TR: Scafell Pike (Corridor route from Seathwaite) 29th Dec 2006

Drove from Yorkshire to arrive at Seathwaite for 7, started walking at
7.30 ish from Seathwaite farm. I would show pictures but the ones I
took were very few! The rain was very heavy up to Sty Head and only
got progressively worse up to the summit. I really couldn't take my
camera out. But the worst thing was the gale force winds that climaxed
at the summit but remained very strong until we reached Seathwaite farm
once again. Winds so strong that my friends who were with me were
blown off of their feet at least once.

Rocks were slippery. Patches of ice around the final ascent up to the
summit, but they were easily avoided.

It was a fairly enjoyable day though, and I managed to put my gear to
good test. I recently bought a Rab Latok Alpine jacket. We were out
in 9 hours of heavy wind and rain. I assumed the map pockets (two
large zipped pockets on the front) would be waterproof, but
unfortunately at my cost I learned that they leaked water as my mobile
phone was soaked and killed. Anyone else had this experience with this
jacket?

Graham Seed wrote:

> "Dundonald" <mark.dundon@> wrote in message
> news:1167431220.541719.59930@s34g2000cwa. ...
> > Drove from Yorkshire to arrive at Seathwaite for 7, started walking at
> > 7.30 ish from Seathwaite farm. I would show pictures but the ones I
> > took were very few! The rain was very heavy up to Sty Head and only
> > got progressively worse up to the summit. I really couldn't take my
> > camera out. But the worst thing was the gale force winds that climaxed
> > at the summit but remained very strong until we reached Seathwaite farm
> > once again. Winds so strong that my friends who were with me were
> > blown off of their feet at least once.
>
> Sounds like a great day out! The lousy days where you're blown off your feet
> can be quite memorable, I always felt at my most humble when mother nature
> bared her teeth.

Absolutely, amazing just how powerful mother nature is! Without doubt
it was the worst conditions I have been out on the mountains in.

> > Rocks were slippery. Patches of ice around the final ascent up to the
> > summit, but they were easily avoided.
> >
> > It was a fairly enjoyable day though, and I managed to put my gear to
> > good test. I recently bought a Rab Latok Alpine jacket. We were out
> > in 9 hours of heavy wind and rain. I assumed the map pockets (two
> > large zipped pockets on the front) would be waterproof, but
> > unfortunately at my cost I learned that they leaked water as my mobile
> > phone was soaked and killed. Anyone else had this experience with this
> > jacket?
> >
> I wouldn't put any faith in a zipped pocket even if it was on a £500 jacket.
> My best cag ever was a simple goretex one with very few features and
> consequently very few weak points (taped seams etc). Since then, everyone
> I've bought has had a weak point somewhere - zipped pockets are a favourite
> as the zip will let in water if it's not well protected. Always put cameras,
> mobile phones etc in small sealable foodbags (Tesco sell 'em)

The zips on the Rab Latok Alpine are supposedly water tight zips rather
than the standard zip so I figured it would be OK. But as I'm a bit
behind on the new technology, it's the first time I've had a modern
material (in this case eVent) jacket. Hence when I was told it was
water tight I took it literally. Did I assume too much of the jacket
or did I maybe receive a defective jacket?

Graham Seed wrote:

> "Dundonald" <mark.dundon@> wrote
>
> The zips on the Rab Latok Alpine are supposedly water tight zips rather
> than the standard zip so I figured it would be OK. But as I'm a bit
> behind on the new technology, it's the first time I've had a modern
> material (in this case eVent) jacket. Hence when I was told it was
> water tight I took it literally. Did I assume too much of the jacket
> or did I maybe receive a defective jacket?
>
> To be honest I'm not the best gear man on here (cue Chris or Pete) but it
> can't hurt to take it back and get some advice. I recently took a pair of
> boots back that I knackered on Sgurr Alasdair on the first outing. The guy
> in the shop was a bit dubious about it all but changed them in the end. If
> something is being sold as being watertight and isn't - you should be able
> to get your money back.

Thanks for your post Graham. I'll ask the question about the jacket
and water tightness of it in a fresh thread.

The Reid wrote:

> On 29 Dec 2006 14:27:00 -0800, "Dundonald" <mark.dundon@>
> wrote:
>
> > The rain was very heavy up to Sty Head and only
> >got progressively worse up to the summit. I really couldn't take my
> >camera out. But the worst thing was the gale force winds that climaxed
> >at the summit but remained very strong until we reached Seathwaite farm
> >once again. Winds so strong that my friends who were with me were
> >blown off of their feet at least once.
> >
> >Rocks were slippery. Patches of ice around the final ascent up to the
> >summit, but they were easily avoided.
>
> I gave up half way and went back to the Wasdale Head!

What time did you set off and then turn around Mike? I reached the
summit at about 12 ish and I could barely stand up with the wind. On
descent from summit I met a couple who had come up from Wasdale and
duly warned them of the situation.

> I see someone
> fell off Kirk Fell with serious head injuries.

Oh dear. What website are you looking at?

The Reid wrote:

> On 2 Jan 2007 07:21:50 -0800, "214Fells" <fellsrus@> wrote:
>
> >> My wife just told me over the phone so don't know, they landed a
> >> helicopter round in Ennerdale after W MRT and another team attended
> >> 1800 foot up on Kirk Fell. Slipped on the ice, must be same day as
> >> only one with ice.
> >
> >Unfortunately the man died in hospital......details on the Wasdale MRT
> >site.

A terrible shame!

> the day before the day I thought, so I was in the WH whinging about
> the traffic on the M6 and the weather while the team were out on
> Kirkfell bringing a dying man off the hill.