BB2023 : The Three Meanings of Chai

Wednesday 8th July 2020

“Chai” is the Hebrew word for “Life”.

In Judaism the word “chai” is numerically significant and is synonymous with the number 18.  Don’t ask me why, ask Uncle Google.  

All you need know is that there is a deep connection between the Word, the Number and Life.

How, I hear you ask, is that relevant?  Simply because this would be our 18th visit to Wansfell which, as a result, goes back into the clear lead as our most visited top. Remarkably, each occasion has involved a different route.

Today I had a cunning plan.  I was going to change the name of Wansfell to Twicefell as I had discovered a hitherto untraveled route off the fell which would enable us to climb it first from Troutbeck and then dropping down to the north, almost to the Kirkstone Inn, before descending to and making a second ascent from Ambleside.  I suppose I could have called it Chaifell but that didn’t occur to me at the time.

It was a confusing start to the day.  Thanks to lockdown we still needed a car each so, as per BB2020, I suggested that we meet by the river bridge at Troutbeck at 9:15.  Fortunately we all arrived early, at around 9 a.m..  Unfortunately another group had beaten us to it and there was not a space left.  Rumour had it that the Town End National Trust car park would be open so we shot up there only to find that not to be the case.  Consequently, to the annoyance of at least one resident, we had cars scattered around the village.  Eventually we were able to meet up and start walking.

At this time it was sunny a sunny morning.  That was not expected to last.  It didn’t but at least there was no rain.

The chosen route was Robin Lane followed by the Hundreds Road track which leads straight on to the fell.  

Rather than try and find a path to follow, we climbed more or less direttisimo to Wansfell Pike.  It was quite busy.

People often think that Wansfell Pike is the Wansfell summit.  It is certainly the most worth visiting part of the ridge but actually the other end, called Baystones, is 5 metres higher.  These things matter for anyone bagging Wainwrights but there isn’t a lot to attract the casual walker.  Even finding the highest point is a bit of a challenge.  Wainwright and the map disagree.  There again, my gps didn’t agree with the map either; the Garmin was siding with AW.  The tart.  Last time it was siding with the OS.  That is the problem of judging height by air pressure rather than contours.

Anyway, this was the key decision point.  Should we continue north, almost as far as the Kirkstone Inn (which might well now be open, given the relaxation of the Corvid-19 rules) then back down the valley for a second attack, this time from the Ambleside side?  Or should we cut and run (or at least walk), dropping  down to Nanny Lane then back to the cars?  Stuart, Mike and Terry chose the latter.  Stan and I opted for a third strategy, not previously discussed.  We would return to Wansdale Pike and see if we could descend to the west, the Windermere side.

There was no path marked on the map but Stan was confident and I had seen folk arrive that way previously.

Once back at the Pike we could see a faint trail heading in the desired direction.  We followed it down, firstly on open fell and then into the woods, passing a rather unusual Thirlmere Pipeline survey station on the way.  

Eventually we emerged onto Robin Lane and a bench wide enough for us to be socially distanced.  

We had a fine view over the lake and of a friendly robin on the fence post.

The second meaning of the word “chai” is to be found in India.  It is a blend of herbs and spices.  Or in English- char.  So sat on our bench we opened our flasks and had a drink of.…. No, not char, it was coffee.

From there it was a straightforward and very familiar stroll back to Troutbeck, enjoying the distant Lakeland views along the way.

There is yet a third meaning of the word “Chai”.  It is a shed for storing casks of wine.  A man-cave perhaps?

So there you have it.  BOOTboys and the three Meanings of Chai.  The eighteenth visit to Wansfell, a drink of tea and, of course, the ZOOMbar.

Don, Wednesday 8th July 2020

 

BOOTboys

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Down in the Zoombar  :

 

Terry

Don

Stan

John PL

Bryan

Mike T

 Mike B

 Stephen

Route:

 

Map OS 1:25k

STATISTICS

BB2023 : The Three Meanings of Chai

Date:

Wednesday 8th July 2023

Features:

Wansfell Pike, Baystones

Comitibus:

Don, Stan

Mike B, Stuart, Terry

Distance in miles (Garmin):

8.5

5.5

Height climbed in feet (OMN):

1,838

1,328

GPX track

BB2023.gpx

 

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