Friday 1st January 2010

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross - Stickle Tarn - Stickle Pike (OF) - Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 1 mile     Total Ascent: 105 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour

Weather: Cold and clear. 2oC

We had a short walk today up to Stickle Pike to help blow away some of the Christmas cobwebs. It was a lovely morning, very still with no one around and we had great fun walking in the crisp snow and 'daring' to walk across the frozen Stickle Tarn.

A brief moment of blue sky from Kiln Bank Cross looking over the road to Stickle Pike.

Looking back along the road we came up which was treacherous sheet ice. To the south the cloud was building up and the sun was trying to break through it.

Connie the mountaineer.

Climbing higher with a strange, silhouetted figure in the background!

Heading for Stickle Tarn.

Winter sky across frozen Stickle Tarn.

Winter at the edge of the tarn. Hmm, that ice looks quite thick...

Me and Casper are on the ice but Dougally Doo is not quite so sure...

...a quick look before a much quicker exit!

Me and Connie practiced our ice skating on here.

Climbing to Stickle Pike whilst Dougal eats the snow.

The Duddon Valley remains frozen below whilst Wasdale looks as though it is getting some sunshine.

Looking south to the Duddon Estuary across the south summit.

Scafell and Slight Side.

Winter sun over the Duddon Estuary, Barrow-in-Furness and Walney Island. On the horizon is the Barrow Offshore Wind farm (BOW).

Casper, Dougal and Connie on the summit, Great Stickle behind. Looks like a snow shower passing over the estuary too.

Looking to Caw from the descent and now the sun has come through once more.

Stickle Pike.

Back to Stickle Tarn.

Reflected sun on the tarn now, Connie gives scale to the right.

Caw and snowy Dunnerdale.

Clearing to the south-east.

A fish-eye view from the ice on Stickle Tarn.

Caw from the middle of Stickle Tarn!

Stickle Pike from the middle of Stickle Tarn.

Four amigos with long shadows, even at midday - L-R me, Dougal, Connie and Casper.

Hesk Fell across the Duddon Valley. Now for the hardest bit - driving back down the road...gulp!

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