Date & Time: Saturday 5th April 2008, and the subsequent four days.

Location of Start : The red phone box, Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited : Local walks and other outings within the Loweswater and Lorton Valleys.

Walked with : Ann, Nick, Lynn and Gordon and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : April Snow, from sunshine to blizzards and back.

Low Fell on the evening of the first April Snow

 

On the afternoon of the 5th April we walked up Robinson and High Snockrigg when we were treated to a delightful mixture of alternate sunshine and snow showers. That evening, as light faded, an extended snow shower left our lower fells and the valley itself covered in snow.

This was the first real snow of this surprising April.

Mellbreak as the snow cleared but as dusk was falling.

What would the morning bring ?

The answer was that the cold night had allowed the snow to stay and the morning was a real delight.

The Loweswater Fells ( Black Crag rising towards Gavel) and the Church at Loweswater.

Unfortunately I had to go to work, but what a fantastic way to drive. This is the road over Whinlatter Pass.

Nick, on the other hand, had plans to climb up into the snow.

This is his shot of the red phone box at Map ref : NY 143 211

   
Nick on Hopegill Head a few hours later
Two other climbers approaching the top of Grisedale Pike

Looking down into the Hopebeck Valley from Hopegill Head.

( Last four photos courtesy of Nick Pease )

- - - o o o - - -

On returning from work, being Sunday, I was able to take an early evening walk with Ann up the same valley.

   
Parking at Upper Swinside
Just above the fell gate on the top road.

In view of the weather and imminent lambing, the sheep were being brought down from the open fell.

They had already brought themselves down most of the way anyway. Not so daft these particular sheep !

A few hours of sunshine had changed the valley, from the white wilderness in Nick's earlier photos, to green at this low level.

This is more or less a reverse of Nick's photo, separated by about six hours.

Harry following the beck, Ann and Bethan the higher path.

We turned around after a brief stop at the stone.

A hazy Solway Firth ahead as we made our way back.

- - - o o o - - -

On the Wednesday 9th, just three days later, a few pictures from another local walk

this time with our friends Lynn and Gordon.

After walking a short way up Mosedale to see the high fells we backtracked through Flass Woods towards Crummock Water.

Idyllic weather in the flat calm of a beautiful afternoon.

This has been a turbulent week for weather, the contrasts being greatest between the high fells and the valleys

Nick was up on Scafell Pike today in different weather again. See his link below.

 

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with my Cannon G7 or Ann's Ixus Digital cameras.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . the encouragement to get out . . . be it work, the dogs, friends visiting or Nick's Mountain Navigation training.

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Check out the other walks this week : 5th April 2008 Robinson as winter returns

7th April 2008 Back O' Skiddaw with the Hush Puppies and 9th April 2008 Nick's Scafell Pike from Seathwaite