Coniston weekend part 1 - Langdale Pikes

[Beery Hiker]

This was the first of our two walks in our recent weekend in Coniston. Encouraged by a promising weather forecast, we started early and soon passed through the band of snow on the M6 to emerge into sunshine. Before long the snowy mountains were beckoning
20170113_093314 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
So we headed up Langdale:
20170113_094923 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
20170113_095101 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
and left the cars at the Dungeon Ghyll Old Hotel.
IMG_0442 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
and headed towards the new one
IMG_0448 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
Harrison Stickle was an obvious target:
IMG_0457 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
but we couldn't resist the odd look back down the valley:
IMG_0459 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
Higher up we encountered more snow
IMG_0464 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
and took a breather below Thorn Crag
IMG_0470 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
IMG_0471 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
Further up the slopes got steeper and rougher
IMG_0473 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
and we were soon on the plateau between the three Pikes
IMG_0475 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
A short scramble took us up to Pike of Stickle
IMG_0476 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
IMG_0477 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
Doubling back, we were soon on the top of Harrison Stickle
IMG_0485 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
looking down at Stickle Tarn
IMG_0486 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
Having decided the direct way down to the Tarn looked a little steep and loose, we continued over Pavey Ark
IMG_0490 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
and found an uncomfortable and occasionally hair-raising descent down what Wainwright dubbed North Rake. Looking back at Jack's Rake:
IMG_0493 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
and onwards to Stickle Tarn
IMG_0495 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
as the light was starting to fade
IMG_0499 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
we took a last look down the valley:
IMG_0502 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr
and returned to the car. Onwards to the Holly How hostel, very convenient for the Black Bull and its excellent range of Coniston beers:
20170114_084658 by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

[Alteknacker]

What a brilliant day for a walk in these hills, and it looks like there were few other folk about! I've only done these in clag: these pics illustrates just what I missed

I was focused on the weather in Snowdonia this last weekend, and somehow missed the good forecast for the LD - d**n!

[trailmasher]

Langdale, what a fine place to be on such a good day Some good shots you got there BH, well done

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

thanks Beery Hiker, great report!

great photos too - no-one would realise that the first three photos were taken through the window of a moving car!

[Beery Hiker]

Thanks for the comments. Yes, HMHT, I was quite pleased with the way a few of the moving car photos came out, but I did delete most of them! I'm sure you have plenty of great photos too...

[ChrisW]

What a cracking start to a hiking weekend BH, lovely photos of a fine looking wander and a perfect end to the day by the sound of it