Derwent 17 2 12

Winter sailing

Andy and I took my dinghy out for a winter sail today. I wanted to test a few mods I've done and also get the new sails out.

Well it started off as a row as it was flat calm, so we rowed down to St Herbert's Island, half way down the lake, for a cuppa (out of the flask) and an explore. The island is fairly well used as you can see from the 'woz ere tree but it's not waring that badly as the people who do venture there do make the effort and take everthing they bring with them, a rare thing nowadays. There is also signs of camping on the island even in the winter. The amount of trees seem to keep up well with the demand for wood for the camp fires.

As we were there the wind got up a little and so we had a chilled out sail back to Nichol End for another cuppa.

Flat calm.



The 'woz ere tree on St Herbert's island



Andy with Skiddaw in the background.













Back for a cuppa



Derwent winter sail 12-2-12.wmv

Lakeland Skiing

With a dodgy forecast for the weekend I took the opportunity to have a day off on Friday and got the skis out. Its surprising how often I can get out skiing in the lakes so long as I'm prepared to walk, alot! one of the best places is Calf Cove between Great End and Broad Crag. Theres a natural bowl that gathers snow but rarely a cornice, at 2800 ft the col is high enough to keep the snow a while.

Upper Wasdale from Stand Crag

One of my favourite routes up is from the Wasdale valley floor straight up across the corridor route to Lambfoot Dub a small tarn high above Wasdale on the West flanks of Great End.

Frozen Lambfoot Dub

From here its just a short climb upto the col above Calf Cove, this route takes you far away from the day trippers and paths, into the mountains.

The top of Calf Cove looking towards the Langdale Pikes

From the top of Calf Cove, if the conditions are right, its possible to Ski down towards Sprinkling tarn

Calf Cove with Great End behind

Following the path down takes you back past Sprinkling and StyHead tarns with views of Keswick and Skiddaw in the distance.

Keswick from near Sprinkling Tarn

My route

A tired out max (for a change)

Here's a dodgy skiing video I put together for a bit of fun.

Skiing Calf cove.wmv

Blake Fell night ride

Well the rain has stopped at last, now everything is frozen instead. On Tuesday Col and I braved the cold and headed up Blake Fell near Cogra Moss with our new(ish) Chinese lights. LED lights have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years with what was a couple of hundred pounds plus only two years ago, you can now get better lights for around £30............ Viva China and Ebay!

Luckily there was not much wind as it was around -5 deg C on the top, still too cold to stay for more than a few seconds. There was a little snow on the summit which made for an interesting descent. It’s a fantastic night ride with a very fast grassy descent.

Cogra 31-1-12.wmv

Its OK, the beer's safe and the sun can come out now.

This weekend I had a last day out with my good friends Kelly, Doug and Lance the dog before they head back to the states next week. They've been over here for just about two years, now there moving back as Doug has a new job.

Its become a standing joke that it always rains in the lakes, after the last few weeks of appalling weather I'm starting to believe it!

However in the last two years we've had some good days out when the sun did actually shine and here's the proof!

Lance, Doug, Star, Alan & Andy on Red Pike. March 2011



Heading towards Starling Dodd from Great Borne. March 2011



Cross border trail, not a cloud in sight. August 2011

Ullswater, no rain just lots of wind. September 2011

Doug - Haystacks, it didn't rain......until later. Jan 1st 2012

Kelly and Lance Irton Pike carpark dressed for the rain. Jan 2012

Doug, Kelly and Lance Jan 2012

No idea who they are all wet and muddy.

I seem to remember sitting on the balcony of Zeffirellis in Ambleside drinking beer and eating potatoe wedges on a barmily warm day in early spring of 2011. What happened to the weather after that?
I amost forgot Dougs problem with beer! Well his only problem was not getting enough. When someone asked him what he'd miss the most 'a pub at the end of every ride' was his answer.

So I'd like to thank them for all the good days out we had. And for cool picture they gave us all at Christmas of our ride along Ullswater and back. We all hope to see them soon for some skiing and mountain biking in sunny Colorado (if I go to Colorado and it rains Doug has alot of explaining to do) .

Happy New Year

All the best to everyone for 2012

Cold and wet ...............again, its great.

Thursday 29 of December of this week happened to be my Birthday (well 29th is always my birthday it just happened to be on Thursday this week!)

So we went out to play................ in the wind............ and the rain..........and at some stages the snow.

As you can tell from mine and Dougs faces we weren't altogether sure it was the right thing to be doing!

This is a silly idea.