Friday 17th March 2006

Start point: Coniston (SD 303 976)

Coniston - Walna Scar road - Brown Pike - Buck Pike - Dow Crag - Goat's  Hawse - Coniston Old Man - Coppermines Valley - Coniston

Distance: 9 miles     Total Ascent: 1000 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Snow and gale force winds, 3oC

Route Map

Today's weather was the most severe I can remember. There was deep snow all along the Walna Scar road with even deeper snow and gale force winds along the Dow Crag ridge. When I eventually reached The Old Man, I bailed out of the intended route along to Swirl How early - conditions were that bad. (Apologies for the quality of some of the photos, conditions weren't conducive to great ones!).

The Bell from the Walna Scar car park - no chance of getting a car up here today.

Boo Tarn.

Locals not impressed with the weather.

Angus leads the way over Cove Bridge. The snow was knee deep in places up the Walna Scar road with a fresh covering of snow hiding previous tracks.

My favourite shelter says Angus. This is where I stopped to put crampons on - I knew that the wind would pick up as we reached the top of the Walna Scar pass and I didn't fancy trying to get my gear on in the wind and snow.

An icy Walna Scar pass.

The wind really did pick up as we made our way to Brown Pike - it was gale force. Carrying the snow with it, it really began to sting my face and eyes and it was extremely cold.

The top of easy gully on Dow Crag. It was one step forwards, two sideways and two backwards here - extremely severe conditions with a freezing, biting wind.

Frozen nose.

The wind carried on unabated - on Goats Hawse it was ferocious, blowing up the wind tunnel formed by Dow Crag and The Old Man over Goat's Water.

Horrendous!

Goat's Water.

Dow Crag.

Not happy - too cold.

Ascending the ridge to the Old Man it was a complete white out and I knew the game was up. I had intended to carry on to Swirl How but it would be crazy to do so in these conditions. I didn't stop here apart from a quick photo; let's get down.

Low Water - I passed a chap here who was descending after giving up on reaching the summit, despite being less than 100m from the top. A wise move I think.

Coppermines Valley.

The Wetherlam Ridge.

Coniston Water.

Looking back up the Coppermines Valley. Just before I took this photo, I bumped into a chap wearing a leather jacket and open necked shirt with trainers on. I told him how bad it was, but he carried on regardless - not a wise move. I hope he made it back okay.

Footnote: Someone died up there that afternoon, fortunately not the inappropriately attired guy I bumped into.

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