Climbing a Sleeping Elephant

 Was back in the hills again recently & had an agenda that I wanted to fulfil which was to climb the highest of the sleeping elephants I came across on my last trip to these hills. 

Yes there is a place higher in the range which I completed last time but this one stands off to the side & out of all the hills looks like an elephant from afar.

The read arrow indicating where I wanted to be by the end of the day.

The walk in was hot & the litre of water I had in my bottle soon went, but I knew the streams albeit very dry at the moment would still be running from the few springs dotted up the Dale which I had observed last visit.

After a couple of hours of trekking, mainly uphill it was time to drop back down into the valley & stock up on water before climbing up to my target, Unfortunately there was no springs up there so I had to pack up 3 litres of water to keep me going through till I descended again, with my pack already at 20 Kgs with camping & photographic kit I certainly didn't look forward to the extra 3 Kgs of water.

The view across to Cautley Crags & Cautley Spout was something else with Cautley Spout being the highest above ground waterfall in England, dropping 650 ft straight down the rock face.

It wasnt too long until I was within the sight of the summit cairn & my goal achieved, Even though I was blowing through every orifice in my body...lol 

& the best part of it all....I hadn't came into contact with another human since leaving the car which was sublime as I really needed the thinking time & peace & quiet which this walk was giving me.

Tent up & time to chill

Im often asked why I enjoy wild camping & the above picture really says it all without explaining.

The view back down the Dale next morning on the descent, wasnt to be sniffed at either.

Also managed a couple of hours on the river which I have to say is in desperate need of water with only a few of the deeper pools holding any water, nothing to write home about but a Grayling graced me with its presence.

As I was finishing off, the pilot obviously seen me on the river and came for a closer view as he flew around me twice banking the aircraft over before heading off down the Dale.