Helm Crag

The four of us drove the short distance from Ambleside to Grasmere and parked. We set off along a nearby lane which was slippery underfoot with frozen slush until just after a bridge crossing we turned right along another lane which gradually rose uphill.
Reaching a gate into the Green Burn valley, we followed this valley on the side of the burn again gradually rising towards the valley head between Calf Crag and Steel Fell. Near the end of the valley we then started up a steep slope in deepish snow arriving on a broad ridge below Calf Crag where we had a breather and some hot drinks. Hereabouts the snow was mainly knee deep and heavy going and I was hoping that it would not continue at that depth as this would make the going very tiring and slow. Luckily once past this section the snow was a more pleasant ankle or shin deep.

 Karen in Knee-Deep Snow

It was another cold day but also overcast and cloudy, luckily we were below the cloud level and we had views of the hills around including Grasmere, both the town and lake, below. It was a bit windy as well on some sections of the ridge but not too bad.

Approaching Helm Crag

Soon we arrived at one of the large rock formations on Helm Crag at the end of the ridge, which is variously known as The Lion and The Lamb, The Howitzer or even The Old Playing the Organ depending on from what angle you view the rocks from a distance.

 Pete clambering up The Howitzer

 The Howitzer from the side

After clambering around on the rocks with only Pete managing to get to the topmost part, we had a quick lunch break and then followed the ridge on Helm Crag past the second rock formation also know as The Lion and The Lamb, then the snowy and icy path down leading back to where we started in Grasmere.

 The Lion and the Lamb

I wore my Paramo Cascada trousers, Paramo Summit Hoodie and Paramo Fuera Ascent jacket. Also Polar Buff as a hat, Asolo Powermatic 200 GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

Crinkle Crags from Great Langdale

After breakfast we had to clear the frost from the car windscreens as there had been a sharp frost last night. Things were looking good with clear skies and plenty of snow and no wind as we drove to Great Langdale and parked at the National Trust car park near the Old Dungeon Ghyll. We had to see get Pete's car out of its parking place due to the frozen snow so that there were no problems later. Then there was the searching for change for the £5.80 parking charge until Pete found a change machine near the toilets.

Crinkle Crags

After getting our boots on we set off through a farmyard and along a track. Since the track was hard going due to ice, I stopped to put my crampons on and Karen did the same then we continued onwards with lovely views of the snow covered peaks all around. Pete had back problems and was pretty sure that he would have to turn around early and when that time came, Karen also decided to head back early.

Pete with a New Friend

This left Keith and myself to carry on up the initial steep snow leading towards Crinkle Crags. We intended to reach the ridge above and traverse it for a distance then drop back down in a nearby valley leading back to where we had started out.

Langdale from Crinkle Crags

After a bit of a slog upwards Keith paused for a rest and I continued on plodding uphill. We gradually approached the ridge and the ground steepened and the snow became deeper. There were a set of footprints approaching upwards from our right and we joined them heading uphill. The snow was knee deep know and made the going very slow with sections being very annoying as you thought the snow would support your weight only to suddenly allow your leg to drop down again to be knee deep.

Snow and Sun

We reached a section of thin wind slab as we were on the lee of the ridge and the ground steepened as Keith again went in front to break the trail. After some more knee deep going we headed towards some rocks and clambered past these. The wind slab seemed to be getting thicker now and I was concerned over the conditions which may get worse soon as we approached the top if the ridge. I suggested to Keith we should head back down and maybe try further along but as he pointed out, time was running out due to the time we had taken to get that far and it was now after 2:00 pm leaving only a couple of hours of daylight. I received a text message form Karen saying she had gone with Pete in his car back to Ambleside to go shopping!

