Mickledore facts for kids
Mickledore is a special place in the English Lake District. Its name means great door or pass, which makes sense because it's a narrow ridge that connects two big mountains: Scafell and Scafell Pike. It's about 840 meters (2,755 feet) high! Mickledore also acts like a bridge between two valleys, Wasdale and Eskdale. It's a key spot for hikers exploring the highest peaks in England.
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What is Mickledore Ridge?
The Mickledore ridge is quite easy to reach if you're coming from Scafell Pike (the highest mountain in England) or from the valleys on either side. However, getting to the top of Scafell mountain from Mickledore is tricky because of a rock face called Broad Stand. It might look easy to climb, but it's actually very difficult and dangerous.
Why is Broad Stand Dangerous?
Broad Stand is a very steep wall of rock. To climb it, you need to make specific climbing moves, almost like bouldering. Experts have described it as anything from a tough scramble to actual rock climbing. The Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, who help people in trouble on the mountains, say it's "extremely dangerous." If you try to climb down it, it's even more risky.
A famous poet named Samuel Taylor Coleridge might have climbed down Broad Stand way back in 1802!
A historian and outdoor lover named W. G. Collingwood wrote about Broad Stand in his guide book, The Lake Counties. He said it has "pinnacles and buttresses so high" and "precipice's so deep" that it gives you a feeling of how huge and amazing these mountains are. He described the rock as looking like "gigantic steps" that are tilted, making them very hard to climb.
How to Reach Scafell Safely
If you want to walk safely between England's highest mountains (Scafell Pike and Scafell), you should go a different way, through a place called Foxes Tarn. This route means you have to walk down to about 680 meters (2,230 feet) before climbing back up. That's about 160 meters (525 feet) lower than the Mickledore ridge itself. There are also more challenging paths like Lord's Rake and the West Wall Traverse, but these are for experienced climbers.
Walking to Scafell via Foxes Tarn
To get to Foxes Tarn from the Mickledore ridge, you need to go down the south side. Older maps show the path starting higher up, but newer maps show it starting a bit lower, around 650 meters (2,130 feet). It seems the path might have changed over time.
Here's a simple look at the journey from Scafell Pike to Scafell using the Foxes Tarn route:
| Place | Height | How much you go down | How much you go up | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scafell Pike | 978m (3,209 ft) | 0 | 0 | England's highest mountain |
| Mickledore ridge | 840m (2,755 ft) | 138m (453 ft) | 0 | The pass between the mountains |
| Path junction | 650m (2,133 ft) | 190m (623 ft) | 0 | Where the path to Foxes Tarn begins |
| Foxes Tarn | 820m (2,690 ft) | 0 | 170m (558 ft) | A small mountain lake |
| Scafell | 964m (3,163 ft) | 0 | 144m (472 ft) | England's second highest mountain |
Mickledore's History
Mickledore has a special place in the history of mountain rescue.
The 1974 Rescue Box
In 1974, a special box for mountain rescue stretchers was brought to Mickledore by an RAF helicopter. This box helps rescue teams when someone gets hurt on the mountain.
A pilot named John Nowell shared how it happened. His helicopter crew worked with students from a school to get the box to the ridge. They flew some students first, then came back for the rescue box. The helicopter had to land with just its front wheel touching the ridge while the students helped pull the box out! After that, they flew everyone back safely. A short film of this amazing event was even shown on the news!
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