The wind reduced during the night but the snow returned. This is my last day but at least I don’t have to rush to catch a bus. It was still very thick mist and as I started to pack the tent away just before 8am the wind began to pick up. Packing the tent took much longer than usual because of the snow. I had to dig down along the guy lines to find the pegs which mean that each had to be individually dug out. There was probably over a kg of snow and ice still attached to the tent when I packed it away. I set off to find the main path down from Codale Head towards Stickle Tarn. It was a total whiteout and very difficult to keep on track, though no track was visible. I hadn’t been going long when I sank through the snow into a shallow tarn underneath.

Even more snow and ice on my ice axe

All I could see of Stickle Tarn

 I was up to my knees in freezing water and my warm dry socks were now awash in freezing water. This wasn’t good as I have a long way to walk back to Coniston. With a full covering of snow there was no sign of the path. Occasionally I’d come across boot prints in the snow but they didn’t help as the paths in the area head for various descent routes. My first objective was Stickle Tarn because from there the path down is very distinctive and well used. Even in good weather the rout finding isn’t easy as the approach to Blea Rigg has at least 3 paths radiating from it. I continued down and was amazed how thick the mist continued to be. When I eventually reached Stickle Tarn I still couldn’t see anything.

I reached the main path down and started to descent. It had quite a bit of snow on it and was very steep in places. As I got lower I started to meet people coming up. Most were reasonably equipped but some weren’t and probably had no idea of the difficult conditions they were climbing into. Approaching the old footbridge over Stickle Ghyll I descended below the cloud and could see a dismal Langdale Valley with a sprinkling of snow. I turned right on to the B5343 road and headed up the valley. There were plenty of parked cars about and a few walkers.

Wintery Langdale.

The track to Tilberthwaite.

The rest of my route was now on roads and old tracks so the going would be much easier. Approaching the steep road up to Blea Tarn some cars were turning round and heading down, having decided it may not be wise to try and get up in the snow. There wasn’t much snow on the road but I still had to be careful in case of ice. It was pleasant walking and with the fells being covered in thick cloud it looked like most people were just enjoying walking along the road.

There was little traffic to get in the way. At the next junction I turned right then left over Fell Foot Bridge. The track to Bridge End cottage had a lot of walkers on it and also the continuing track towards High Hall Garth. I took the right branch and headed south to High Tilberthwaite. I joined the tarmac and continued to Low Tilberthwaite. There were a huge number of cars parked in the car park at the base of Tilberthwaite Gill. I kept to the road and followed it to the main A593. I was a bit concerned about walking along the road on a busy Sunday but was delighted to see a path heading off though the woods.

Path through the trees to Coniston.

Reaching Coniston.

The path is to get pedestrians off the road all the way to Coniston. It was well made and a delight to walk on. I reached Coniston about 13:35. If I’d been using public transport to get home it would have taken 3 busses and 2 trains. With my car waiting I had an easy drive and was home by mid afternoon.