Keith Before We Turned Around to Descend

So, we decided to head back down the way we had come. We didn't take too long to get back to the car as we were a lot quicker going downhill. As we were changing out of our boots, a robin landed nearby and was perched on my gaiters which were on the ground a couple of feet away and seemed to be very tame as long as you didn't get too near.
We planned to go to a chip shop after a trip to the pub at around 9:00 pm but found it was closed. So we had a meal in the Indian restaurant a couple of doors away from the B&B.
I wore my Paramo Cascada trousers, Paramo Summit Hoodie and Paramo Fuera Ascent jacket. Also Polar Buff as a hat, Asolo Powermatic 200 GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

Corridor Route to Scafell Pike

Another cold but dry day was begun with a large breakfast at our B&B. Once that was finished, we set off towards Borrowdale and parked at the small hamlet of Seathwaite. The plan was to follow the Corridor Route up to the summit of Scafell Pike, the highest summit in England.
Following a path up Styhead Gill and passing Styhead Tarn, we stopped for a short drinks break at the Mountain Rescue box at Styhead Pass. So far though the weather was cloudy, visibility had been good so even though the ground was totally covered with several inches of snow, we had no problems following our intended route.

En Route to Corridor Route

Now the clouds had begun to lower and the the route on the ground wasn't to be seen, There were quite a a few footprints leading in one direction and a small group of walkers, including a completely bonkers Cocker Spaniel, heading in the same direction. For no reason in particular, after having a look at the map, Keith started following on set of footprints heading upwards, while Karen and I followed a separate set which seemed to agree with the direction indicated by the map – plus some cairns could be seen.
Anyway, after a short distance, Keith and Pete ended up veering towards our route and we were together again.
Continuing onwards, there were squally showers of snow and visibility worsened. Since none of us had been up this route before and because it wasn't easy to follow in the weather conditions we were experiencing, we decided to forget about the Corridor Route and Scafell Pike this time and just follow down Ruddy Gill and Grains Gill back to Seathwaite. We were near Sprinkling Tarn and headed towards its Eastern shore towards Ruddy Gill. The ground beneath our feet seemed unnaturally flat and we realised that Keith was walking across the frozen Tarn and we were following him as well!
We shouted for him to return and decide to make the best of a bad job and just return via the way we had come.
We were soon back at the Mountain Rescue Box at Styhead Pass and finished off the hot drinks in our flasks and had a small snack – at least Karen and I did, Keith and Pete had brought nothing themselves.
Soon we continued on the way we had come and were back at the cars in Seathwaite. Even though we hadn't achieved our goal for the day, it had been an enjoyable walk anyway.

Keith and Pete in the Distance on Returning

We ate in a large pub – very good food but served on cold plates so it didn't stay hot for very long.
I wore my Paramo Cascada trousers, Paramo Summit Hoodie and Paramo Fuera Ascent jacket. Also Polar Buff as a hat, Asolo Powermatic 200 GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

Christmas Break in the Lake District

The start of a few days in the Lake District with myself, Karen, Keith and Pete Collins staying at Claremont House B&B in Ambleside. Karen, Keith and I drove up in my car to meet Pete at a lay-by in the hamlet of Scales to walk up Blencathra. Everywhere was covered with snow and the weather remained dry with some cloud.
We followed the rising path leading from the road near the lay-by with hard, compacted snow making the going slippery. Then along steeper ground above Mousethwaite Comb along the side of Scales Fell.

Karen (Picglet), Keith and Pete

Eventually we arrived at Scales Tarn. Keith and Pete decided to ascend via Sharp Edge but as Karen wasn't happy about that option as she hasn't much experience of walking on snow and ice on steep ground, the two of us decided to take the more direct route to the summit of Blencathra via a gradually rising slope which was straight-forward walking on steep snow.
Soon we arrived at the summit with spectacular views all round and short intervals where the sun was shining brightly through the clouds. We sat on a snowy lump and had a drink from our flasks as we waited for Keith and Pete to arrive via their less direct route via Sharp Edge. There were quite a few others out walking up Blencathra and several were also on the summit.

