Earthwatcher's photos with the keyword: Thorn Crag

A day on the Langdale Pikes - Photo 4 We reach the first of the five Langdale Pikes: Thorn Crag, the lowest in elevation at approx. 2120 ft. There are two summits, west and east - the latter perhaps slightly higher. The photo is taken from the east summit looking westwards towards the west summit with its cairn; Loft Crag is beyond, and the rounded dome of Pike o' Stickle further distant on the right. AW doesn't give an entry for Thorn Crag, considering it merely to be a shoulder of Loft Crag. However, on the ground it is distinctly separated from the surrounding fells by Thorn Crag col on one side and the deep ravine of Dungeon Ghyll on the other.

A day on the Langdale Pikes - Photo 5 Viewed from the north-facing flank of Thorn Crag and across the upper ravine of Dungeon Ghyll, Harrison Stickle - the highest of the Langdale Pikes at 2403 ft - is an impressive sight. The path ascending from Pike How is visible just above the far side of the ravine. I always feel rather twitchy on a couple of sections of this path, notably where the path temporarily splits into two and the unprotected chasm of Dungeon Ghyll is close at hand. The least exposed branch is the upper one. The point of bifurcation is easily seen when descending (heading to the right), but is not obvious when ascending (heading to the left). The splitting point is marked by a small scree-filled gully; the lower branch of the path seemingly the obvious path straight across the gully. But this soon becomes just a bit scary. The thing to do is to ascend the scree gully for just a few steps and the upper branch of the path quickly comes into view.

A day on the Langdale Pikes - Photo 6 The colourful summit cairn of Loft Crag, 2270 ft. Harrison Stickle is in the background across the broad expanse of Harrison Coombe. Thorn Crag is the low rounded knoll on the right (0.8, 0.5). It was blowing very hard when I took this and at times I had difficulty keeping my feet, never mind keeping the camera steady.

A day on the Langdale Pikes - Photo 12 More sunlight patches and cloud shadows driven by the blustery wind. This view is to the SSE from the summit of Harrison Stickle, the highest of the Langdale Pikes at 2403 ft. Thorn Crag, our first summit of the day is briefly illuminated at (0.6, 0.4), as is the head of Great Langdale left of centre. Unusually for mid-afternoon in summer time, we had the summit of Harrison Stickle to ourselves for the best part of an hour, until the arrival of the solitary fellwalker from this photo: www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/39024072 We wished him a good afternoon and left him to his solitude.