16/12/10 - Coniston Old Man

Walk Distance - 8 Miles
Geocaches - 1 (Rocket was cold) - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=6ca53a56-78c5-48ef-b2a2-7424b6c11806
Weather - Blizzard, followed by clear skies, sunshine and views to die for
Number of pints - 9 (we lived at the Coniston Brewary and got there at 4pm).

Company today.  We had arranged a two day walking experience about 6 weeks ago, before Britain was gripped by the new ice age.  It was touch and go about whether we went, as there were concerns about getting snowed in and not returning.  As we were living in the world famous Coniston Bluebird brewary, I completed my snow dance to only minor affect.

Our home for the night..

We left Stourport at 6:30am and got there for 10:15.  Last 8 miles were down a country road and it just had to start snowing as soon as we got on it.  It looked like it might be trecharous to get out in th morning.  After spending nearly as long as it took to drive there getting goretexed up, we headed out of the village up Church Beck on the start of the ascent.

Faintly enthusiastic at the start

We continue the climb - not too bad in ascent terms but it does start snowing.  With the wind, I have never seen snow going upwards but this happens.  We make to the eerie old mine workings where I head off for the only geocache of the trip - a nice big ammo box snuggled under a boulder.  Take gloves off to retrieve it and freeze my hands off.  Then realise that the spout to my camel back has also frozen.  This hasnt happened before and indicates problems.  Realising that this might be my only cache, all trackables are dropped off.

Continue the climb to low water - momentary stop in snow and I have a futile look for another cache but even though sandwiches are eaten, the lack of movement means that Rocket starts to freeze up.  So we head on up....

Too cold for caching

In true testing fashion, as we hit the steepest part of the climb to Coniston old man - the path is also frozen, the winds start up so that it blows you sideways and then a blizzard starts that means we cant really see too much either.  Although we were pefectly safe, if we could have heard ourselves over the wind we might have talked our selves in getting to the pub early.  An heroic push fowards got us to the summit and we could see that it would be easier to carry on over the flat expanses of Brim Fell towards Swirl Band.

Thankfully we did, as the snow stopped and the cloud cleared for the most incredible views over much of the lakes, the sea, morcambe bay etc.  The only problem we had was the wind would pick up and snow blast your face.  Hence the red face in later pictures.  This was comfortable, easy walking and a great reward for the efforts of getting here.

They stopped for photos - I didnt leave them...

Swirl band takes you onto Swirl howl for our third and final Wainwright.  It has been slow going, so we miss out Little Carrs, Grey Friar and Wetherlam and after some synchronised luging on our waterproofed trousered arses, we descend the tricky Prison Band.  Rocket leads the way like some sort of wolly hatted mountain goat.  I can only assume he had clocked onto the fact that the pub was open.

Follow me to the pub

We head down a sheep assisted path (like dolphins and stranded mariners, they led the way to civilisation) to Lever's water.

Bonhomie and relief

What followed was a long gentle descent that seemed to go on for ever.... showed how far we had climbed quickly on the early pint of the walk.  We go past the old miners cottages and the YHA - both looking like spectatacular places to stay.

We arrive back in the town at around 4pm - which is perfect, as the darkness is falling.  Check into the hotel and agree to work our way from left to right on their real ales.  As our water froze, we are generally in need of fluid.  4 pints before we get changed for the night and head out to see what the night life of a Lakeland village has to offer.