Summit of Blencathra

Once Keith and Pete had arrived, we dropped down the slope Karen and I had walked up and then followed another path which dropped down between Doddick Gill and Scales Beck leading us back to where we started.
In the evening we had a nice meal at a nearby Italian restaurant. I had spaghetti bolognaise which was unusual in the the spaghetti was cut into small pieces.
I wore my Paramo Cascada trousers, Paramo Velez smock. Also Polar Buff as a hat, Asolo Powermatic 200 GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

A Walk on Stanton Moor in the Snow

Winster in the Distance

After breakfast in the morning, Karen decided to have a rest day at home, Keith and Pete were planning to return underground to drop Elevator Pitch while I decided to go for a walk as it was a lovely cold and clear day with snow covering the hills around.
I set off towards Edale but after a short distance changed my mind as there was quite a lot of snow still laying on the side roads so it made sense to walk from home.

A Snowy Wall and Tree
So I headed towards Stanton Moor in the sun with lovely views of snow covered land all around but once on the Moor, some clods moved in and the first of several snow showers started. After passing Nine Ladies Stone Circle I followed the path leading past the Cork Stone and a short way down the road passing Birchover Quarry then back onto a path leading down to the Druid Inn in Birchover.

Carved Bench at Rowtor Rocks

I walked up the short steps behind the pub leading to the interesting collection of gritstone and gritstone boulders called Rowtor Rocks. These have natural “caves” and voids, some natural some carved out into he form of chambers. There are many carved features including some seats and a bench with a sheltering roof. I sat on this bench and ate my sandwich.

Sheep Coming Into Their Winter Colours

 After lunch I return back along the steps behind the pub and then along the track past the church towards Rocking Stone farm, then uphill on path past a couple of cottages and along a path following an edge until I reached another track leading from Birchover towards Winster.
I followed this track for a distance, avoiding patches of ice and then at a footpath sign into a field. This led me across some more fields the up some steep steps of gritstone slabs, over style and into some small woods near Winster.

A Style

 

Following a path through the woods then along a track which crossed the Winster to Elton road past Winster Cemetery, I crossed the road then along a farm track for a short while before again following a footpath across fields to criss the same road further uphill leading to the grounds of Oddo House. This house is known for a duel which happened many years ago and there is some information on Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winster.

Passing through a squeeze style, I past Winster church and then only had to drop down West Bank for a few yards then into Main Street and a back home at about 14:00.

Winster Church

 Later in the afternoon, there was a lengthier and heavier snow shower and a few inches settling on the road. We got a phone call at around 16:45 from Keith to say they were back on the surface and stuck in Monyash due to the snow!
Luckily they phoned again a short while later saying the had managed to get a farmer to tow them out of the village.

Digging in Water Icicle Close Cavern

I needed to get a haircut and do a few other things in the morning and Karen was helping out at a “bag pack” at Morrisons in Buxton for DCRO. We had arranged to meet Keith and Pete in Water Icicle Close Cavern where they were to continue digging.
After I had my haircut and finished the other stuff I drove to Monyash to have something to eat at the cafe before going underground and when I got there I found Pete's car parked outside with the two of them inside eating! It was about 11:00. They finished before me and headed off for the cave and I said I'd meet them there soon.
There had been a sprinkling of snow overnight but nothing deep and when I drove up Derby Lane, I found them stuck in Pete's car in some ruts. We tried pushing, but that had no effect. We tied on some rope and I tried towing them out and soon they were on their way.

