I didn't take any photos from the 23rd December. It was one of those where I made my plans up as I went along. I had intended to hike up towards High Raise from Grasmere and maybe camp at one of the tarns, but in the afternoon as I arrived at Grasmere it was raining steadily. I made a snap decision to drive on to Keswick in the hope of drier climes before turning back on myself and heading to Seathwaite, where I parked and made my way up Grains Gill towards Great End whilst the light dwindled. I wound up camping at Esk Hause, as darkness and fog engulfed me it became nigh on impossible to navigate and I was glad to find a flat enough bit of ground there.
The night was cold but still, and by the morning of the 24th the cloud had lifted, I woke up to a world of wonderous views.
de-icing my cup in the morning
sadly Esk Pike blocked the best of the sunrise as I broke camp
Great End
Skiddaw on the horizon, Allen Crag on the right
The freezing fog gave everything a serious coating of frost
I used an accessory karabiner to try and scrape as much frost off the tent as possible before packing it up. This was painfully cold on the hands!
on my way to Scafell Pike, the top of England
It was exceptionally clear with far reaching views to the Isle of Man and Scotland
Scafell Pike trig with the Mosedale Round in the background
looking North
Great Gable dominating the foreground
What a fantastic day to visit Scafell Pike. The views were the clearest I have ever known up there and the wind wasn't bad at all. I spent a good while up there taking it all in and taking photos for a couple of passing parties.
The way down was one of my vary favourite routes and I took my time all the way savouring the views. I had a heavy old pack on and there was some veerglas on rocks which appeared dry. I slipped and hit the deck once but not too badly. It was one of those days where it was a sheer pleasure to be alive.
heading down The Corridor Route, which leads through a beautiful and other-worldly landscape
Piers Gill
Kirk Fell and Great Gable presiding over Wasdale
Sty Head Tarn and Seathwaite Fell
newly refurbished bridge
approaching Seathwaite
Hind Crag
on reaching my car in the afternoon it was still heavily frosted up
Suffice to say I drove home for Xmas in an excellent mood.
