Hiking
Brotherilkeld Farm
Hike from Brotherilkeld Farm up Scale Gill and Cowcove Beck to a spot under Crinkle Crags, Bow Fell, Great End and Scafell Pike (978 m.), England’s highest mountain. A path continues to Esk Hause (759 m.) which would take you to Angle Tarn or Sprinkling Tarn. However we crossed Great Moss, the name gives some idea of the terrain underfoot. We followed the River Esk down to Eskdale through its gorge, numerous cascades, pots and waterfalls above and below the confluence with Lingcove Beck. Despite the blue sky and the slight warmth of the thin sunshine, the water looked cold and there was nobody canyoning or swimming wild today. Then the farm track back to the foot of Hardknott Pass.
Thanks to Samuel who chose our route to make full use of a glorious February day.
More photos: Great Moss, Eskdale - Lake District National Park
Family hike to see the snowdrops of medieval origin in North Hawkwell Wood, Somerset. The River Avrill flows from Dunkery Beacon (519 m.) past the old oaks in the wooded valley. Legend has it that snowdrops arrived in Britain with the Benedictine monks in the 11th Century; snowdrops were first planted here in the 13th Century as a symbol of Candlemas, the feast day in early February in celebration of the Purification of the Virgin Mary. The unusually early flowering of the demure white flowers must have been particularly impressive before the days of commercial propagation and ubiquity.
We hiked past flocks of Exmoor Horn sheep, one of England’s classic breeds.
More photos: “Snowdrop Valley”, North Hawkwell Wood - Exmoor National Park
Mont Pelvoux (3946 m.) and glacier
Continuing my photographic hunt for glaciers, those slow moving but ever more remote quarry. Our hike from the Col de Granon (2404 m.) gives great views both to the Écrins and to the Savoie Alps. The geology is tortuous because the views are across colliding tectonic plates as well as the action of the glaciers, wind, rain and frost.
More photos: Cols de Granon (2404 m.), des Cibières (2525 m.) and de l’Oule (2546 m.)
Hike in the protected upper valley of the River Clarée in the Alpes-de-Haut-Provence on the border between France and Italy. This upper tributary of the Durance has avoided exploitation because of its remoteness, lack of viable downhill skiing and insignificance as a trans-Alpine route.
More photos: Haute Vallée de la Clarée - Alpes-de-Haut-Provence
Glacier Blanc
Glacier Noir
Hike in the Valloise valley in the middle of the Massif des Écrins to see the Black and the White glaciers. Climate warming means these glaciers have retreated to approximately their extent in Roman times; it’s now a major hike to reach the ice of either. The valley floor is reminiscent of Yosemite with its pine trees. We saw almost no wildlife - no birds, no mammals - although this is a protected area within the national park.
More photos: Glacier Blanc & Glacier Noir - Parc national des Écrins
