Before we went into Lockdown 3 I managed to get out over the Lake District and to do some amazing routes in winter conditions. My favourite time of year for walking is the winter totally love being in the mountains when they have there winter coats on.
What I have put together in this blog is the routes, pictures and video links to these amazing days out that I had.
Striding Edge
My first winter route was Striding Edge over in the Helvellyn range, this route is must in the winter when you get the conditions. Starting from the car park at Glenridding I met Chris and Liam over there two of my good mates and both ex army.
We new we had long day ahead of us so we started early which was starting in the dark head torches at the ready......
We hit the snow line at about 600m after our steady walk up to Low Spy from here it was time for crampons and ice axe for our crossing over Striding Edge with poor visibility for most of the time it hid the drops on either side of the ridge.
Once onto the summit the visibility was really poor so it was time for map and compass and navigate onto our next summit which was Nethermost Pike then Dollywaggon Pike from here we descend to Grisdale Tarn where the visibility did lift very slightly. Our finally summit was St Sunday Crag and what amazing mountain this is. Once complete we made our way back to the car park. This was great day out in which we covered 18k and where out for 9hrs which meant finishing in the dark.
I have put link to the full video above.
on my way to summit of St Sunday with Fairfield in the background.
Pillar
My next adventure in the snow was to take me to the beautiful Ennerdale valley the plan was to go over Haycock, Scoatfell, Steeple and Pillar. After leaving the car park (meeting liam here) and leaving the woods behind us we made our way up to Little Gowder the weather now really started to change and for the worse.
We continued onto to Little Scoat Fell and then decided to turn back due to the worsening conditions. This was the right move as things were turning very bad with the weather on the mountain and trying to go up and over Pillar was not to be on day like this.
The mountains will also be there for another day and knowing your own limits and getting off the mountain safely is always number one priority.
This was good day to test the kit out and our goggles due to the weather, I was well soaked when I got back to the car and that was with full waterproofs on.
I have put link above to the video and its well worth watching even for the bit when my GoPro gets covered in snow in about 10 seconds.
After leaving this for couple of days we decided to go back as we had better weather window so the plan this time was to do the full route.
The weather was amazing we never had breath of wind all day the sun was out for just about all day as well. Starting in the dark again due to the length of our route today in snow we ticked off Haycock in no time at all the snow around our boots was amazing nice and crisp from the over night frost.
I was also armed with my new Canon M50 camera which I hope to get some good images with this year once we can get back into the mountains again.
Check out the clouds below me(in picture above) just amazing day in the mountains with the conditions to go with it. Once onto Pillar we put our crampons on for the decent down which was steep and had ice in most places. Another day in the mountains in which we started in the dark and finished in the dark.
Trig point of Pillar 853m.
Me Chris and Liam enjoying the snow on our way up to Pillar
Hall's Fell Ridge Blencathra
My final day out was to bring me to one of my favourite mountains in the Lake District which is Blencathra, my route today was to go up Hall's Fell Ridge with another good weather window it was all about the views and getting some shots with my new camera.
Starting from Threlkeld made my way up Hall's Fell Ridge what amazing route up to the summit of this mountain. The snow line started from 400m and crampons were needed for most of the day.
getting near the top what a route up...
The views from the top of Blencathra where just simply stunning. From the top I made my way across to Knowe Craggs and then headed back to the car (after taking picture after picture and having to pull my self away from the mountain)
I have added link below for this video.
The views on this video I think are amazing.
Thank you for looking through my blog and I hoped you enjoyed my video's and pictures.
Regards Darran