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
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!).
![17.03.06-009 17.03.06-009](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2006-03-17-coniston/cache/17.03.06-009.jpg-nggid0511661-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![17.03.06-010 17.03.06-010](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2006-03-17-coniston/cache/17.03.06-010.jpg-nggid0511662-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![17.03.06-021 17.03.06-021](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2006-03-17-coniston/cache/17.03.06-021.jpg-nggid0511664-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![17.03.06-022 17.03.06-022](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2006-03-17-coniston/cache/17.03.06-022.jpg-nggid0511665-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![17.03.06-034 17.03.06-034](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2006-03-17-coniston/cache/17.03.06-034.jpg-nggid0511667-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![17.03.06-061 17.03.06-061](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2006-03-17-coniston/cache/17.03.06-061.jpg-nggid0511672-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![17.03.06-064 17.03.06-064](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2006-03-17-coniston/cache/17.03.06-064.jpg-nggid0511673-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![17.03.06-079 17.03.06-079](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2006-03-17-coniston/cache/17.03.06-079.jpg-nggid0511677-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.