Stony Cove Pike (28.11.2009)

After a long-ish drive up to Windermere from Leicester the previous evening, we woke up to a fresh covering of snow all over the fells. Exciting for everyone who was coming for the Adventure Peaks Christmas party, (even though it was admittedly still a bit early for Christmas celebrations) we drove up to the car parking place at the top of Kirkstone Pass, opposite the inn and began the walk at about 10am. At first the weather was dry but quite misty so there was not much to see apart from a lot of whiteness, and it remained like that all the way over Pike How to Stony Cove Pike. No views, chilly and a bit boring. Once we'd descended down Threshthwaite mouth into Pasture Beck it was just a bit drizzly but warmer and we were down at Hartsop in the early afternoon and walked back along the road past Brotherswater. The weather improved later in the day though, with some fresh cold air setting in again as we began the final ascent back over Caudale Moor and past the disused mines. The views seemed to get better and better because by the time we'd got to the top of Caudale Head, there was the most brilliant temperature inversion and even the opportunity to see a Brocken spectre with the sun rays producing a nice little halo around our shadows as we gazed north/eastwards. I think the whole group must have dithered around here for a good 30-45 minutes because by the time we got back down to the pass and the cars it was about 6 and already dark again. Still, a late finish was worth the effort, just to have such a great end to the day and seeing the sunset too over Helvellyn :-)