Skiddaw & Co - via the snowy trade route

The hills looked a little hit & miss this morning - cloud seemed to be licking most of their summits so making  a final decision was difficult! Something close seemed sensible & since its been a while since I've been up Skiddaw's tourist route, this seemed a good option as any. Lack of the Summer hordes and a fresh covering of snow was a bonus.

Howell Memorial, weather could head either way - forecast predicts an improvement :)

Skiddaw - Usual conditions prevail!

It was the day before what was being billed as 'the worst storm for 60 years' and the forecast was looking reasonable. XCWeather & the Met Office had big fat yellow suns on Keswick, MWIS predicted a 70% chance of cloud free summits, cloud base of about 800m possibly lower in passing showers of drizzle - certainly the calm before the storm. 

Away from fictional forecasts, reality wasn't as kind; although the cloud was rising rapidly. The lower summits of Bakestall, Ullock Pike & Longside Edge all cleared as I approached and parked at Peter House Farm. However it soon obscured them completely.

The track up Dash Valley...