Route - Ennerdale Backpacking Circuit Day 1 - Ennerdale YHA to Innominante Tarn via Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag and Hay Stacks
Weather - Sunny to start with moderate wind on peaks, thunder and lightning storm late afternoon with rain into the evening/night
Learning Points/Skills Practices - Map to ground, ground to map, group safety during storm and setting up wild camp during rain.
Group - 6
Camp style - Wild camp at Innominate Tarn
The individual takes part in the planning and leadership - yes
Navigation skills are required away from marked paths - Yes up on to Herdus to reduce climb steepness
Experience must be in terrain and weather comparable to that found in UK and Irish hills - Yes Lake District
Knowledge is increased and skills practised - see above
Attention is paid to safety - Advised party on storm safety, put away poles, head down the mountain and follow my lead if storm gets closer. Also had plan in place if storm persisted to head down to Black Sail YHA which was not needed in the end as the storm passed.
The journey is five hours or more - Yes, 7:50 hours in total
Adverse conditions may be encountered - Moderate wind, thunder and lightning storms and rain
Ascent of a substantial peak would normally be included in the day - Yes, Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag and Hay Stacks
Area :
Western Fells
The Western Fells form the southern wall of the Buttermere valley and the northern fence of Wasdale. Between the two lies Ennerdale so that in effect the group is the shape of a single horseshoe, each branch about 10 miles in length.
At the head of Ennerdale stands Great Gable. The southern arc of the group travels due west from Great Gable, the main ridge consisting of Kirk Fell, Pillar, Scoat Fell, Haycock and Caw Fell.
