Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)
Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross
Distance: 1 mile Total Ascent: 153 metres Time Taken: 45 minutes
Weather: Snow, clearing clouds. 0oC
The road from Broughton Mills to the Duddon Valley was finally cleared of snow this afternoon, so I was lucky to be able to get up there for a quick walk up to Stickle Pike. There were no footprints or evidence that anyone had been over there in the snow, which shows just how much it has been cut off since Sunday. The knee deep snow served as a good reminder how tough and physically demanding it is walking in these conditions and gave me food for thought for a planned longer walk tomorrow. I expect there to be even deeper snow in places on the Coniston fells.
The way ahead - blazing a trail to Stickle Pike in the virgin snow.
...Apart from a fox that has wandered this way before me.
Caw.
Stickle Tarn.
The route to the summit - no path and knee deep in snow.
Not knee deep for the light footed fox though!
Looking along the Duddon Valley to Harter Fell.
Harter Fell gets a rose tint from the low sun.
The summit of Stickle Pike.
There isn't much shelter for these inhabitants, toughing it out on the cold, windy summit
Great Stickle and the Dunnerdale Fells.
The main summit from the southern cairn on Stickle Pike.
Stickle Tarn and Caw with the snow-laden Coniston fells appearing behind - tomorrow's destination, I think.
Stickle Pike summit, left, and Caw right. Have a look at the same walk last summer 27oC warmer!