C2C Day 1: What Goes Up Must Come Down...

Stage 1: St. Bees to Ennerdale Bridge

The first part down from Dent Hill was gentle...

...and scenic.

Eventually we arrived at Raven Crag (a Northern England term for cliff), the steepest descent on the entire route (although that’s hard to tell in this photo). I didn’t even attempt to take any photos while I crept down with Jimmy at my side encouraging me along the way. Without my poles, I probably would have just sat down and cried, but with them I was able to slowly and safely make my way down. Carlin took this photo while looking back up. She grew up trekking in South Africa and scrambled down like a mountain goat.

Once we were finally at the bottom, the terrain changed completely again with ferns and lots of becks (small streams).