The early bird catches the worm (snow)

I've have been eagerly waiting for the snow to arrive in the Lakes along with everyone else. On Friday there was lots of Internet chatter about the great conditions, and with a good weather forecast finally winter was here.

Start of the walk in with Stuart

Toby's selfie

Looking back down to Glenridding

Originally I thought about getting up at 5am, and trying to get on the tops with my ski's for sunrise, but when Rachael could suddenly come out to play too she persuaded me that this was too early and instead we aimed to get to Patterdale at 8am ish (perfect).

Toby coming up

Looking to Ullswater

We weren't the first out by a long shot, and as we were sorting out the gear at Rachael's van a fellow skier walked past also heading up the Greenside Road in the vague direction of Raise/Helvellyn. I recognised him even though we had never met, it was Toby who used to live in Finland and I'd stumbled upon his blog a few years back (what are the chances)! He's driven up for the day from Sheffield with his nordic ski's - now that's an early start.

Back to work!

Heading to Stybarrow Dodd

We joined forces and all headed off together along with Alfie the dog. Almost immediately we got stopped on the track and kindly bundled into the back of Stu's 4x4 camper van to get a lift to the mines and end of the road - saving us a 30 min trudge.

Here comes Toby

Toby telemarking

Stu helps to operate/run the ski run/lift on Raise. I've always wanted to go up and see what its like. From the mines, end of the road we had to carry ski's for 30-40mins, before we could get them on and skin over to Glencoyne Head. Have I said it was amazing weather, and even though we could see a few people around we had the whole of White Stones and Stybarrow Dodd to ourselves on our way up.

Rachael showing how its done

chit chat on the way up to Raise

We toured across and down to Sticks Pass, then skinned up to the top of Raise. It started to get busier with people here (lots of skiers and walkers). The walkers were struggling with the deep drifts of snow. Toby continued on to the top of Helvellyn, and Rachael went part way with him.

Top of the button tow (just to prove it exists) 

I wanted to check out the Lake District Ski Club, so dropped down to this. A ski tow and small hut that's a 60-90 minute walk to, quirky but brilliant - ?only in the UK. The snow on its 'runs/pistes' was variable, but consistent on President Run, so I joined the club and had 7-8 runs on this whilst waiting for Rachael and Alfie to show up.

think its this way....

Made it (nearly)!

The weather was deteriorating when Rachael arrived, flat light and snow starting to fall, so Rachael quickly had a run on the piste and we scrambled to put the skins back on and headed back up to Raise. From the top we skied South and started to drop in to Keppel Cove. Here we bumped into Toby again and all headed out together. It was a challenging end to the day, with poor light, a blizzard starting and poor heavy/crusty snow. With me falling lots we survival skied our way down eventually taking the ski's off for the final 1km walk back to the mines. What an amazing day out in the Lakes!

Langdale - in search of snow

The forecast looked promising for today, with winter conditions forecast. It was difficult to decide what to do because various Internet sources suggested that skiing in the Lakes may be possible with the ski tow on Raise planning to open.....

Plenty of water and not much snow!

But... after scrutinising the various weather forecasts and seeing pictures on the web skiing looked highly unlikely, and even if enough snow was found I doubt very much that the sliding would be worth it. It definitely looked like a walking day.

Pavey

We headed to Langdale, originally planning to walk over Pike of Blisco and Crinkle Crags, but after experiencing torrential rain on the drive over, seeing the Langdale higher tops in cloud and noting the high winds in the car park an alternative plan was quickly hatched (and ice axes abandoned - too mild)

Finally found a little (wet) snow

Harrison Stickle

Starting at Stickle Barn we headed up to Stickle Tarn in rain and then heavy hail showers (wishing I had waterproof trousers!). At the Tarn we decided against Jack's Rake with Alfie (the dog), because he still pulls a lot on a lead and this coupled with the slippy rock may not have been much fun today.

Someone on the top of Pike of Stickle

Instead we followed Bright Beck and popped up onto Pavey Ark (and the snow line) at about 700m. There was a little snow at this level, but it was very wet (thawing, saturated ground), I'd expected a lot more, and frozen terrain at this level.

Heading down from Stake Pass

We quickly walked over Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle and nearly got blown over a couple of times by the ferocious gusts of wind. After a brief refuel we continued to Stake Pass and then down and back along Mickleden - thankfully out of the wind at this stage.

