Crampons to Grisedale - Photo Gallery

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.

Andy Wallace 3rd January 2010