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We have mentioned the young man who spent the whole of a
previous day in walking round Kirk Fell. Worse happened, in
October, 1852, to two gentlemen who went, with a pony, but
without a guide, from Buttermere to Wastdale Head, by Scarf
Gap and Blacksail. In Ennerdale valley, wind and rain met
them. They struggled part of the way along Black-sail, when
they became bewildered, and soon so exhausted that they had
a narrow escape with their lives. But for a brandy flask,
which one of them carried, they could not have survived. The
pony seems to have sunk as rapidly as the men. These
gentlemen have publicly suggested the erection of some
conspicuous landmarks, to show the track; and they have
uttered their warning, in corroboration of so many others,
against crossing mountains without a guide. One of their
chief difficulties was the paths being turned into
watercourses, and thereby disguised. It was on the same
track that the three Kendal young ladies, mentioned by Mr.
Green in his "Guide" (two of whom are still living) lost
their way, from dismissing their guide too soon, and
actually staid all night on the mountain, where, if it had
not been fine summer weather, they would have perished. They
took a guide over Scarf Gap, and as far as the junction of
the three
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