Monday 23rd January 2012

Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)

New Dungeon Ghyll - Stickle Tarn - Harrison Stickle - Pavey Ark - Thunacar Knott - Pike O'Stickle - Loft Crag - Thorn Crag - Pike How - New Dungeon Ghyll

Distance: 5 miles     Total Ascent: 791 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes     Start Time: 09:00

Weather: Lots of wintry showers. 5oC

Route Map

The weather took a turn for the worse as I climbed alongside Stickle Ghyll this morning and became really wintry on the climb to Harrison Stickle. Backed by a strong wind is was a proper winter's day with the weather changing minute by minute. There were fleeting clear spells which were magical, but I really enjoyed every step of today's walk - weather and all.

At the start of the climb to Stickle Tarn.

Falls on Stickle Ghyll.

Lingmoor Fell and there is a bit of weather around now - sleety rain at this height but it soon turned to hail, then snow.

Looking to Pike How through the hail.

At the dam on Stickle Tarn in a heavy (and painful!) hail shower.

Heading for Harrison Stickle.

A brief interlude between the showers to look down on Stickle Tarn with distant Fairfield in view. Things soon changed however...

Lots of snow, lots of wind - Harrison Stickle summit ahead.

Snowy Casperoo.

Come on, let's go!

The summit of Harrison Stickle.

Pike o' Stickle from the path to Pavey Ark. Beyond there is an eerie blue light over Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.

Halo over Harrison.

For a fleeting minute of two there was full sunshine as I made my way across to Pavey Ark, here looking towards Thunacar Knott...but look at that ominous sky beyond.

Lots of drama over Harrison.

Pavey Ark.

The view from the top of Pavey ark into Langdale, Windermere up to the left and Lingmoor Fell central.

High Raise is under there somewhere, Sergeant Man visible to the right.

The Vale of Grasmere from Pavey Ark.

Sunshine and clouds over the Coniston fells.

Harrison Stickle from Thunacar Knott just before I was completely enveloped in another snow shower.

Thunacar Knott.

The boys find their own path to Pike o' Stickle.

The Langdale Pikes from the path to Pike o' Stickle.

Looks like it is sunny and bright to the north.

Pike o' Stickle panoramic.

Made it to the top of Pike o' Stickle.

Mickleden.

Mono Bowfell.

Crinkle Crags close-up.

Crinkle Crags and The Band.

Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag from Pike o' Stickle.

A wider view of the same, Blea Tarn to the right.

Pike o' Stickle from the start of the Loft Crag ridge, Bowfell summit is clear of cloud to the left now.

Heading for Loft Crag.

Looking back to Loft Crag and Pike o' Stickle from Thorn Crag.

Harrison Stickle from Pike How.

The Langdale Pikes from Elterwater - it hardly looks as though there has been any snow up there now.

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