Love this valley

It was great to bump into Neil, Tanya and George and have a chin wag in the Old Dungeon Ghyll when we stopped for a quick cup of tea (January detox!). Fun day.

Garburn Pass and Kentmere

At last a sunny day without rain - is what the various weather sites predicted. This wasn't quite the case, but it is the Lake District so I don't know why I believed them.

damp under foot (wheels)

But great skies

I was a little annoyed with myself for not taking a waterproof (probably the only time I haven't packed one) as Steve and I left the parking at Wilf's (Staveley) and got quite wet in a persistent rain shower that soaked me to the skin. Luckily after 30 minutes it stopped, and things improved.

We headed over on the soggy bridleways to Whiteside End and Kentmere, the weather being pretty atmospheric with sun, cloud,  rain, sun, cloud, drizzle etc.

The 3 witches' trees

The Garburn Pass (449m) was the next objective. Its an odd route over the pass on a bike, consisting of lots of pushing and lifting the bike up the steep track up to the pass.

The start of the climb to the Garburn Pass

 When you are ascending this old trade route you wonder why you are bothering, but when you (eventually) get to the pass and are presented with the extensive views and a lot of (newly resurfaced) downhill the hard work is quickly forgotten.

The reward - lots of downhill

Clougha Pike and Grit Fell detox walk

After a very enjoyable 3 days of festive gluttony as it wasn't raining I headed out for a walk in the local Bowland Fells. It was an enjoyable walk, nice and quiet, only seeing the festive grouse and a lone fell runner on the moors.

Looking back to Clougha Pike and Morecambe Bay beyond

Grit Fell

Although a dull day, it was great not to have rain so I headed over Clougha Pike and over Gritfell (a minor lump) before heading back on the Northern shooting tracks. It was also nice to see the single tree on the lonely moor had been decorated with festive Christmas decorations. I think fell runners do this every Christmas, we first noticed it 5-6 years ago. This year they seem to have gone a little crazy, even putting tinsel on the tree.

Rowland Christmas tree

Pen Y Ghent in the distance 

Lakes Weather Window

I've very much felt in limbo between darkness, work and rain at the moment, but this time of the year it can be like that anyway (I tell myself). The Lakes had some snow on the hills yesterday, so a plan was hatched with Rachael and Abi to go and play in it before it disappeared (which may be tomorrow given the forecast).

Playing with Alfie

It was a tight weather window, as the start of the day looked very promising, but the front carrying (more) rain was predicted to arrive around, or just after lunch time.

Here comes some sun

Picnic time

We headed out early, picking Rachael up at Staveley, and heading up Kentmere in one vehicle. It was touch and go making it to the end of Kentmere as the roads were heavily iced and I don't think I'd have got up the hills without winter tyres on the car.

Off they go again, heading for Kenmore Pike

Looking back a lone figure appears

We headed up towards Kentmere Pike, really enjoying the snowy winter walk having a very leisurely break at Shipman Knotts before a slightly 'off piste' return down into the valley to make it a circular route. The snow was good, with some small drifts, but definitely not enough to consider the ski's.

Lone wanderer as the next weather front moves ever closer

I also got to wear my new Jottnar Alfar top today (gear geek!). Wow pretty blown away by how versatile it is, looking forward to living in it this winter and taking it on some adventures for sure. We finished off with food and drinks at Wilfs. Really hope the snow survives, or comes back soon.

Storm Desmond

Its been a crazy few days in the NW of England after Storm Desmond passed through. We were out in Lancaster on the Saturday night at an Indian restaurant, sure it had rained all day and the roads were a little water logged, but I'd underestimated the severity of what was to come.

Kendal - the aftermath

There wasn't any obvious surface water near the restaurant when we arrived, but within one hour they were starting to evacuate it as the  basement filled with water. I had to wade through 6" of water to rescue the car, and only just got it out.

We drove home as various roads were starting to seriously flood and get closed by the police. The power went off on Saturday night at about 10-11pm and didn't really come back properly until 7am on Tuesday morning (there was a brief interlude when I was at work).  A substation had flooded in Lancaster meaning 40-60,000 homes were without power. Of course Lancaster didn't get as badly hit as Cumbria, which in many places was severely flooded with houses ruined and roads washed away.

Kendal - George who's house was flooded

The 3 days without power were sobering enough, nights cooking by candlelight, but we were the lucky ones, our power is now back and the house wasn't flooded. Lets hope the Paris Climate Summit actually achieves something to try and help future generations so that this isn't a regular occurrence. Interesting article that links in here.