The Day

I had not been up the Black Sail Pass towards Pillar before. In the event, because of the weather and my wish to be cautious, I got as far the "Cloven Stone" at 622 m. Views to south into Wasdale, into the Tongue to the east and into the eastern end of Ennerdale to the north were all good, even on a dullish day like today. On the ascent, the Gatherstone Beck had to be crossed, but otherwise it was steady footwork to the top of the pass.

Ascent

The ascent started in sunshine, but the clouds gathered as I approached the top at close to 550 m. It was a matter of steady application, stopping for the occasional photo. The only place requiring some concentration was the boulder-strewn crossing of the Gatherstone Beck.

Looking up Black Sail Pass




Looking back to Wasdale and Illgill Head




Mosedale Beck - looking towards Pillar




Looking back to Wasdale and Illgill Head (right distance)




Looking back to Wasdale




Looking up Black Sail Pass - getting to the top of the pass

"On Top"

On top, visibility was still good despite the clouds coming in. Thus, there were views to south into Wasdale, into the eastern end of Ennerdale to the north into the Tongue to the east and towards Great Gable and Kirk Fell.

Kirk Fell




Kirk Fell on the left




Looking into the valley of the Tongue




A "micro tarn" with the lower slope of Kirk Fell on the right




"Micro tarn" again with a snowy peak in the centre distance




Looking back down Black Sail Pass towards Wasdale




Looking towards Pillar




Great Gable in middle distance. Kirk Fell on the right.




Looking into the eastern end of Ennerdale




Looking down Black Sail Pass. Kirk Fell to the left. Snow covered Scafell behind.




Looking down Black Sail Pass.
Burnmoor Tarn is in the middle distance, beyond, and to the left of, Illgill Head.




Looking down Black Sail Pass. Kirk Fell to the left. Snow covered Scafell behind.




Going up to Pillar




Lower slopes of Pillar. Snow on top.




Lower slope of Kirk Fell on left.
Yewbarrow, Illgill Head and Burnmoor Tarn can all be seen.




Kirk Fell on the right. Snow covered Great Gable in the middle.




Looking back down Black Sail Pass towards Wasdale.

Descent

Sn the descent, it w interesting to the landscape in reverse. The sun had gone, but despite the gathering clouds, it stayed dry and the visibility remained good. As on the ascent, the boulder-strewn crossing of the Gatherstone Beck needed some careful attention. It was slightly more challenging than the crossing of the Lingmell Beck on the way up Scafell Pike.

This is the view from the top down the Black Sail Pass and into Wasdale.




Looking back to the foothills of Pillar.




The crossing of the Gatherstone Beck - lots of boulders.




Looking back to the Pillar massif.




Getting closer to Wasdale.

Evening

Being Easter Sunday, Ritson's Bar was quite crowded with the Bank Holiday visitors, but we met up at various tables. We all had a good day, and we looked forward to Easter Monday - which, however, was to turn out to be a very damp squib!