Western team
September 2010 update by Iain Gray
Since our last update the Hollow Stones to Mickledore project has progressed quite smoothly. Settled weather throughout August allowed the landscaping of the erosion scars to continue unhindered.
Above: The scar turns green!
This ended on September 13th when the new path and drains were severely tested by a huge deluge reminiscent of last November’s floods.The partially stabilised erosion scars just about survived the fluvial onslaught justifying the choice to make the channels so substantial.
Such was the scale of the downpour that we only managed to get back down to Wasdale Head by taking a trackless alternative route to avoid crossing the bridgeless Lingmell Gill at the bottom of Brown Tongue. The crossing proved too much for a group of walkers who followed the path shortly after us and had to call the Wasdale Mountain rescue team to assist them across.
A week earlier the last airlift of the summer brought the final batch of stone needed to complete the new path, consisting of 60 bags which had been filled in late August.
Above: The final bags arrive
The Western team is currently supplemented by members of the South Lakes team for the final 100m of pitching to ensure that the project will be completed before the planned cut off point at the end of October, coincident with the end of BST.
This might not leave sufficient time for the seeding and turfing to be fully established before the short Wasdale growing season ends, but with the path complete recovery should continue next year.
To find out more about the work carried out by Iain and his team, visit the Western team diary archive
