Hi internet. Last weekend had been in the diary for ages and I was really looking forward to it, so with all the bad weather that the Lake District had received the week prior, I had hoped that things had calmed down a bit and we'd get some nice weather. Luckily, Michael Fish had listened to my prayers and ordered in some brilliant weather for us. Result!
James Linford headed to mine and we jumped in the car and sped north to Grasmere, where Rebecca and her boyfriend Goldy were headed for about midnight. After a restless night and a bit of brecky, we were up and away, doing a loop from our Grasmere YHA, towards Swirl Howe, High Rise and then off piste round Easdale tarn and back. The weather was beautiful and all the autumnal colours of the bracken turned the landscape a lovely brown and views into the Landale valley. On our short cut near to codale tarn presented us with an a few unexpected wildlife sighitngs. First we spotted a white bird scooting around on the tarn like a beaver (it then flew away, so I'm assuming it was a bird...) but lookedm like a seabird, and a short while after, when climbing away from the tarn, we got really close to 6 deer. A whole family of red deer and they were quite curious. Amazing!
Goldy risking all!
After a great first day, it was back to the YHA. Food, Beer, Bed and more of the group arriving. Over night it'd rained quite heavily and the temperature had dropped a bit. Basically, that meant 10cm of snow on the hills! Amazing bluebird day and we were set for going up Bowfell and round to Esk Hasue, round Angle tarn and back.
It was perfect weather and no wind, beautiful views and good company. After we had gained nearly all our height, we stopped for lunch and admired the amazing views.
View back towards little Langdale
How is that for a lunch view!
On the way down we were close to an RAF helicopter rescue which was amazing to watch and I hope the person being lifted wasn't too badly hurt. They dropped the winchman, then flew off to limit the downdraft, then winched the hurt party up ten minutes later. Amazing job.
There was also time for some art...
It had been a long day and we came down in the gloom and by the time we had hit the valley, the headtorches were out and looking back up the hill, there were a few more twinkles coming down higher up.
Ben looking like a rad 70's climber...
Sorry there are soooo many snow pics, but they're pretty...
More pub, good food and fun and we retired very pooped. The next day was a complete contrast and as a result I didn't even bother to take the camera. It was basically up to 80mph gusts and driving wet snow and hale. Wind chill was up to -17C! Without Bex, who had a saw ankle, and Goldy, we went up and did a reasonably low level route from Grasmere. Up to Stone Arthur, towards Great Rigg and then contoured under the ridge line, out of the high wind back towards Heron Pike and then back via Alcock Tarn. Really cold and wet day out and most of our jackets gave in, including James' brand new Rab affair...
Shelter was deployed for lunch.
Saying goodbye to Chris and Ross, there were four of us left for a final day that was cold and crisp and still a bit windy. We aimed for Jack's Rake on Pavey Ark, but in the end, decided to give it a miss as it was a bit icy and we were all knackered by this point. Gloroius day with a bit of a scramble and just nice to be up in the hills.
We saw a shepherd up here with his dogs, literally running up cliffs to bring the hill sheep down. Pretty amazing life.
Thanks for a great trip, James, it was great to catch up with poeple and relax. Can't wait for the next one.
