Finally a new post...

sorry it has been so long; a hard first term at the new school and some not very good weather haven't helped...

Claire and I did go over the Mum and Peter's and go for a walk on Simonside - which involved me having no energy and Claire electing to take half of Northumberland back in her boots!!

Yesterday - was just too tired despite some lovely weather in Penrith - although it was bad on Helvellyn I gather. Today I summoned up a little energy and tried a new (for me) mode of transport.

So; today - the first weekend of the hols for me as school broke on Fri - weird to think I won't be there until late Jan as I start my second school placement on the 4th... As can be seen from the picture below I

The skis.

decided to go for a quick hour or two on the ski's. Looking at the internet it was clear that the Lake Ski club at Raise was going to be open so I drove off to Glenridding.

Not especially fancying the last part of the road up to the mines; I parked at the Travellers Rest (hence the small ski's) and walked up.

 As can be seen from the two pictures below - will post the rest later - it was a glorious day and the snow started just above the Mines and Youth Hostel. HORDES (seemingly at least) of people were plodding up the Sticks Path track (which takes one to the ski-tow) so I elected to go a different way and go towards Whiteside (the path that Claire and I had come down as it happened).
Now, to be fair, those whose idea of fun it is to spend obscene amounts of money to go to France, Italy etc to ski would probably not have thought their were loads of people - I don't and have no real desire to do so - and I'm a grumpy old sod anyway so I went on my own.

I didn't go especially far - this was the first time I had worn the ski-boots outside and there were issues with them and the sock system and tightening I was playing with. I was also still feeling profoundly un-energetic so I skinned up for about 1/2km on some pretty hard ice/snow. Going up was okay as there was a little bank of snow I could follow - it was actually quite fun. I chose to walk down as I am not sure how well I would have been able to control the short ski's on that ice - may yet return with the big ones.



Cross Fell looked amazing on the drive home - will make that an objective if the snow holds - although a thaw below 600m is forecast for Thurs - which is less good.

Roll on Scotland - 8 days and counting.

https://picasaweb.google.com/102361192587557786751/SkiingRecce - are the pictures