Two seasons in one day.

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The sun was shining as we left for the fells late on Saturday morning and although clouds covered the higher tops it looked like spring was making an appearance. As Susan was recovering from a bad cold/chest we headed for Blencathra for a short circuit - up Doddick Fell ridge and down Blease Fell from Threlkeld.
Despite the later than usual start the Car Park had plenty of space and we were soon heading off along the Intake wall for the start of the ascent ridge. It was beautiful in the spring sunshine at this level but the top was shrouded in cloud. Before we started the ascent Susan had to remove her jacket it was so warm!!
It was only when we were about half way up the ridge that we met the first walker of the day. He'd been to the summit and warned that it was much colder. At about 600m we reached the cloud base and the temperature dropped immediately. By 700m the wind had  picked up so we both added layers before continuing to the summit. The cloud had hidden the next change on the ascent - snow. By 720m we were walking on a good covering of the stuff.
The summit had been 'taken over' by a large group so we headed off for Atkinson Pike above Foule Crag for a more peaceful lunch spot. This proved more difficult than usual due to almost whiteout conditions. As we sat and had lunch the wind picked up and snow began to fall. In the space of an hour we'd gone from Spring to full Winter conditions and we were glad we'd packed a warm over layer.
Winter continued all along the summit ridge to Blease Fell and it was only when we'd dropped to about 500m that we got any view. From here on down conditions continued to improve and by the time we reached the car Spring was again in the air. 

Climbing Doddick Fell in shirt sleeves on a Spring morning.


Much cooler higher on the ridge.


Back to winter above 700m.


Lunch in and the snow is falling.


'What happened to Spring? - I've just had a bad cold'.


Clearing skies on the descent.


Returning to Spring.



Today we grabbed a short weather window in the morning to get in the first road bike ride of the year. This didn't feel too bad - so the wee mountain bike trips along the cycle track must have done us some good.

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