Scafell Pike DANGER SPOTS
The multi-faceted Scafell massif is littered with scrambles, drops and pathless scree, making knowledge of the safest routes essential.
THE ‘BAD STEP’
GRID REF NY219085 Lying on the popular Corridor Route, Scafell Pike’s ‘bad step’ can represent a navigational hazard on descent, particularly in misty conditions. Many walkers are hesitant to follow the sudden 7m scramble that presents itself, assuming that it couldn’t be part of the main route. But stay with it: it’s less intimidating than it appears, and will keep you on the correct north-north-east bearing, eventually leading to Spout Head.
KNOW YOUR NAV!
Good navigation skills are key to staying safe on Scafell Pike. Many inexperienced walkers are caught out by the indistinct paths, and risk approaching dangerous drops or suffering exposure while lost on the hillside. Carrying a compass and making regular bearing checks is essential – even more so in misty or snowy conditions – and if you can take a GPS device with you so much the better. If you encounter problems near Mickledore, Wasdale Mountain Rescue has a gear store (containing first aid equipment, a casualty bag and a map) at grid ref NY210069. You are free to use it, so long as all items are returned.
BROWN TONGUE
Though Brown Tongue – en route to Hollow Stones – may appear as an innocuous zigzag path, a surprising number of injuries are sustained here through fatigue and complacency. Knees and ankles are always vulnerable on a descent, and the typically wet grass underfoot presents a significant risk of slipping and jarring or twisting a leg. There are few significant landmarks, and it’s an open area that presents few navigational problems.
SCAFELL PIKE SUMMIT
GRID REF NY215072
Though less severe in nature, a large number of accidents occur on the Pike’s summit. Covered in shattered rock, it’s an uneven place that becomes particularly dangerous when masked by ice and snow, or even when wet. Slipping and sustaining head injuries on rocks, or twisting ankles in small crevices, are the main risks and represent a serious hindrance to a safe descent. As always, confident navigation is essential as the lack of clear landmarks makes descending the wrong face of the mountain an ever-present threat.
MICKLEDORE
GRID REF NY210069 The narrow Mickledore gap links Scafell Pike to neighbouring Sca Fell at an altitude of 840m. Many accidents occur here as walkers attempt to cross from one peak to the other, wrongfully assuming that they will find a safe, easy route. There are three main routes to reach the gap if crossing from Sca Fell to Scafell Pike: Lord’s Rake, Broad Stand and Foxes Tarn. The first two present considerable dangers: Lord’s Rake is blighted by loose rock fields, while Broad Stand is notoriously sheer. Foxes Tarn is technically the safest of the three, but be aware of the 150m+ descent and re-ascent it requires, and plan accordingly. Mountain Rescue advises that experience on steep ground and good navigation skills are essential on these routes.
PIERS GILL
GRID REF NY213080 A tightly-knit ravine that should only be attempted by experienced scramblers. Piers Gill is responsible for a vast number of Mountain Rescue call-outs on the slopes of Scafell Pike, particularly when time-rushed walkers are attempting the Three Peaks Challenge via the Corridor Route.