Pete's Car Stuck in the Snow

 Soon we were changed and headed down the entrance shaft and on through the breakthrough dig site and into the new extensions (surveyed last weekend at 297 metres altogether).
Pete wanted to have a look at the pitch part way along Urchin Passage (the larger continuation of the main passage, named after a small crystalline formation similar toe a Sea Urchin). The problem was that there were some boulders in a small rift passage at the side of the main passage through which we could see a void below which was measured at 17 metres down using a Disto last week. This had been named Elevator Pitch as the boulders at the top started moving downwards for a short distance while Keith was standing on them!
Pete brought along a length of thin aluminium alloy scaffold tubing and started trying to shift the boulders. Some smaller ones began dropping down into the space below and after some time, the tubing snapped. Trying again with a stronger but heavier length of steel rebar, more boulders were moved and again, some fell away below. Eventually we decide on the best locations for some bolts to form a Y-hang once the pitch was clear and Keith placed a Petzl Goujon expanding bolt to be the back-up.
Anyway, while we were doing this, Karen arrived. Pete, Keith and I took it in turns (but manly Pete and Keith) to try shifting boulders but eventually Keith realised that they would require breaking up. After several attempts, the smaller boulders dropped down the pitch leaving a large boulder in place but fairly well jammed.
Karen was beginning to feel cold and headed out to wait for us as her car was also stuck on Derby Lane. She had assumed Pete and Keith had managed to get to the end of the Lane OK and hadn't read my text message warning her not to try and drive the whole way and managed to get her car stuck.
With some prodding with the rebar, Pete managed to drop the remaining loose down the pitch! They way was now open but there were still some loose mud and small rocks which were persuaded to also drop down.
Keith placed the two bolts and rigged a Y hang and carefully dropped down slowly. He could see a rift continuing on alongside and beneath the main passage and luckily the remainder of the drop was solid rock.
He reached a ledge, which we could see below some 15 metres or so down and saw the pitch continuing down further for what seemed a grater distance. Because of the ledge and change in direction, he realised a second Y hang would be required to avoid the rock.
So as time was getting on, we decided to also head out. I reached the surface at around 17:30 where it was dark and very cold. I found a note on my car from Karen saying she had managed to free her car and had gone home.
I was changed when Pete and Keith arrived and I waited for them and then followed them back along Derby Lane in case they got stuck again. They had no problems and we headed back to Winster.
I had a shower and after some tea and coffee, we walked up the hill to have a meal at the Miners Standard.

Water Icicle Close Cavern

Pete Collins had been on a rope access course in Rotherham all week and asked if he could stay with us on Friday night. It was planned for the three of us to be joined by Keith and Simon Brooks in the morning to visit the new extensions in Water Icicle Close Cavern to survey and take photos.
Keith arrived at our place in the morning at 08:15 as arranged and after a quick coffee or teas we drove to Monyash to have breakfast as usual at the café. Simon was already waiting outside in his car and we arrived just as the café was opening at 09:00.
Steve Tucker and Phil Gregson from OCC also turned up and we said “hello”. After breakfast we drove up Derby Lane as far as we could due to the track conditions and parked and got changed into caving gear. We dropped down the entrance shaft and headed for the ladder up to the dig at the end of North-West Passage. On the way, Simon paused to check that the Leica Disto electronic survey unit was calibrated correctly by comparing its readings to a compass when taking a bearing on a rock in the passage.
Keith had tied on a short length of rope at the top and Karen tied a loop in it so that I could clip in my cowstails (which I had brought when leaving my SRT kit at the foot of the entrance shaft) as I wasn't happy at the top of the ladder (an old aluminium builders ladder which Pete had found at a tip!) as it didn't quite reach the top and the rings were very close to the rock when I was at the top. I soon got off at the top and, as I expected, it wasn't too bad after all.
While Simon sorted out his gear to get ready for the survey, Karen and I followed Keith and Pete down the short section of scaffolding into last week's breakthrough point. Soon we were into large passage similar to the old section before the aven at the old bit of North-West Passage, and a junction with a large chamber, with a large aven above and, not only the large passage continuing on with come changes of direction – a side passage of reasonable size as well. There was also a small widening in the main passage with a gap between boulders down which could be seen water some 15 or so metres below.
Karen started laying out red and white tape to mark a pathway along the floor to avoid mud formations and calcite formations while Pete took me on a guided tour. It was certainly an impressive find. Once we had reached the ends of the new passages, both ending in boulder chokes, Simon started surveying assisted by Karen and Keith while Pete and I had a look at the the boulder choke at the end of the side passage.
Pete began prodding and poking boulders above the slope of small rocks and dried mud about 2 metres long, in an aven above and brought down a few at a time which we moved to one side to both keep the approach free but also to keep the way free to allow Pete to quickly take avoiding action!
It got to the point where we could see what looked like a solid wall opposite matching the solid wall on ours side with a widening aven wither side with some empty space and quite a lot of boulders – most looking very precarious.
After removing some more boulders including a particularly large one which lodged itself on the slope, Pete knocked another boulder and there was a large rumbling followed by a lot of boulders dropping down and Pete moving fast out of the way nearly knocking me over – exciting stuff!
Cautiously peering up the aven after this, we saw clear empty space for about 7 metres, with more jammed boulders above – hopefully they will remain there for now.
After we had been at this for a while, with Pete complaining about getting knackered, we returned to the junction to find the others. They had just finished surveying the larger passage (named Urchin Passage after some small calcite formations on the floor which are easily missed) and we told them about what we had been up to. We returned to the boulder prodding location with Keith while Simon and Karen also followed surveying as they went.
Next came the photography. Simon took a number of photos with mainly Keith or Pete in frame while Karen or I held the slave flash out of view (which was attached to a “Firefly 3”). Once the photos were completed, Karen and I made our way back through the initial dig site and back to the foot of the entrance shaft while the others followed, pausing to block the dig with scaffolding. After getting our SRT kit back on, I prusiked up and opened the shaft lid which I had closed on the way in. It was around 16:30, dusk, and the pink glow of what had been probably been a lovely sunset was still apparent in the Western sky. I waited for Karen to resurface and then we walked back down Derby Lane to the car to get changed out of caving gear.
Once changed, we returned to Winster and home to have a shower and wait for Keith and Pete to turn up. After coffee or tea we drove to the OCC hut for the OCC Christmas Dinner at 19:00. After the usual very good meal, we helped with the tidying up and returned home for the night. We found out the next day that Karen had left her camera on the temporary dining table and it had been chucked on a bonfire outside with the rest of the rubbish! Luckily it was found next morning by Mick Chambers and Karen recovered it to find it was still working perfectly despite some minor burning and charring!

