Our First Play In The Snow

Today was forecast to be beautiful & with snow on the tops we planned to go over to Ennerdale to take a few more panoramic shots. We decided to go to Red Pike as we knew the views would be amazing but when the day dawned with sub zero temperatures we changed our plan & headed for the shorter & safer road to Bleach Green.

We started up the route to Crag Fell, our first glimpse of the lake

And we reach our first point, Knock Murton to Herdus

Looking down on the lake, the path to the far left is the one we helped to clear yesterday

Looking up to Crag Fell, sadly no sign of snow on this side of the valley

As we cross Ben Gill Bess goes for a dip, brrrrrr

We reach the point where the path splits, Crag Fell to the left or off to the right as we go to Grike

Crag had scratched at the fence shortly before this point as he had spotted a small patch of snow on the other side, we were amazed he had remembered it from earlier this year & wanted to play with it.

We soon however find some on our side of the fence. Karen with the first snow we have reached this winter! (OK it's only slightly larger than an ice cube but it's snow)

As we climb higher Bess breaks the ice on this small pool, see it below her

And at the top of the pool & on the grass. She will go to any lengths to play in water

We look towards Pillar & Steeple & realise a lot more snow fell in the valley after we left yesterday

We reach the summit of Grike & our next panorama. This is the most westerly fell in the valley & from here we can capture the tops of almost all the Ennerdale Fells.

High Stile through to Steeple all looking like an alpine scene

And slightly less zoomed we spot there is some snow along the wall to the right where we are heading next

Grike summit shelter with Cleator Moor in the distance

The Isle of Man & maybe Ireland to the right in the far distance

And Scotland is very clear to the eye (if not so the camera)

Zooming in on Pillar & Steeple

We drop into the forest, this icy track we will take later for another shot

Starling Dodd to High Stile

And we reach a better quantity of snow, note the dogs are walking up it whilst Andy sticks to the grass

It has drifted quite deep here

Andy & his favourite wall (it goes on for miles) & of course some snow

Bess waits patiently for Karen to throw her a snowball

Very icy & cold here

The panorama of the valley from our lunch spot

And along the wall to Caw Fell

Red Pike to Steeple

Pillar & Steeple

The dogs love the snow (almost as much as Karen), Crag likes to chase & carry snowballs, here he is recommending two we can throw for him

Bess likes the snow kicked up for her to catch

Andy throwing a snowball for Bess to catch

The sun has dropped on us as we head for the final point however it is still shining on Great Borne & Starling Dodd

As we leave the forest Red Pike & High Stile

Our final viewpoint of the valley

And in the other direction Grike where we were earlier

Red Pike to Steeple from this point

Pillar & Steeple

Pillar

Starling Dodd to High Crag

We descend & are soon out of the sun although it is still shining brightly in the valley

A lovely days walk & great to get to play in the snow