It's been a tough week so a leisurely start and coffee and croissant at More. Then to Coniston and a circuit of the high Coniston fells.
It's a cold day, some cloud on the summits, Spring-like in the valley but full on winter conditions higher up. I head up Mouldry Bank (Syndey "the snake" Bank !) and on up to Hole Rake and the main ridge to Wetherlam; I am soon in snow and it's icy too so decide to put on microspikes, perfect conditions for them, the snow is firm and a good covering.
The summit is a very cold place to be and not wanting to linger long I head off towards Swirl Hawse; it gets a bit tricky on this section, the slope is convex, very icy and drops off into snow filled gullies and steep ground, with cornices ! I decide to head up, take in Black Sails summit and a more gentle, but still very icy, descent to the Hawse.
Prison Band is a joy in these winter conditions but the summit of Swirl How is again no place to linger. I take a bearing as a precaution and head off towards Brim Fell and the Old Man, again very windy and icy. I decide to head down to Goat's Hawse and take in the summits of Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike, it's fantastic along here, the sun is out and the cloud has dispersed.
I then make a quick descent down the Walna Scar back to the camper for tea and cake. A good day out, testing and challenging in places.
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