A Walk from Home to Stanton Moor

Again a quick trip to Monyash for breakfast at the café then saying good-by to Keith and Pete who were heading for home.

An Information Sign on Stanton Moor

Although the weather was good, Karen wanted to catch up on entering Slatcher family tree information into her Family History software package and I decided on a local walk, across to Stanton Moor then back to Winster via Birchover.

Alleyway opposite home

I got my walking gear on and closed the front door then followed the alleyway opposite the house into fields. There had been some heavy rain overnight and there was quite a lot of surface water flowing along the low point at the bottom of the valley between Winster and Birchover villages. I heard the noise of a bird of prey flying overhead and soon spotted it flying around and gliding in the wind – probably a buzzard but I'm not good at identifying birds!

View Across Stanton Moor to Winster

I followed up through the tiny Stoop Wood and spotted the ostriches on the nearby farm some distance away near Birchover. Crossing a lane I entered a very wet field also well churned up by cattle and followed the Public Footpath through a farmyard the a short way up the minor road to one of the access points into Stanton Moor.

Ostriches on Farm

Following one of the footpaths criss-crossing the moor, I headed for the Bronze Age stone circle of Nine Ladies, maybe not as impressive as Stonehenge, but at least only a couple of miles from our front door. The weather was quite good, but there were a few light showers of rain.

Nine Ladies Stone Circle

Leaving Nine Ladies Stone Circle, I followed another of the footpaths, passing a Trig Point with views back to Winster in the distance and the Bronze Age burial mound of Minning Low even further away. I passed the Cork Stone (a large piece of gritsone which has footholds and metal staples fixed to one side by Victorians to allow you to climb to its top about 4 metres off the ground) and continued onto another minor road passing part of Birchover Quarry.

The Cork Stone

Passing a view of Youlgreave in the distance, I left the road and followed a sunken lane down past old stone building ruins to reach Birchover opposite The Druid Inn. Passing the Inn and below Rowtor Rocks (which have strange engravings, carvings and hollowed-out boulders) I followed a lane towards Rocking Stone Farm then along a dirt track for a short distance to reach a grassy level path near a house.

