Lakes Summit Snow Report

Not sure if this is the right category :confused:

Very keen to get to the lakes some time in the immediate future for BG recce's etc can people in the area/know give any word on the going at the moment.

Only 2 weeks ago it was still a case of breaking fresh snow on the Northern fells, is it the same all over or has a thaw started?

It's a long day out (driving etc) if it's not going to be particularly helpful as a recce because of the conditions.

If people could advise I'd be grateful...hoping to get up there on the 21st for a day out then potentially weekly thereafter.

Thanks

Emma

I know you can't beat 'on the ground' reports, but try these links:
www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/weather/forecast.shtml#fells
www.lake-district.gov.uk/weatherline/home/index.php
www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafety/index.html
www.metcheck.com (choose a town)

Take care.

Thanks....I checked those the other week and whilst MWIS said 70% cloud free summits we were stuck in a whiteout :eek:

You're right, on the ground reports are a bit more 'accurate' ! :)

Last weekend on Longsleddale/ Kentmere area lots of snow, hard work slogging up south facing slopes one minute running next breaking through.
Northern facing slopes where nicely frozen.

I was at Haweswater on sunday, and the snow line on high street/harter fell was aprox 2000ft, frozen and icy, couple of more warmish days since then, although freezing at night

Hi Emmi

As well as on here, might be worth posting on ukc http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/i.php?f=7

maybe the week before you're planning to head up, indicating the summits for your preferred leg (I know ideally you would get info on all summits so you could chose which leg).

jo
x

again, not an up-to-date report, just my two pennorth from weekend before last

did Dunmail-Pike O'Stickle in variable-to-bad visibility: not that useful as a recce, as you couldn't see paths or feel what the actual underfoot going would be like.

next day ran Honister over to Wasdale. Companions then ran leg 4 (they got tround in six hours I think), while I went back up Gable via Aaron Slack. Clear & sunny, it was fine, but in high winds and bad vis it would have been a different prospect.

Footing: mostly fine in mudclaws but occasionally a steep, slightly exposed stretch that's a bit frozen, and it's, 'ey up!'

Great Idea emmi, I also will keep an eye on this thread, as hoping to get up to the Lakes on Friday 19th March...

Emmi, I was out yesterday (monday) doing the old crown round. There is snow in patches from about 500m which is hard on top in the mornings after the cold nights and sugary underneath. Where it has melted at lower altitudes and re-frozen there is quite a bit of ice too but it is avoidable mostly.

Above about 700m there is much more, which again is hard-ish on the top and sugary unconsolidated yuck underneath. Most of the time you are breaking though the crust.

I had my spikes with me as well as an axe, and used the spikes on the back of blencathra (although it would have been ok without with care it was faster to have them on!), but Skiddaw was fine. The most important thing it to watch slopes for avalanche potential. The back of Blencathra was not a nice place to be as there's a lot of snow on it and its been getting pretty warm up there in the last few days. OK but just be aware!

Hellvelyn will have much more I would have thought - keep an eye on the fell top conditions report on the met office site.

Kat

Was out today over Grasmoor, snow was soft even on paths the exception being the path to the North of Scar Crags that goes to the col before Sail, someone had used crampons on there and I don't blame them, if I'd had my spikes I'd have put them on :rolleyes:

Its not really good for recceing as any lines are hidden under snow.

You can see the Scafells and Gables here. Still a lot of snow there.

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Originally Posted by Baggins

Was out today over Grasmoor, snow was soft even on paths the exception being the path to the North of Scar Crags that goes to the col before Sail, someone had used crampons on there and I don't blame them, if I'd had my spikes I'd have put them on :rolleyes:

Its not really good for recceing as any lines are hidden under snow.

You can see the Scafells and Gables here. Still a lot of snow there.

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how you doing bill? - I'll second that - pics from last sunday here

snow good and hard today at 8am - perfect for running where its not too steep but crampons a very good idea on steeper slopes with long runouts.

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Originally Posted by Full Moon Addict

crampons a very good idea on steeper slopes with long runouts.

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As a winter novice, I had an instructive moment on the back of the Crinkles the other day, when I dropped my map on what, in an un-icy world would be a manageable slope.

The map slid and kept on sliding, and shortly after that it vanished from view, stil accelerating.

