Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)
New Dungeon Ghyll – Stickle Tarn – Pavey Ark – Sergeant Man – High Raise – Thunacar Knott – Pike O’Stickle – Loft Crag – Thorn Crag – New Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 822 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Sunny and bright, lots of snow. 7ºC.
What a fantastic day today, the best of the winter by far I think. I knew it was going to be good when I went through Coniston and the snow was down to a low level and the sky was clear. We were nice and early, climbing alongside Stickle Ghyll to meet the sunrise half way up which gave a lovely red hue on the snow. When I reached the dam on Stickle Tarn, I thought I must have died and gone to heaven – this is how winters should be!
Stickle Ghyll.
Climbing alongside Stickle Ghyll into the fabulous sunrise.
Pike Howe across Stickle Ghyll.
Harrison Stickle and Stickle Ghyll.
Lingmoor Fell.
There was a strong, icy wind at Stickle Tarn.
Harrison Stickle from the dam on Stickle Tarn.
Pavey Ark.
Harrison Stickle, Stickle Tarn and Bright Beck.
The Coniston fells across Stickle Tarn.
Casper with snowy nose.
Looking north to Sergeant Man from the climb to Pavey Ark.
The summit of Pavey Ark.
The Helvellyn range from the summit.
Casper in the sunshine which belies the cold wind up here.
Harrison Stickle from Pavey Ark.
High Raise from the summit wall.
Looking back to Thunacar Knott from the path to Sergeant Man - only two sets of footprints up here this morning.
Icicles on Sergeant Man with a view to distant Windermere.
Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and Esk Pike from Sergeant Man.
Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle with the Coniston fells beyond.
Helvellyn and Fairfield to the east.
Bowfell from a cold looking summit.
The mist was swirling on and off the summit of High Raise.
Looking northwards to Skiddaw it looks as though there is less snow up that way.
The northern and coldest side of High Raise.
Great End and the Scafells.
Bowfell.
Esk Pike and the Scafells.
Great Gable looks like it is on fire with the great plume of cloud emanating from the top.
Cold wind shelter on Thunacar Knott.
Bowfell from the summit of Thunacar Knott.
Pike o' Stickle and the Crinkle Crags.
Heading for Pike o' Stickle.
Monochrome.
Looking across Mickleden to Bowfell, Rossett Gill to the right.
Crinkle Crags across The Band.
Lingmoor Fell and the Coniston fells across Mickleden and Oxendale.
Looking to Loft Crag and Windermere from the descent of Pike o' Stickle. Harrison Stickle is on the left.
Bowfell and Pike o' Stickle from Loft Crag.
Harrison Stickle.
Crossing Dungeon Ghyll.
Pike o' Blisco with Coniston beyond from the descent to Great Langdale.
Loft Crag and Gimmer Crag.
Almost back to valley level.
The Langdale Pikes from Chapel Stile.