Winter returns - again!!!

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As we headed east into the Lakes on Saturday morning it was clear that winter had returned to the fells as they had a dusting of fresh snow. The car thermometer read 4 degrees. 
We parked up at Hartsop in the eastern fells with the intention of 'bagging' some new Wainwrights on Susan's list. It was cold in a brisk north wind as we headed off for Boredale Hause but we warmed up as we climbed and the clear air gave some excellent views. Our first two tops were 'new' for Susan - Angle Tarn Pikes and Brock Fell - although we weren't sure about the latter. 
The next top - The Nab- was definitely a 'first' and required us to walk out and back to it over some boggy ground. Again the cold clear air gave some tremendous views and already the new snow had melted on most of the tops.
The climb up on to Rest Dodd was steep and then it was down and back up on to The Knott the last real pull up of the day. The fells had been very quiet to this point and even the popular High Street felt 'empty'. We found some shelter near the wall that traverses the summit and ate the last of our food looking south across Morecambe Bay to the Flyde Peninsula.  
Susan had climbed the next top - Thornthwaite Beacon - several times but we weren't sure about nearby Gray Crag so chose to descend via this back to Hartsop  to complete the 12 mile circuit. A grand day out but it would be good to have some warm weather soon.

On route to Angle Tarn Pikes with Brothers Water below.


The last pull on to Angle Tarn Pikes.


Angle Tarn Pikes - the first 'new tick' of the day.


Winter lingers on some of the higher fells to the south ...


.... and on the Helvellyn range to the west.


The lovely Angle Tarn.


Susan way ahead on Brock Crags summit.


Another great day on the hill.


The Nab another 'new tick'


Heading back for the stiff climb up on to Rest Dodd.


Looking back to the Nab.


Resting on Rest Dodd.


Susan's off again - heading for The Knott.


'Come on slow coach I've been here for ages' - The Knott summit.


The view west - tremendous.


Looking to Riggindale Crags on High Street.


On High Street heading for Thornthwaite Beacon.


Thornthwaite Beacon.


On the last leg - Gray Crag next.


Gray Crag - 'Think I have done it before'.


Hayeswater and High Street.


Starting the descent.



We had Fish and Chips in Keswick and then went to an excellent Stephen Venables talk at the Theatre by the Lake, so it was late when we got home.

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