Bought some microspikes now.

Thanks for the updates! :)

Plenty of snow around on Fairfield and surrounding peaks on Monday. Quite deep and compacted on top so I imagine it will be still around for a day or two.

Probably be gone by the time you go Emmi but may be useful for others to know.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Baggins

Was out today over Grasmoor, snow was soft even on paths the exception being the path to the North of Scar Crags that goes to the col before Sail, someone had used crampons on there and I don't blame them, if I'd had my spikes I'd have put them on :rolleyes:

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know exactly the bit you mean, went up that at new year and thought it looked dicey then - bloke in front me stopped to admire the view, with this bloody great drop-off below us, and I was thinking 'er, shall we just keep moving!?' :o

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Originally Posted by Full Moon Addict

how you doing bill? - I'll second that - pics from last sunday here

snow good and hard today at 8am - perfect for running where its not too steep but crampons a very good idea on steeper slopes with long runouts.

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Going well at the moment, doing proper training :eek: even been getting out on roads :D

Still a lot of snow on Grasmoor today but its going. The snow on the North side of Robinson has retreated to about 200m from the top, last week it was down to the level of Buttermere Moss.

One think to add, even though the snow is melting the ground underneath is rock hard in places and when its steep is worse than being on the snow :confused:

It would be a great idea to keep this Lakes Weather Report thread going for as long as the snow is around, because on-the-ground reports are far more accurate than even the local weather. I'm wanting to reccie Coniston before 3 peaks, so ANY weather reports would be great -keep them coming in! It would be for the benefit of us all and safety.

The snow on 3 peaks is starting to go now - Penyghent is okay, just be aware of the section starting on the climb proper as there is just a single foothold. Its starting to melt which makes it dicy for mini avalanches.

Whernside - we have only been the long way round over the last month because the front race route was a no go. It is however, a bit better today, but again the final 50 yards to the summit is still dicy because the cornice is not for melting yet (bet some of it is still there come race day).

Inglebrough a month ago was pretty rubbish going up the steep gully after leaving the stone flags and from a distance today it still looked like the huge block of ice and snow hadn't retreated much. You can pull yourself up using the old fence, just take care.

Snows going fast, the ground on Hindscarth and Dale Head was soft today.

Still looks like a lot of snow on the Scafells though, but I was taking photos looking at the Northern side.

Photos here

Yes, that is a lot less than was about a week last Monday. Not that I ventured up into the white stuff. I was recceing part of the Lakeland 100, Keswick - Dalemain.
Glad the trainings going well Bill.

I was up Blencathra yesterday. The snow is stripping out fairly quickly. I put spikes on just passed the top of Doddick. The snow is soft and quite hard work going up but great for whizzing down. I intend to do Leg 1 & 2 on Friday so will post snow findings afterwards.

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Originally Posted by Baggins

Snows going fast, the ground on Hindscarth and Dale Head was soft today.

Still looks like a lot of snow on the Scafells though, but I was taking photos looking at the Northern side.

Photos here

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Thanks for that Bill - most useful, as I'll be up around Honister this Friday :cool:

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Originally Posted by Gazfrapeerith

I was up Blencathra yesterday. The snow is stripping out fairly quickly. I put spikes on just passed the top of Doddick. The snow is soft and quite hard work going up but great for whizzing down. I intend to do Leg 1 & 2 on Friday so will post snow findings afterwards.

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That would be great thanks, I might give the tops a miss this weekend if it's still fairly hard going, hopefully not too far in the distant future it'll all be 'back to normal'?! :)

Great pics Bill

ooooooooooooo! i can help here have been up Coniston over the last two weeks with MR i would say a reduction in 30% over the week at this rate in two weeks should be all gone
i am up again on Sunday will inform u of my findings oooooo i feel impotent:D

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Originally Posted by Amex

i feel impotent:D

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That's a 'Foul-up' of grand proportions!! :rolleyes:;):D

Anyone know if Middlefell is clear ?

would second the reports of it all going and going quickly now. Was up on High Street, Kentmere fells yesterday and while there are still some (very) large patches on snow left its very soft and hard going. I loss count very early on of how many times I went in up to knees and thigh level!

