Tuesday 8 March 2016

Snow and Sun from Knott to Pike




Great Knott - Crinkle Crags - Bow Fell - Esk Pike - Broad Crag - Scafell Pike

13.5miles


What's the best to follow white? blue and yellow!



It has snowed a fair amount over the last week or two and the last few days have been sunny. Monday was the best you could get, no wind to boot!






Snowman on Great Knott

Looking towards Langdales and Helvellyn 

Langdale Pikes

Scafells and Great End


Ice spikes needed 


Heading toward Scafell Pike

One great advantage of lots of snow, no boulder field!

Final decent and ascent onto Scafell Pike

The last ascent quite tricky as it was steep smooth iced snow and I might not have made it if it wasn't for a friendly climber lending me his poles, cheers Noel from the Peak District! A couple in front had the same spikes but with the poles they seemed to get up fine, I wasn't getting quite the good grip.

Seeing climbers with the proper crampons and ice axe whizz up, I really must try them out!


A windless Scafell Pike summit

Sca fell


A short rest, food and drink, put the camera away and a Tornado flies low over head banking sharply between us and Scafell. I like trying to get jet photos flying through the fells be generally get them banking underside not cockpit facing. Arrgh gutting!


The missed shot!