Some Locals!

This path leads along the side of the valley with views back to Winster, soon reaching a farmyard with a narrow tarmaced lane leading down to the road from Elton to Winster. I followed the road back below Oddo House then through Winster Churchyard and around the corner to home.

Another Walk on Kinder Scout

Again, Karen was planning to spend some helping her brother Keith and Pete Collins with their dig in Water Icicle Close Cavern. I opted for a walk and again decided on Kinder Scout.
Again I parked at Upper Booth car park and followed the route up Crowden Brook valley. Luckily the weather was clear, mostly dry with some sun and cool but not very cold.

Crowden Brook Valley

I arrived at Kinder's plateau and followed the path along the edge skirting around Grindsbrook valley until at Upper Tor I headed North-East aiming for Blackden Edge on the other side of the plateau which is a short distance to cover as the plateau is at its narrowest at that point. I followed a small stream to begin with, which didn't seem to grow in size and then heathery ground until I arrived at Blackden Edge near the top of Blackden Brook.

Rainbow Over Kinder

I saw a mountain hare a few metres away and it shot off. It was sporting its white winter coat and was easy to spot. Just then, some dark clouds appeared and there was a short shower with a complete rainbow making an appearance. I headed for a small group of gritstone boulders and sat in their lee with most of the rain blowing past overhead and had my lunch as it was around midday anyway.
I had bought a Paramo Fuera Ascent windproof jacket during the week and had been warm enough with that worn over just a thermal shirt as I had been moving continuously up to that point. I had also bought a Paramo Summit Hoodie, which is designed to complement the Fuera Ascent with matching ventilating zips, and I put this on as I was sitting for a while eating lunch.
This Northern side of the Kinder plateau is much quieter then the Southern and Easter Edges, which are nearer the villages of Hayfield and Kinder, respectively, and although I was sitting near the path following the edge, I saw no one at all the whole time.
Once I had finished my sandwiches, luckily the shower had also finished and I continued following the path. This path is not yet surfaced with rough stone slabs as are the more popular paths and so had short sections of wet, peaty soil, but nothing too onerous. There were plenty of calls of “Ack - ACK ACK ACK” and even some calls of “Go Back, Go Back, Go Back” from many grouse taking flight in the distance from their hiding places in the heather.

Madwoman's Stones

I had noticed a group of rocks marked on the OS map named “Madwoman's Stones” a long time ago and as I would be in their vicinity, I decided to have a look at them. So, when I was about due South of the large obvious valley of Alport Dale, I headed South and disturbed another mountain hare which darted away and stopped about 30 metres away and sat watching to see where I was planning to go next. Soon I arrived at Madwoman's Stones. They were a small, isolated group of gritstone boulders. I have no idea why they have this name though.

Mountain Hare in Winter Colours

I continued along the heathery ground and soon reached the path along the Southern Edge looking across to the Great Ridge separating the Hope Valley from the Edale Valley with Lose Hill opposite. Continuing along the path, I passed above the YHA at Rowland Cote and after passing Ollerbrook Clough, I followed the path down below the Eastern side of Ringing Roger and onwards down to the village of Grindsbrook Booth, which many know as Edale.

The Great Edge in Silhouette

The primary school were having a Christmas Fayre opposite the bench where I sat to finish off my flask of hot chocolate and a man dressed as Father Christmas with two Elves arrived sat in a trailer being towed by a pick-up truck!

Rowland Cote in the Valley and Lose Hill

After the the flask was empty, I followed the Pennine Way route back to Upper Booth and then retraced my earlier route along the road back to where I had parked at Barber Booth after a five hour walk at nearly 3:00 pm.
I sent a text to Karen to let her know I was planning to head for the café at Monyash at about 4:00pm and while I was at the café she arrived after finishing her digging in Water Icicle Close Cavern. Great News! Keith and Pete broke through in their dig to some impressive new extensions!
Later in the evening Keith and Pete joined us in the Miners Standard for an evening meal and then spent the night with is at home.