2nd October 2007 -- Yoke, Sallows and Sour Howes from Troutbeck

Area:	Lake District	Ascent:	2460 feet
Walk No:	80	Time:	4 hours 50 minutes
Date:	2nd October 2007	Parking:	Church Bridge, Troutbeck
Distance:	9.50 miles	Weather:	Very changeable, fine & clear then overcast then clearing again

Route:

Troutbeck - Garburn Pass - Yoke - Sallows - Sour Howes - Troutbeck

I really had no idea what route I would take as I left home only that I would park up at Troutbeck and take it from there. When I arrived there it was a fine clear sunny morning with just a touch of cloud on the highest fells so I decided to walk up the Garburn Pass and go over Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick before returning down Park Fell on the track of the Roman Road. This would enable me to get pictures from the Troutbeck side and also from upper Kentmere. Unfortunately things didn't quite work out that way. As I ascended Yoke the cloud base had dropped to about 2100 feet leaving me with no views at all from the summit. As this walk was primarily for capturing photographic memories (we had previously done these Wainwrights) I saw little point in continuing along the ridge. I made the decision to return to the Garburn Pass and go up Sallows and Sour Howes. On the way I made a slight diversion to visit an old quarry shown on the map.

It was an early start from Troutbeck this morning, something I would regret later.

Walking up the Garburn track the Troutbeck valley was still in the shade. The clouds were hanging onto the summit of Thornthwaite Crag.

On the other side of the valley the sun was shining on the upper slopes of Wansfell.

Not sure if this worked or not. Looking through a gate on Garburn path to Wansfell and Red Screes

Just to be sure this is it without the gate.

Looking up the valley to Threshthwaite Mouth

I'm at the top of Garburn now and just onto the path to Yoke. It was just after this that the cloud base started to drop as a bank of cloud moved in from the southeast.

Further up the path now and looking back towards Sallows (l) and Sour Howes (r). Little did I realise at this point that I would be visiting them later.

Red Screes with the cloud on the top

Approaching the wall on Yoke. The wall is at an height of 1960 feet. The cloud base was lowering all the time now but I was still hoping it would pass over.

Looking back down the ridge everything was still clear.

Yoke summit. The visibility was about 150 -200 feet at this point. There was no problem with route finding, the path along this ridge is like a motorway but my aim was to get some pictures and that was out of the question. Reluctantly I made the decision to return to the Garburn summit and go up Sallows and Sour Howes.

I'm on my way back down here at about 2050 feet when the views down to Kentmere reappear.

and to Sour Howes and Windermere

Whenever I've walked the path from Garburn to Yoke I keep meaning to follow a small path along the fellside to an old quarry. Today was an ideal opportunity to do so. I'm on the track here looking across to Wansfell. Note the white coach making its way up to the Kirkstone path in mid picture.