Striding Edge

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Coniston

Walked on 17/03/2006

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!).

01 Coniston

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The Bell from the Walna Scar car park - no chance of getting a car up here today.

17.03.06-005

Boo Tarn.

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Locals not impressed with the weather.

17.03.06-009

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.

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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.

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An icy Walna Scar pass.

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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

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.

17.03.06-028

Frozen nose.

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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.

17.03.06-035

Horrendous!

17.03.06-036

Goat's Water.

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Dow Crag.

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Not happy - too cold.

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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.

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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.

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Coppermines Valley.

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The Wetherlam Ridge.

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Coniston Water.

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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.

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Walking Diary

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