Is it winter BG time yet?

[Baggins]

Ian, Isn't that how it should be for a winter attempt?
Yiannis

That was my first thought as well

But you do need favourable winter conditions and a load of fresh deep snow is not it

[ydt]

That was my first thought as well

But you do need favourable winter conditions and a load of fresh deep snow is not it

I agree with you Bill, I was just flippant. Just wanted to tease Ian
Yiannis

[Full Moon Addict]

and you really don't want miserable conditions for more than a few hours. you can get away with it in the summer but 15-16 hours of dark makes a big difference, especially with lots of ice. if the snow's crusty its incredibly knackering.

I did get quite close on one attempt in drifted fresh snow and with proper support might have made it but i was going very well that day and still failed. Ploughing through foot deep snow is very tiring at outset but after many hours of it ...

last saturday or a number of days over the past couple of weeks would have been good for a full on winter attempt. Have a look at my recent galleries at http://johnfleetwood.smugmug.com/Lake District mountains. Good luck to all having a go.

[Real Ale Man]

If I had a bit of extra time, I would contact all the winter completers so that I could verify all the information I have and add a column to the records recording conditions, which are all important (and interesting!)
.

I did a winter round last year, happy to send in the details, conditions etc. Like you say it would be interesting to see the logs.


Also for those aspiring to an attempt...

My strategy was for a low key and minimal fuss approach, as such it was predominantly solo, which realy did add to the adventure. As a passed each summit I marked my passage with a date and/time marked photo (thus providing an excellent summit cairn recognition game for all those BG specialists!).

Road support I found was essential, mainly for safety but secondly to seek a few minutes company....

You end up having to carry quite a pack in winter and it starts to feel heavy when your getting to the end of leg 4.

Finally I would make the point that the weather and surface conditions are make or break for a successful winter attempt - so try to be flexible on your attempt date (i.e. midweek... or whatever)

...also don't forget the roads get bad, round the passes, my brother who was road support for me had some brown trousers after Wrynose!

And finally, finally, I know of a lad not too far from me who will be having a crack in Jan... so maybe another.

[MorganW]

RAM

Any material you have or would be happy to put together would be gratefully received.

That might stimulate me to get hold of as many of the other successful people as I can to collate info about conditions on the day.

Full Moon Adict I can tackle easily enough and the Chairman of the Club of course.

Set me off and then I'll try and keep going!

You can email me at [email protected]

Thanks.

Morgan

[IanDarkpeak]

under good frozen snow conditions a lot of the route could become faster but is there any major route changes due to excess snow?
Doddick Fell?
Broad stand etc?

[MorganW]

All systems go for Headless's winter BG attempt.

Due to start 22.00 hours tonight.

All the best Eddie, looking forward to the cake.

One peak at a time mate, that's the way to go.

[Bob]

under good frozen snow conditions a lot of the route could become faster but is there any major route changes due to excess snow?
Doddick Fell?
Broad stand etc?

Excess snow carries the risk of avalanche on even quite shallow slopes (I believe as little as 20 degrees) so an awareness of snow and wind conditions in previous days would be useful. That said, I don't know of any slopes on the round that would be likely to avalanche, maybe the top of the direct line up Fairfield if a south easterly had been blowing.

The top of the rakes up Bowfell can be interesting in winter Also you'd want to go over rather than round Black Crag (just before Pillar) in winter.

[Fat-Lad]

Good luck if your planning to go tonight(19th)
Its lashing down here and am sure it will be snowing on tops with a wee bit of wind.

[FellShoeShuffler]

The top of the rakes up Bowfell can be interesting in winter

Indeed they can, very entertaining indeed they can be, although my wife said life threatening would have been a more appropriate description.