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Seldom Seen, Glencoyne, Sticks Pass, Raise, Keppel Cove, Glenridding, Cumbria.
 [12.4 km]  Mon 15 Feb 2016
OS Grid ref: NY 38743 18423
Lat/Long: 54.55730, -2.94871

It was a cold clear morning when I left home and sub-zero as I drove north along the M6. At Tebay it was -1degC and -2 at Shap. I left the motorway at Penrith and drove via the A592 to 1 mile short of Glenridding where I parked at the entrance track to Seldom Seen cottages.
Victoria's memorial seat

I set off up the track with low high cloud and eventually had a nice view of Ullswater. On my left was a nice old metal seat with VR 1897 marked on it. There are many around Cumbria and they commemorate the Silver anniversary of the reign of Queen Victoria. Down to my right I looked into Glencoyne where many years ago I had been on a caving expedition to explore the old lead mine.
Queen Victoria 1897
I had to be careful as sections of the track were covered in ice and even though I had ice spikes with me I left them in my rucksack. I soon came to the snow line and it was easier under foot as the snow was in good condition. At Nick Head I cut off to the right to save descending down into the valley bottom. I soon picked up a track shown by boot prints in the snow and continued to the main Sticks Gill up to Sticks Pass.
Ullswater
 By now the clouds had started to clear and I had a nice sunny walk up the pass. Across to my left hand on the north slopes of Raise I could see the ski tows and ski hut but no skiers. At the summit of sticks pass I headed south up the gentle slope towards Raise. There were many marks left by skiers but no boot prints. It was difficult at times because the snow wasn't able to take my weight.
Looking back to Sheffield Pike
Nearing the summit the gradient steepened and I had to kick steps into the hard frozen snow. The summit of Raise is not marked by a trig post but a large cairn which looked very impressive as it was totally encased in snow and ice.
Ski runs near Sticks Pass
The views were extremely good and way ahead of me I could see Helvellyn summit and people walking around. I continued to the southwest and even though the gradient was gentle I still needed to take care on the hard frozen snow.
Climbing Sticks Pass

Summit cairn on Raise
 In the distance I could see a cyclist approaching and as he reach me we both stopped for a brief chat. He was on a surly bike with extra fat tyres for better grip. He said he was in training for a future Cycle Ride across Iceland. He continued up Raise while I descended to the saddle before Whiteside Bank. I turned sharp left to follow the main track down in to Glenridding.
Descending Raise
It was here that I started to meet many people climbing up even though it was now mid-day. I was concerned that many were in ordinary boots and did not have ice axe or crampons and I warned them that conditions towards Helvellyn could they difficult. The Descent was fairly straightforward and the weather continued good with clear blue skies. I eventually dropped below the snow line and walked on the track down to the Youth Hostel and Huts above Glenridding and just below the old mine workings.
Training for Iceland

Clearing the damage in Glenridding.
Then I continued along Greenside Road and down into Glenridding and the main car park. It was here that I could see evidence of the December floods and there was still a lot of debris by the side of the car park and many sandbags still outside some of the shops. Glenridding Hotel was barriered off along the front. I turn left and headed north on the main A592 and as I left the village followed the footpath which skirts the lake. There is no path along the road and they path just above the lake is the only safe option. After just under a mile I reach the access track to Seldom Seen and back to the car.