Walking Forum

Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Lake District => Topic started by: henryb on 18:26:23, 10/10/17

Title: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: henryb on 18:26:23, 10/10/17
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  :D . Views opened up of Dow Crag, Brim fell, Wetherlam and even Carlside 15 miles away! From the cairn to Carlside. From despair to delight. :D  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:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22279973_1813785005317257_1924065937341040917_n.jpg?oh=5a36415923d56cd8315458497a0a3dfb&oe=5A842AF2)


Swirl How I think:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22310270_1813785425317215_9119751727830828832_n.jpg?oh=5937ea4a1d9c141d37e7d701b42b9ea7&oe=5A46E2F2)


Approaching the hostel:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22281758_1813785675317190_4899091515809211868_n.jpg?oh=c43d712dccb74aa097a3c16e59902198&oe=5A86E9C9)


Levers water beck:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22308747_1813786241983800_5653075290572851806_n.jpg?oh=af92f947f49cb24bc2275efb7462e007&oe=5A854FEC)


The tourist track:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22281939_1813786735317084_3126945996360624071_n.jpg?oh=228dc4f00289e754802340352bc98531&oe=5A764046)


Low water:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22365284_1813786978650393_6595562956991135190_n.jpg?oh=0dc83b1dc420eb96aebf0bb8b6a3f426&oe=5A3EFFF7)


Coniston water:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22310214_1813787541983670_1014937639739837766_n.jpg?oh=967fadf5597e21018e83f6a529011047&oe=5A7AB199)


Swirl Hause:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22309109_1813787781983646_8325137313146734265_n.jpg?oh=07c020d06550eabaf2fe3e6447a9d8ad&oe=5A424261)


Wetherlam from the old man taken during the ascent:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22308830_1813788468650244_3772130172541606488_n.jpg?oh=6f5b1115cf37223e1c178f456d4c5a5f&oe=5A408970)


Windermere from the old man:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22281586_1813788708650220_1159468667371397787_n.jpg?oh=bd6b2b3b3c9a0f4c618c2f937e362443&oe=5A84FAD5)


Coniston old man cairn and a hazy brim fell:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22309069_1813789791983445_7190507912625761356_n.jpg?oh=99496afde3c1b2a812bd52bf338b685b&oe=5A85424A)


Brim fell from the old man:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22310404_1813790015316756_481720837753120283_n.jpg?oh=c5f131c6a292fd5001cc0ce5f8354b1d&oe=5A740648)


Brim fell and Swirl How from the old man:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10584105_1813790218650069_7591315639377185342_n.jpg?oh=73bef1f005fbd13d74474fefb45fbddd&oe=5A3C3E9B)


Northwards panorama from the old man:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22365369_1813790601983364_1232721847984765046_n.jpg?oh=5c1c9b2a09c732b094ad2c4a7c971998&oe=5A3E98DF)


A hazy view of Wetherlam and no eastern fells from the old man:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22366458_1813791018649989_3922774996540598869_n.jpg?oh=82637193a21b1319dc3597596e506d22&oe=5A818AF9)


Wetherlam and the eastern fells from the old man after the mist cleared:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22366594_1813791381983286_7276640387094792222_n.jpg?oh=0909c9b14152b34aa525505cea0853ef&oe=5A845B82)


Coniston village and water from the old man:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22281787_1813791955316562_4938823743568965360_n.jpg?oh=4e3e3dffd8c23bd348e467cc1913d5be&oe=5A3F345A)


Wetherlam, Swirl How from the old man:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22405922_1813792138649877_5926199847644613449_n.jpg?oh=adeb4f6ca6cded558a4a2e667cc83ea5&oe=5A858A04)



Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: Islandplodder on 18:56:17, 10/10/17
Lovely photos, looking forward to Dow Crag!
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: henryb on 19:04:05, 10/10/17
Thanks Islandplodder :)  After the crinkles, Coniston round would be my second favourite round in the Lakes. I've just posted Dow crag.
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: Welsh Rambler on 19:38:53, 10/10/17
Some magnificent views Henry when the mist cleared. Thanks for sharing  O0


Regards Keith
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: beefy on 20:19:32, 10/10/17
Lovely pics Henry  O0
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: henryb on 21:09:18, 10/10/17
Thanks beefy and Welsh Rambler :)
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: Ridge on 22:23:37, 10/10/17
Great photos, pleased it cleared up for you.
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: April on 08:31:03, 11/10/17
Nice photos Henry and I think it is Swirl How too  :) It is a great round this one.
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: gunwharfman on 21:32:47, 11/10/17
I remember Coniston when walking the Cumbria, the wettest night in my whole life! Still, survived to tell the tale!
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: adalard on 14:13:47, 13/10/17
Lovely photos, Henry - especially like the one of Lever Waters Beck, great stuff!  O0
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: henryb on 18:54:01, 17/10/17
Thanks for the replies everyone, glad you liked the photos :)
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: jamiek on 17:54:18, 18/10/17
Looks like a great day for it! Nice photos Henry :)
Title: Re: Coniston Old man - the mist cleared at the summit
Post by: henryb on 19:36:22, 18/10/17
Thanks jamiek :)