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Not the best of days for the annual Lake District walk with some ex colleagues. The temperature was -6 as we drove to the pre-walk breakfast at the Ings Little Chef. The forecast promised snow and gales. Nonetheless, it was decided to proceed with the day's objective of Red Screes. Thus it was that nine middle aged men set forth up the slithery Struggle road.
in grey, icy conditions. The sky had an ominous yellow tinge. Heading up the old oxgang up to the open fellside, the mist descended, snow started to fall, and the long powdery flounder up to the summit began. Happily, the promised high winds didn't arise as we plodded gradually up the ridge across the tussocks and around knotts of black rocks which loomed out of the white towards us. Once again we were grateful to satmap as we headed upwards into white nothing. The cold wind sharpened as we reached the plateau. Eventually the ice blasted trig point emerged. A quick photo and it was time to retreat.
![fools on the hill.jpg]()
The plan had been to descend to Scandale Pass and walk back down Scandale out of the weather. However the blanket of snow which covered the south ridge and summit gave way to steepening streaks of rippled grey ice. Change of plan, contour round back to the south ridge. The joys of satmap. We followed a curving course which got us back to the south ridge with no reascent. The scepticism of the non-GPS users disappeared as our random wanderings led us straight back to our footprints.
A hurried and cheerless lunch was snatched cowering behind a wall on Snarker Pike
, wierdly sounds of sirens drifted up from below.
Descending, we came upon something else that was daft enough to be out in this weather.
Awful drive back home. Snow all over the road. Huge queue through Windermere. One of those days when drivers wait at the top of Banner Rigg like penguins waiting to dive towards the leopard seals. Top tip - the Lyth Valley road through Winster.
