Xmas day on Pen-y-Ghent

The sun shone, and the snow looked perfect for a white xmas.

Passing Malham Cove, there's no snow .....yet

still no sign of a white xmas

21st Dec..............Winter on Ingleborough

Winter has arrived in the Dales and while the snow has yet to fall and settle it was decidedly wintery out on the moors today.  With some strong winds, sleet and hail showers, along with some very brief bursts of sunshine, photography was challenging to say the least.

A visit to the usual tree on the limestone pavement proved fruitful but as I climbed higher the conditions deteriorated and the camera stayed in the bag

8th December.....Yorkshire dales winter conditions

VERY WET..........

2014 Northern Landscapes Calendar

2014 Northern Landscapes Calendar

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2014 Northern Heights Calendar

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30th November .....Pinnacle Ridge, St Sunday Crag

Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag is a classic Lakeland grade 3 scramble, located on the steep Northern side of the mountain, the start isn't the easiest to find, but a couple of clues help to find the start.  There is a dry stone wall down in Grisdale which lines up and points just to the right of the start when looking up at the crags above, when seen with a gun barrel shaped rock high up above you'll not be far from the start at about 530m.

The scramble itself starts as it means to go on, exposed climbing but with good holds all the way makes for some excitement, it is possible to find a way off the ridge at any time should any of the difficulties become too much.

Soon the first real climbing is reached, a 7m high corner that must be climbed direct, and this is the point that many find use for the rope, a fall here would not have a good outcome.  Once past this point the scramble  continues over the exposed ridge, but is over all too soon and all that remains is to go for the summit and enjoy the views.
Kit:  3 or 4 quick draws...a few slings, 2 or 3 biggish nuts and a few crabs

Nethermost Cove from St Sunday Crag

Climbers on the final section of the ridge

24th November .......Hebden Mines

One of my favourite walks in the Dales takes me over Great Whernside and then South to Sandy Gate, the remote high pass between Nidderdale and Wharfedale.  There's still a long way to go to get from the pass back to the safety of the valley and civilization  at Hebden, but just before reaching the village you pass through the ruins of the smelting mines, testament to how much industry there was in this area 150 years ago.