5 down, 150 to go...

The weather wasn't too bad, so I set off to the Lakes at random, and ended up in Coniston.  The weather was perfect for walking, and the snow didn't look too bad from down here





I followed Walna crag road up to the side of Brown Crag, and the ridge over to Dow crag didn't look too bad






By the timw I was at Buck Pike, what was once snow was quite thick, and frozen solid.  Scrambling ober foot thick frozen snow - note to self "remember to put the crampons in my pack Before I set off"

The top of Dow Crag was a sheet of ice, with superb icicles flowing from the edge...

..and a great view if the icy path ahead to the Old Man








Once at the top of Coniston Old Man, the views were superb









but it was still aub-zero.  The water bottles in my backpack were now frozen so all I could drink was slushy ice.





Once over Brim Fell, it was downhill back to the car. Just above Low Water, the Sun decided to show itself.   I went too far left on the way down and lost the path in the snow, then had to make a 100yd scramble accross the face of some crags to regain the path.  Then it was what felt like a long trudge down the old mine road back to the car.



I started the car to get the heater on, then sat op the tailgate changin into fresh (warmer) boots.  These new Trezeta winter boots are great, my feet are perfecty dry and still warm, but it is always nice to change into a clean pair of socks and boots.

Having finished a seven and a half mile climb over extremely icy paeks, I walked around to get in the car and went Arse over Tit on the Ice and dislocated my finger!  Luckily my fingers were still cold so I reset the joint, cursed myself for being such a clumsy ****, and got in the nice warm car and heded for a well overdue soak in the bath.

Back at the Boatyard, Kier has had a juggling mishap with a 9" angle grinder, cutting through his forearm.  Luckily (!) he has missed all the bones, tendons veins and arteries, but has completely severed ane of the muscles. Mercifully he won't be playing guitar again for a while.


Sunday I went down to the Malt and Hops, and it was an evening well spent, drinking Marshmallow Unicorn (ubtil it ran out) then Bank Top Dark Mild, all the while listening to, and watching the mad antics of Ash Mandrake, a great storyteller and musician.


  

After the floods

 We had a day out in Hebden Bridge.  This was the first time I had been there for a beer since the floods last Christmas.

The town has made an amazing recovery, and the pubs, food and beer are all superb

A slight hiccup with the resolutions, there are 127 "Wainrights" in the lakes over 2000 ft.  If you count all mountains there are 155 of them!

This is what they look like













I have a bit of work to do!

On Sunday I went up to Longsledale to start, in lovely sunshine


 



As soon as I started to climb I was into the snow.  At this  I realised that I should have worn my winter boots.  I then discovered a leak in one of my boots, so I definitely should have worn my winter boots!

Once up to the top of Great Howe, I was hoping to head over to GReay Crag and Harrop Pike, but they had already descended into Snow and storms.

 I contented myself with building a snowman on Great Howe for the first outing of 2017, the weather was looking dubious and my foot was cold and wet. 

 Snowman Titanic Moment!

 Just off the south slope of Great Howe is a surveying tower.









 I don't know how they lifted
these huge blocks of stone up here.







Heading around the fell back towards Longsledale there is another tower.








When you sight through the slot in the tower, the next tower can be seen.  You can even see the slot in the next twoer lined up.  How did they do this without lasers?