Two nights on the Shap fells with my MLD Trailstar...2020

This trip was done before the lockdown we are all now under,i took myself off to the Shap fells,knowing it might be a while before we can all get out again.I saw no one friday, 6 folk at a distance for a few hours Saturday and no one again till driving back home, the route was all safe ground and most of it ive walked before 

 I finished work after dinner on the Friday and then drove over to the big lay-by on the A6 above Kendal town,leaving the car around 3 pm 

The skies were blue and the sun even shone for a while,but the slight wind that was about still carried a sharp bite

I walked upto Great Yarlside and then followed the high ground over to Harrop pike,the wind was a bit stronger as the day started to finish..15-25 mph winds had me mouch around for a while till i found a nice spot not far from the summit to pitch,out of the cold wind 

Id not long recieved a new version of my MLD Exodus pack,which i decided to get to replace my older one, although a bit narrower and taller it still carried as well as my old one 

It had been a while since id used my Trailstar so i reached for that,for this trip

Shelter up and knowing i wouldnt see anyone else out here,as it was early evening i dropped down a bit from camp and soon located some running water for camp 

I didnt get a great sunset but it did give some lovely after colour to the fells,it light the Howgills up very nicely too...only spoilt by the hard wind as the temp had dropped to -2.8c by 6-30 pm,so -11c WC

Tea was a new flavour that i had from Basecamp foods, it hydrated well and tasted superb,i like with the RT meals how you can rip off another section of the packaging once its cooked,making it less messy to get to eat

I brewed and kept nipping out and taking in the views but clouds stopped any night shots and held the temprature up some.Dawn also gave some great colour to the skies and hills,but it was still cold with the wind a bit stronger now 

I had a few brews as i decided where to go,settling on a nip across to Mosedale bothy first

No one was home,i made sure to wear a glove while opening the door etc.A wet pull up hill took me to the end of Longsladdale,i said hi to a mountain biker and then went for a vist to the great mine workings here, well worth a visit if youve not been before

I dont remember this man shaped tribute last time i was here,but it was winter and under snow so i was careful which bits i did visit 

From the mine its just follow the fence walk uphill to Kentmere pike summit,some big snow banks still hiding from the sun on this side 

Apart from the MB i had only seen a few folk and them then a mile away,as i followed the Horseshoe walk downwards from Kentmere pike to Shipman Knotts and the the main track i passed 3 groups of 2 people, who i easliy kept away from, just saying my hellos 

For some reason i did not take any pics after Kentmere pike, till i camped up.I dropped down into the valley then had what seemed to be a tough pull up again on the other side.After Shipmans Knott i did not see anyone else till the car.Once back on the other side of the valley i followed the fence lines back to my first nites camp,but pushed on to Great Yarlside 

From mid-afternoon the wind and temp had kept me moving most of the time,the windchill just biting at bare skin...id chosen to camp on Great Yarlside as it was here my furry pal Oscar dog had his last wild camp

Same as most camps shelter up i went of to find water and then get a brew on,id seen a lot of small groups of deer around over the past days and a few more were hiding further down from where i found runnig water 

Tea was a favorite from Bla Bland range followed by brews and some chocolate,reminising of the many great,and not so great,camps me and Oscar had had over the years we traveled together..
Night sky was a no go again and it was a short and slow walk back to the car wondering just when we will all get back to the places we love and need 

So lets all follow these lock down rules and stay home and safe...the fells, mountains,rivers and streams will be all that much sweeter when we can return 

Safe travels Peter