Catch up 2017/18 !!!!

It's been 6 months since the last Blog and even that was a late report on our trip to the Alps. Face Book and Twitter have been quicker ways of sharing photos but I've decided to start Blogging again. So this is a quick summary of the Autumn and Winter. We've had a lot of good days out and a major change in our lives but more of that later.

Autumn - the Autumn of 2017 was a good one with some settled weather and great colours on the hills and in the woods. We had some good days out and the following images give a flavour of the season.

On Darling Fell above Crummock Water in October.

Summit of Helvellyn in October.

Descending from Sticks Pass - October.

Climbing Cat Bells - November

Cat Bells summit - November.

The Newlands valley - November.

Climbing Grisedale Pike - November

Cloud on Hopegill Head - November

Heading for Grasmoor- November.

Looking to Red Pike above Buttermere and our first snow of the season - November

The summit of Hatstacks - November.

Innominate Tarn looking to 'Gable' - November.

Starting the descent into Buttermere - November.

Approaching Tinto summit -November

Tinto summit - November.

Climbing Pykestone - November

Pykestone summit - November

The Falls of Clyde - November.

Castle Hill, Symington - November.

Climbing Helvellyn - November.

The summit of  Raise - November - winter is on the way!!

Descending from Sticks Pass and into winter - November.

Winter - The winter of  2017/18 saw a lot of snowfall in the Lakes. We missed out on some of the best conditions late in the season, as will be explained later, but did have some grand days out. Again the images are a summary of the season from December to February.

Two shots on Skiddaw summit - November.

The joys of winter - lunch on Carl Side - November

Culter Fell summit - December

Susan adjusting her boots on a moody day on Blencathra - December.

Two shots from an ascent of Skiddaw in December from Skiddaw House.

Heading for Bannerdale Crags - December.

Heading for Blencathra - December.

Preparing for the final slopes of Blencathra - December

A stunning winter day on Blencathra - December.

Summit selfie - Blencathra, December.

Reflections on a wander around Buttermere - December.

Walking to the Clyde from the house in Symington - December.

A December day in the Lakes on an ascent of Glaramara.

Wearing a my 'prize' jacket on Skiddaw - January.

Descending from Helvellyn - January.

The following 5 shots are from our last proper winter day out on Great Gable. The conditions were excellent and the hill very quiet:

In late January Alec visited from the USA with his girl friend Ale.

I've been volunteering with Fix the Fells for 2 years now - taking a rest on a drain run in February on Haystacks:

In February 2018 our lives changed when we had the opportunity to get a wee puppy. He's a Border Terrier and we named him Culter - after Culter Fell our favourite hill above the village of Symington in Scotland, where we've spent many happy hours. I have to admit that it was hard to miss the great winter conditions on the fells in February and March but hopefully over the next 10 plus years the 'wee man' will join us on many adventures. He's certainly grown on us despite many challenges. He'll be the main subject of the next Blog.

The 'wee man' Culter at 10 weeks.