GLACIAL TARNS

GLACIAL TARNS

In search of other glacial tarns to swim in, we looked into it and found Bowescales in Mungrisdale in the Lake District. Another amazing location, the walk to it not as steep as that to Scales Tarn, but this one I had been reliably informed would be warmer! Joined on this walk by Michael Harrison and Julie Mackenzie, we met up in the car park of the Mill Inn. The sun starting to make great inroads into making itself known. After a quick but of banter we set off. The pace slower, the chatter flowing, the sun shining, its great to swim with friends and in such wonderful weather.

Julie makes it to the tarn

Again the layers of clothing came off as the gradient increased, accompanied to Michaels witty remarks! The scenery rather than steep and raggy looking had lost is harshness and the hillsides around us rolled around as if giving permission to walk its mossy surfaces. Soon the gentle roll of the hills gave way to steeper climbs and the legs started to feel the need to stretch out.

 My trusted Sherpa (aka Geoff) kindly and knowingly offered to take my rucksack....not one to refuse such a request, I handed it over and set off up the hill. The footing underneath no so steady today but I managed to get a nice stretch out, the thighs still not recovered from the walk/run/swim two days prior at Scales Tarn but they soon loosened off and set to work for me.

Higher I went, then round the corner the tarn appreared. Slightly larger than Scales Tarn but no less wonderful. But what do I spy.....other people!!! Some, a small group, looked like they were settling down to a picnic....damn, were we really going to have to share this venue...oh well so be it. I wonder what they would make of us 'wild swimmers'.

The sun making itself known as we got change, Julie bravely going sans wetsuit. Quickly enough we were ready to get in, and as seems to be the way with these tarns there are several metres of sharp stones to make us look like a cross between a ballerina and the worst kind of drunk as we teeter towards the deepest bit of water we can find, not even 12 inches in some cases, so that we could lie flat and cruise to deeper areas.

The water, in theory, and according to my source of information, should have been warmer than Scales Tarn but nope....colder, the ice cream headache came back with a smack that took the breath away. We soon got used to it though and through a mixture of swimming, floating and diving under were soon like big kids. One of the beauties of open water swimming its abilty to allow one and all adults and children to have fun, its not all about racing (although that is fun too), but the freedom to do as we wish was granted and we took advantage of it. The water was not as clear as the previous tarn but this could have been down to the sheer volume of rock and boulders that were simply everywhere, its a deep tarn as well, not permitting us a glimpse of the depths.

 The water was still wonderfully clear, and although chilly (around 10 degrees) it was still amazing to be surrounded by the best that mother nature can offer. It really is a unique experience to be swimming in glacial waters surrounded by mountains and being warmed by the occasional flash of the suns warmth, NO swimming pool could even hope to offer the same experience. Julie experienced the true experience of total silence in an amazing setting, until you have been in such setting, where the mountain rise literally from the water, allow you to play in them for a bit, but when you merge from there blue and silky depths the kiss of the sun there is nothing to equal it. The sheer silence is deafening, the surroundings nothing that man kind could hope to equal. However if we called out to each other our voices were accompanied by an acho or two....had the picnicing group not been there i am sure we would have made full use of its attractions. Its nature at its best and to know that you have swam in glacial waters in a location where the ice age passed through is heart warming, it still here and allowing us to partake, its a privalige i am glad to be a part of.