Last Sunday I checked yr.no forecast for Coniston Old Man. From 10am to midday it was a mixture of clouds and sun followed by cloudy skies in the afternoon. Met Office predicted very poor visibility from 10am to 1pm before clearing up later. Completely contradictory!
So I got the Coniston rambler at 942 to Coniston and saw blue skies over the old man and Wetherlam on the journey. I set off at a brisk pace at 1025 picking up the track towards Coniston hostel. When I reached the hostel the skies were still blue but it was hot. As I followed the tourist path from the hostel, the skies became cloudier. I thought 'could I make the summit and have views?'. 5 minutes before summiting the cloud thickened and I couldn't see more than the cairn. At 1205 I wished I had done Holme fell and black fell/Tarn Hows and got views instead of gambling on a higher summit. Five minutes I was thinking the opposite. A strong gust of wind blew from the south and the cloud vanished
. Views opened up of Dow Crag, Brim fell, Wetherlam and even Carlside 15 miles away! From the cairn to Carlside. From despair to delight.
It is only the second time I've had this experience of the mist clearing at the summit. The first occasion was on Bowfell in September 2015. I completed a circular walk to include Dow Crag. Dow crag photos to follow.
Autumnal colours:
Swirl How I think:
Approaching the hostel:
Levers water beck:
The tourist track:
Low water:
Coniston water:
Swirl Hause:
Wetherlam from the old man taken during the ascent:
Windermere from the old man:
Coniston old man cairn and a hazy brim fell:
Brim fell from the old man:
Brim fell and Swirl How from the old man:
Northwards panorama from the old man:
A hazy view of Wetherlam and no eastern fells from the old man:
Wetherlam and the eastern fells from the old man after the mist cleared:
Coniston village and water from the old man:
Wetherlam, Swirl How from the old man: