Saturday 9th January 2010, after the heavy snow earlier in the week, the roads were clear enough to get safely to Grasmere. I expected an icy walk but there was much more snow than I expected, and I changed my mind and walked up a path I haven't used before, it took me from Near Easdale to the hause between Yew Crag ans Great Castle How. These minor peaks are subsidiary summits of Blea Rigg, and I walked and climbed to the undulating ridge and made a steep scramble up a snow slope to the summit of Blea Rigg. I made the long walk to Sergeant Man, strenuously stepping every step in the deep snow, before the ascending the final rocky ridge to its summit. The view from the summit was fantastic, the air was clear and the light was good. I had intended to descend to Codale Tarn, but without navigating properly I came across a set of footprints heading down towards Broadstone Head, the footprints disappeared but I carried on down through even deeper snow. It started to go dark as I started my descent to Far Easedale and it was difficult to follow the footprints in the snow, but eventually found my way back to Grasmere. Read about it

Sunday 3rd January 2010, it was a cold, icy morning as I drove to Braithwaite; several cars, including mine, stopped in the lay-bys on the A66 so that the drivers could take photographs of Blencathra, looking spectacular in the early morning sun. I parked in Braithwaite and walked up the Whinlatter road to the small quarry, and the icy path up to the broad rising ridge to the summit of Kinn; it was Skiddaw's turn to look spectacular. As I got to Lanty Tarn, I decided to put my crampons on, for the climb up the ridge of Sleet How, and on to the summit of Grisedale Pike. I walked along the undulating ridge, and then made the climb up to the summit of Hopegill Head, and climbed to the summit of Sand Hill before making the long descent to Coledale Hause. I descended awkwardly down a slippery, snow slope to get to Coledale Valley; I took my crampons off when I reached the Force Crag Mine buildings, but the path out of the valley was treacherously icy, and I would have been justified in keeping them on. Read about it

Saturday 19th December, it was a cold morning but the roads were good and I got to the Old Dungeon Ghyll without any trouble. I walked up a frozen Oxendale and arrived at Three Tarns in the mist; the frozen ascent of Bowfell was easier than usual with the slippery stones frozen together. I found my way down to Ore Gap and walked up the rugged ascent to the bleak summit of Esk Pike, a wonderful place to be all by yourself. I descended to Esk Hause as it started to snow, the path to Angle Tarn was easy enough but ice hidden under the snow brought me down. The ascent down the Rossett Gill pony track was time consuming and strenuous and it was dark by the time I got back down to the car. It was a difficult drive out of Cumbria and pouring down with rain at the end of a brilliant day. Read about it

Saturday 5th December, I was fairly keen to get onto the hills because I had missed two consecutive weeks walking for the first time in eight years, because of work and the recent floods. I parked at Rydal Mount, it was pouring with rain as I set off along the track through the grounds of Rydal Hall, then towards Low Sweden Bridge before starting the climb towards Low Pike; it didn't stop raining as the mist closed in. Keeping as close as possible to the stone wall means you are off the path, but also out of the worst of the mud; there are a couple of short, but interesting, scrambles, made more interesting when the rock is very wet. After the final scramble you reach another crest, where the summit of Low Pike comes into site; there are more scrambles up the steep grass, and more clambering up the boulders and slabs and on to the summit of High Pike. I made the long walk up towards Dove Crag, there was wet snow on the ground now, it was partially frozen and not always strong enough to take my weight; as I reached the summit, it started to rain heavily again, with my gear being wet through I decided that I should get back down again. It had been wet, misty and steep, just wonderful to be back on the hills. Read about it