Winter 2014's acoming so batten down the hatches......

[Topper]

I'd seriously consider upgrading from a tent at this time of year.

How about a bivouac ?
View attachment 68678

Why would somebody wish to do that?

 

[PaulR]

That really would have a long-drop toilet!

 

[2cvbloke]

That really would have a long-drop toilet!

So THAT's how poo-bags end up in trees, it's them guys slinging them out of their cliff-hammock tent things...

 

[2cvbloke]

'tis a frosty one this morning, summer's definitely well and truly over...

 

[satelliteman]

Yep, soon warming up for today but wet for next week I see.

 

[Captain Jack]

An absolute day of misery here so far... Hate winters. Well, British winters, in any case.

 

[2cvbloke]

Cold, wet, miserable, but enough about my love life, the weather's 'orrible...

 

[sonnetpete]

Yep, raining here and the thermometer is struggling at 9C...may even have to light the log burner.....

 

[Analoguesat]

It absolutely lashed it down here all morning - a horrible start to the week.

 

[rolfw]

Crappy here as well, fortunately the van is in the bodyshop for two days, so I've chosen a good time to not be working up ladders.

 

[Ghostleader]

Frosty & foggy this morning, Energy execs will be rubbing their hands in glee this morning............

 

[2cvbloke]

Haven't had the heating running yet here so far, just the warmth from electricals (particularly the warp plasma TV in the living room being a big ol' radiator) keeping things temperate...

Of course, come proper cold weather time, the heading should kick in at about 17 degrees, cos that's what I set the 'stat to...

 

[hexah]

There was a feature in the news for Scotland about the snow patches that stay on the hills in the higlands all summer.



There are hundreds of them and this is one of the bigger ones.







The cold run off and the subarctic climate helps to keep lots of alpine and sub arctic plants alive.

 

[hexah]

Just think about me and SWMBO trying to conquer Skiddaw and Blencathra in the next few days!

I wonder if Tivu needs the forum Tincture of Magic Mushrooms yet to ease his tired legs?

He should have tried Helvellyn for the views. Though maybe not by the Striding Edge route! It gets featured a couple of times a year on the local news usually when the Fell Top Assessors start and end their long season of assessing the winter conditions and when someone falls off Striding Edge. Fiona went up with them in March and as you can see despite the ridiculously mild winter there was still a decent covering of snow left.



It is dangerous to carry your ice axe like that, many people have been injured when they fall to the side or back. It can be fatal but people have survived self inflicted punctured lungs and even bashing it into their skull.



The surface is still granular, it isn't melting much.



Crapons and ice axe essential even though there is not as much snow as usual. It can be icy underneath the snow as it often freezes up in layers. That is one of the Fell Top Assessors.



The wind blown cornice looks impressive but it is a bad idea to walk on it unless you want to end up in the lake. And never be seen again. The line and holes are cracks where it will eventually collapse in a big avalanche.



Great view with Striding Edge ahead. The ice in Red Tarn has started melting on the shallow sides leaving some floes and a big island of ice which can take a long time to break up.

 

[Lazarus]

Yes, done Striding Edge a couple of times in the past.

Just got back, having had six excellent days walking.

Didn't summit Skiddaw due to dense cloud (Ergo, no point) but did achieve Ullock Pike Carlside etc on the Western Flank.

Best outing was up Whiteside then all along the ridge to Grisedale Pike before a welcome Ice Cream in Buttermere!

 

[hexah]

The Met Ossif mongs have started a space weather department.

Wtf?

They can't tell the weather here on earth and they want to waste time and our money on space weather?

They are only going to copy what the NASA and SpaceWeather websites say anyway, they are not really going to do any predictions. They will be sitting around drinking tea and eating cream buns subsidized and paid for with OUR tax money! :mad:

 

[hexah]

Good video of the small tornado on Wednesday. It came close enough to the car to see it rumbling along the ground.

http://www.itv.com/news/border/story/2014-10-09/small-tornado-strikes-south-cumbria

There was one in the area last year as well.

 

[PaulR]

There was a small one just down the road from us near to Vauxhalls at Ellesmere Port.

 

[Vipersan]

Good luck to Nelson on his outing today ...as it's his turn to tackle Skiddaw.
Hope he doesn't encounter the weather issues you did G..
rgds
VS

 

[Lazarus]

I think he's got a good day for it!