An almost windless night and some clear patches around midnight. I went out to try a couple of time exposures as the veiled moonlight was just managing to break through. My morning alarm was accompanied by the patter of rain on the tent. I delayed my start as I didn't have a very long day ahead. It also gave me time to finish the book I had with me 'Kangshung Face' by Stephen Venables, a fascinating account of the 1988 expedition when he became the first Englishman to climb Everest without oxygen. I delayed my start until 9:35am when the rain had stopped but the cloud still swirled about.

Thurnacar Knott tarn by moonlight

Descending Blea Rigg.

I had a view of the lower fells but High Raise to the north was in cloud. I took the main path but missed the right turn to Sergeant Man in the mist. As I got higher I realised my mistake and took a right turn along a sheep track. It turned out to be a good choice and took me where I wanted to be along a much less wetter route. At Sergeant Man I was just below the cloud but it was still very gloomy. I had do make some wide detours to get round the various tarns before picking my way down towards Blea Rigg. This is a notorious area for navigation when the visibility is bad. Today I was lucky as I could see down into the valleys. Even so, the many paths split and diverted all over the place. I was heading for a pitch on Little Castle How. I'd camped there before and though it was near the main path it is sufficiently high enough above it to be hidden. After I'd found the site and put the tent up my theory was destroyed. First one group had a lunch stop near the tent, while I cooked mine inside. Then a large group of youths arrived and seemed to hang around for ages before moving on. During the afternoon the weather deteriorated, the wind got stronger and rain began to fall.