). English Nature. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.</ref>
[edit] Ascent routes
The ascent of the Pike is most often attempted from Wasdale Head at the north end of Wastwater to the west of the Pike. On summer weekends, crowds of people can be found attempting this steep but straightforward walk. An alternative ascent from Wasdale approaches up a hanging valley whose head is at Mickledore, which is itself ascended, before following the path from Sca Fell to the Pike.
A more taxing, but scenically far superior, approach begins at Seathwaite Farm at the end of Borrowdale, proceeding via Styhead Tarn, then taking the Corridor Route (formerly known as the Guides Route), a delightful walk along the western flank of the Sca Fell massif with intimate views of the mountain, before joining the route from Wasdale near the summit. The return journey can then be made along a high ridge, taking in any or all of the neighbouring summits of Broad Crag, Ill Crag, Great End, Allen Crags and Glaramara. An alternative route from Borrowdale, longer but perhaps less taxing than that via the Corridor Route, runs from Seathwaite via Grains Gill and the high pass of Esk Hause.
A further ascent may be made from Langdale. From the Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel, the route proceeds up alongside Rossett Gill (which perhaps has a more fearsome reputation than it deserves), past Angle Tarn, and then onto Esk Hause before joining a rocky path to the summit. Energetic walkers can vary the return route by ascending Esk Pike and Bowfell from Esk Hause and then come down the Bowfell Band. The total distance is about 21 kilometres. Esk Hause is also accessible from Styhead Tarn, making another possible route from Seathwaite.Another ascent can be made from Eskdale, the longest and most arduous way up but it has some very fine scenery. You can either go up to Esk Hause or Mickledore, the low ridge between Sca Fell and Scafell Pike.
[edit] References
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[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Computer generated virtual panoramas North South Index
- Maps and aerial photos
- Surrounding area map from Google Maps
- Detailed topography from Ordnance Survey Get-a-mapde:Scafell Pike
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