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The Fellwalker by Peter John Farnworth
WALK 17 SUNDAY OCTOBER 18th 1981We returned today to the Three Shire Stone to continue where we left off yesterday at Walk 16, but this time the walk took us over to the other side of the road where we followed the zigzag path to the top of the ridge. (Note: at this point you will see a large cairn and this is what you will see on your way back if the mist is down - better to know than not!) From this point we took a right turn and followed the rising ground to the summit of Great Carrs. Here you will see a memorial cross and some parts from a aeroplane, which came down many years ago. The story goes that the plane was having engine trouble and tried to crash land on a grass strip near to the summit. Unfortunately there was not enough landing space and it went over the ridge. What happened to the occupants, I don’t know (Note: this is a very good way to go to Coniston Old Man, via Brim Fell, which we would term a high level walk). From Great Carrs we went to Swirl How, a very good summit cairn on which to sit awhile. Which brings me nicely to what happened on April 10th 1983 on the same summit……
We were having dinner, the sun was out and we were enjoying the day, then all at once, within two minutes, it was all changed round and the mist was down. We could not believe it! The temperature dropped right down and went very cold, so it was off the mountain as quickly possible. As I said in an early walk, if conditions are not right, get off as soon possible. Another strange thing occurred today. We saw a party of at least ten fell walkers, who had come from Brim Fell, walk within maybe ten yards of the summit of Swirl How, then they just walked past the summit cairn as though it was not there. I could not understand why they did this. I assumed every one who had made the effort in the first place to climb to these heights would at least touch the highest point, i.e. the summit cairn. But maybe it’s me. From here it was easy walking to Grey Friar, which had commanding views down towards Wrynose Pass. Mountains walked that day: Great Carrs 42 Swirl How 33 Grey Friar 50 [[]] Diagram & Stats
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