Alf - I would say middlefell is all but clear. Certainly Whin Rigg and Illgill Head have only a small few patches left. I'd like to say I'll check later but cloud is currently down to sea level here!

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Originally Posted by KatintheHat

Alf - I would say middlefell is all but clear. Certainly Whin Rigg and Illgill Head have only a small few patches left. I'd like to say I'll check later but cloud is currently down to sea level here!

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Thanks Kat just checking for the fell race on Saturday :)

Went round BG leg 4 until Gable today

Very mild today, only a few ice sheets on the higher tops causing minor problems, I'd say 95% of the route is snow free. If you wanted tp be really clever you could have done it all without touching snow ;)

Only problem was a gully near the top of Gable I go up (well right of the main path) the snow there was rock hard and needed an axe and crampons, as I didn't have any I tried the smaller gully to the left and was able to kick steps, sometimes up to the knee :D if you stayed on the main path you'd be ok. Lots of water pouring out of the snow.

The path to Windy gap had a bit of hard snow and ice in places but there was always a snow free alternative. I went down the path as the ground on the Borrowdale race route is really steep and I though it would be icy, looking back from the gap it was snow free :rolleyes:


Photos here

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alf

Anyone know if Middlefell is clear ?

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There's nowt on Middlefell ;)

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Originally Posted by Baggins

There's nowt on Middlefell ;)

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Thanks Bill :)

Just been and done leg 1 & 2 back to back, & struggling to stay awake as I type this as I am so tired.
Leg 1 - Virtually all clear with a couple of patches on top of skiddaw. Little bit on blen. Halls fell totally clear.

Leg 2 - All clear untill the last climb up raise. Small patches after that until top of whiteside where the snow becomes unavoidable. From there on snow gets deepish 4-6 inch I guess. Snow then stops after Nethermost. Grisedale Tarn, Fairfield, Seat Sandal down to Dunmail all clear.

The only other thing today was that the going underfoot was really soft. Probably due to frost lifting out of ground.

Hope this helps.

No ice on the top of Pillar now but lots of puddles :)
Most of the snow has gone off Gable summit just the odd bit of ice hidden in among the rocks.

Western hills are back to normal now, very wet :D

No photos this time as cloud was down to 500ft and raining :rolleyes:

any snow up there yet? Meant to be reccying Ennerdale this weekend.

Lots!
http://www.climbers-shop.com/web-cam.aspx
http://www.214fells.com/webcam.html
http://www.georgefisheronline.co.uk/gf_webcam_1.shtml

Snow on the 3 peaks route too :eek: very slippy and slidy with the bruises to prove it :( All 3 summits with fresh snow although not deep - chuffing cold up there though. Not the lakes obviously but thought I'd add it just in case! :)

Left Eskdale this morning. Plenty of snow fell on Wed, so we stayed below 350m. Hardknott Pass slippy for 2 x 4 cars early today, so opted for the pretty way back round via Ulpha, but good weather coming in from the west

any one seen what the Howgills are like, Thinking there may be less snow and easier running to be

A bit of a dusting on Ingleborough last night, so I would imagine that the Howgills would be similar.

Lots of snow on Skiddaw, Great Calva and Blencathra. Really hard going because, although the surface was fairly firm, it wasn't enough to bear my/our weight so we were sinking in up to our knees for much of the way.

The worst bits were descending off Skiddaw towards Great Calva - snow was simply too deep and soft to be able to run down. Climbing Great Calva wasn't good either - the heather was showing through the snow but didn't make it any easier to climb - either we sank into the deep snow or into the deep heather!

However, crossing the Caldew was OK - our feet were so cold by then that the water didn't make much difference!

Snow all the way up to the top of Blencathra, but then, strangely, parts of the path up from Foule Crag and along the summit plateau were clear of snow. In other parts there were deep drifts.

Very poor visibility and all the snow caused us to abandon plans to descend Halls Fell Ridge and continue southwards, so we ran back to Keswick instead. No snow below the Blencathra visitors centre.

We followed the studmarks of two other runners though, who apparently did go down Halls Fell Ridge. We met Denise & Dale (Moorlander) who'd come up that way too - with microspikes on.

anyone know what its like round ennerdale ? Wanna do a recce.its a 2 and half hour drive and dont wade though big snow drifts