HillsAndSpills wrote:You said you had traded out your boots for trail shoes - which shoes were you using (style, model, whatever you can tell me)? Did you come across any difficulty in using them? I was going to take my 2-3 season boots but, if it's feasible, Ultra Raptors would save and lot of weight and packing space.
I can't remember the exact model, but a Salomon similar to Approach/Alp/Mountaineering-quite a sturdy shoe, but still a compromise on a good 3-season boot. Only you will know whether or not you can get away with it;I did, but I was extra careful as I do have susceptible ankles following numerous injuries over the years. I did not have the space for boots, but would have preferred them; my mate took 3-season boots, but he had bigger panniers than me! For me the telescopic walking poles were essential to prevent me from misplacing a foot and causing injury especially without boots.
HillsAndSpills wrote:I hadn't considered Scafell yet, but the Langdale route is almost certainly what we'll go for.
I considered all options and that was by far the best, logistically much easier and you save a day's cycling from any other approach. It is a longer and slightly more challenging walk, perhaps 6 - 8 hours depending upon conditions. Don't be tempted to save time by contouring around Bow Fell and Esk Pike - it is much faster and easier to stick to the path from The Band, over Bow Fell, Esk Pike and on to the huge crossroads that is Esk House and you will probably know the route from there to the top of Sca Fell. I set off early and was back, showered and in the New Dungeon Gill for a pre-meal pint before they'd started serving food!
If you want any information with kit lists, campsites etc. pm me your email address and I'll see if I can find some of my old planning lists on Word - I usually keep them.
