Seathwaite, Grains Gill, Sprinkling Tarn, Styhead Tarn, Cumbria.
[ 10.7 km] Wed 31 Mar 2010

NY 2356 1223
As I drove towards Keswick I could see snow on the fells but low cloud prevented me getting a full appreciation of the coverage. The temperature was just above freezing and when I got to Seathwaite it was 1degC and snowing. A lot of recent rain meant the ground was waterlogged and as I walked up the lane and through the farmyard I chatted briefly with the farmer. He asked where I was heading and told him probably as far a Sty Head Pass, but it depended on the weather. I’d originally intended to head off for Langstrath and return via Sty Head but the snow and uncertain weather meant I had to shorten the route.

At Stockley Bridge I decided to head up Grains Gill. A light covering of snow on the path meant I had to be extra careful but the snow was soft and I didn’t consider I needed my ice studs. Higher up the snow became deeper but that was mostly due to drifting. The mist wasn’t too thick and eventually I was able to see the snow covered the NE face of Great End looming up in the distance. The reason I chose to climb Grains Gill and not Styhead Gill is that this route is steeper at the top and not too bad to climb in the snow but would be more difficult to descend in the snow. Approaching the head of the gill the wind had increased considerable and deep drifts were all around. Before reaching the main path from Esk Hause I looked out for some shelter so I could stop and have a coffee.

There was none to be had so I finished up digging a hole by one of the stream crossing and was just able to duck low enough to avoid the worst of the wind. The visibility was quite variable, from just enough to see the way ahead to total whiteout. The path down to Sty Head was completely obliterated by the snow and I had to judge the best way ahead from previous experience. Sprinkling Tarn was very windswept but surprisingly not iced over. On the final approach to Sty Head I was walking across some featureless snow and feeling quite good about the fact that I’d kept my feet dry when I suddenly went into free-fall and I found myself up to my waist in snow and my boots filling with icy water from the bog I’d just dropped in to. I quickly pulled myself free but the damage was done.

I reached the first aid box at Sty Head with wet and very cold feet. The wind was screaming and I needed to find shelter to have my lunch. The large boulder adjacent to the box was just big enough to shelter behind but the vortex action of the wind meant that I was being constantly showered with powder snow. At one point I’d poured a cup of hot coffee from my flask and left it on the ground by my side. The next time I looked it had filled to the brim with snow. This was no place to hang around so as soon as I’d finished my sandwiches I packed up and set off down to Styhead Tarn. I was surprised how deep some of the snow drifts were. By the time I got to the footbridge across Styhead Gill the going was easier, though the path still had snow on it. As I descended I met a few people walking up. On the final descent to Stockley Bridge the sky cleared a bit but continued mostly overcast and cloudy.