Thursday 13th December 2007

Start point: Glenridding car park (NY 385 169)

Glenridding - Glenridding Dodd - Heron Pike (Glenridding) - Sheffield Pike - Nick Head - White Stones on Green Side - Stybarrow Dodd - Sticks Pass - Raise - White Side - Greenside Road - Glenridding

Distance: 8.8 miles     Total Ascent: 1037 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 35 minutes

Weather: Clear above clouds, very cold wind. 4oC.

Route Map

I wasn't expecting much from today's walk as it was dull in Glenridding and the high fells looked to be under cloud for the day. I knew it would be cold though as there was a fair old wind whistling around Glenridding village. It was cold enough on Fairfield on Tuesday but this was a lot colder - almost like winter!

Raise at the head of Glenridding from the climb to Glenridding Dodd.

Birkhouse Moor.

Sunrays over Glenridding.

It's all a bit dull down here - Ullswater from Glenridding Dodd.

It looks a bit brighter over Sheffield Pike though.

A frozen pool on the way to Sheffield Pike up to the right with White Stones and Stybarrow Dodd to the left. The wind was really cold and biting here.

The weather was changing constantly, almost by the minute, with the strong wind blowing mist across the fells alternating with bright sunshine. Helvellyn and Catstycam remained under a thick blanket of cloud throughout the walk.

Watermillock Common and Great Mell Fell from the summit of Sheffield Pike. 'H' is the boundary marker for the Howard Estate of Greystoke, the other side is marked with 'M' for the Marshall Estate of Patterdale.

Raise, in and out of the swirling mist.

White Stones and Stybarrow Dodd was getting the same treatment.

A clear spell on the climb to White Stones.

White Stones.

Stybarrow Dodd from White Stones.

Heading for Stybarrow Dodd.

Looking back to White Stones and Hart Side.

Into the freezing mist on the summit of Stybarrow Dodd.

Two minutes after we left the summit, it cleared!

Dramatic clouds over Glenridding.

Looking across Sticks Pass to Raise, now submerged under cloud cover.

Cloud clear of the summit of Stybarrow Dodd again, Stanahgill Head to the left remains filled with it.

A Brocken spectre on Stybarrow Dodd.

On the descent to Sticks Pass looking to Sheffield Pike.

That's it, I could stand it no more. Time for the full polar expedition gear to come out - it really was that cold! To the left is Great Gable and Kirk Fell, Pillar covered in cloud and round to the north-western fells across a sea of cloud from Sticks Pass.

Low sun and biting cold on the climb to Raise.

The south-western cairn on Raise from the summit.

Casper braves the oh-so-cold wind.

Skiddaw from Raise, Blencathra covered by cloud to the right.

...and closer up.

Stybarrow Dodd, Watson's Dodd and Great Dodd over Sticks Pass.

...and closer up.

The view to the west from Raise.

The frozen summit of Raise.

Closer up to the west.

White Side from the descent from Raise. That big cloud above was one of many which came crashing over us like waves descending from Helvellyn and engulfing White Side and Raise.

Lovely clear views across the clouds - when it clears from these tops.

The cloud clears briefly, and I mean very briefly from the frozen summit of White Side, here looking back to Raise and the Dodds.

Back into Glenridding valley it was like being in a different world. A lot calmer and a lot duller for the trek back to Glenridding. Looking back to Raise it appeared as if the whole fell was under cloud cover. Who could have guessed the secret weather that lay above?

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