They say things happen for a reason and had I not been caught in tailbacks after initially setting of to do a walk yesterday I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the snow scape as I did on todays walk. Aye I know it was a waste of fuel turning around halfway to Lakeland which the wife didn't thank me for but in my eyes, it was more than worth it.

I had set off on Saturday to walk the Greenburn Round or 'Helm Crag to Steel Fell' but my mood changed and I wanted a walk which involved a ridge with height and Grisedale Pike ticked all of the boxes so much so I may have underestimated my first proper winter walk as I had ambitions to complete the whole Coledale Horseshoe but fresh and sometimes energy sapping deep snow soon saw to that which saw me collect just Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head in all their Winter glory.

Had I set off minutes later I wouldn't have bumped into Andrew Foster and his dog Billy who arrived moments before I was ready to lock the car, it was only after Andy got out of his car did we realise who each other was before shaking hands and agreeing to walk together which worked out well seeing as Andy is possibly the most 'bumped into but never walked with' person I know, well now we got the chance on what can only be described as a perfect Winter walk taking in the Coledale Skyline.

My Sunday drive was much less uneventful than the previous morning which saw me traveling along the A66 just as dawn broke with a weak sun still behind me. I was a little apprehensive how the roads might have faired after reading various road reports but I could quickly see that despite being surrounded by frost and snow from ground level upwards that the roads had been gritted which extended onto the Whinlatter Pass and beyond. From the A66 I was delighted to see that it wasn't just the higher summits which had a covering of snow but even the lower hills such as the Mells.

Blencathra just looked so magical in her Winter coat I almost stopped my car at Scales in favour of the Coledale Fells but decided to stick to my guns as it felt like it had been some time since I had climbed Grisedale Pike from Braithwaite.

I eased my car onto the car park at the bottom of the Whinlatter Pass and wasn't surprised to see that the car park was well over half full, perhaps only room for two or three well parked cars. At the side of my car a chap kits up in the passenger seat and although I didn't notice at first another chap is kitting up behind a Vauxhall Combo van which he had left the engine running on, an engine that's probably been around the clock a few times broke the silence which as I kitted up, I found a little annoying. I kit up for Winter first throwing on my Rab waterproof jacket before opting to change it for my Montane Softshell instead which is more than capable of seeing me through a shower or two should I get caught out. Gaiters are also added which are fast becoming a part of my Winter kit and I've finally got used to telling the difference between the right and left one seeing as the left, has developed a slight tear on the inside leg.

I'm just about ready to lock the car when a car slowly pulls onto the car park and reverses in next to mine below a canopy of trees, out of politeness I almost get back into my car so I can tuck it closer to the one I'm parked next to if only to give the driver enough room but there was no need. With my finger on the key fob I turn to lock my car as the driver who had just pulled up gets out of his car soon hearing Paul? bloody hell it's only fellow Facebook friend Andrew Foster with his dog Billy.

We greet with a handshake and pipe up "heading onto Grisedale Pike" aye, may as well go together, after all, I've bumped into many Facebook friends while out on the fells, but never as many times as I've bumped into Andy. Within minutes Andy is ready to leave and so too is Billy, an eight month old Collie who hasn't yet walked in snow.

After ascending steeply from the car park and once through the plantation our views widened over the Skiddaw Fells which had a light covering of cloud which was also advancing on Blencathra which only half an hour ago, was cloud free. Further east more cloud clung to Clough Head and continued all the way along the eastern ridge enveloping Helvellyn so tightly the cloud was difficult to define from the snow.

Gaining Kin from the car park always gets the lungs working and today was no different with the exception that we had snow underfoot almost from the start which had started to crust over which at least made the ascent that bit easier "we may need the spikes later said Andy" we'll just have to see how it progresses further up the ridge all the while watching the morning light develop over our surrounding summits.

After gaining Kin we could also make out two separate solo walkers way ahead, one of which we could see also had a dog with them, it was enough for me to envy their loftier position which was enough to set the heart racing from where you don't feel the steepness of the climb, you just enjoy it.

We were well and truly within the snow line which maintained its crust not crushing under the weight of our boots often feeling sturdy enough to even turn an ankle.

My only wish from here is that we make it to the summit under the gaze of a bright blue sky because all around us the light is changing and high cloud is developing too, but for now, it would seem the north western fells are the place to be.

Billy was in heaven ducking and diving in and out of the snow sometimes burying his whole head into the drifts followed by belly flops, I guess once he realised that the snow was no harm he just enjoyed it like a pup would. From our right we are joined by a elderly gent who appears to have made a pathless ascent from Whinlatter who also has a Collie with him and seeing as he is just yards behind us, we stop to have a chat.

It turns out the chap was just out for a walk through the Whinlatter Forest before he spotted "that" pointing towards the snow capped peak, I just couldn't resist" although after a lengthy chat the gent went onto say that he had been mountaineering all of his life which we could not dispute after he listed off the summits in the Highlands, the Pyrenees and even the Andes "you'll have to excuse me" he said, I had a stroke two years ago while up on Helvellyn and since then I have had trouble with my speech. This almost bowled me over as he went onto explain that he was taken from the mountain by Helicopter after being found unconscious.

I've only just completed my second year in First Aid which covered how to react with heart and stoke victims, It almost felt like I was looking at a ghost or something because this chap should not be here as those first few moments after suffering a stoke are the most vital, I could only look up to him in total awe "I'm not supposed to go out on my own the Doctor says" but I just couldn't resist.

This I guess is what climbing all your life can do to a man who told us he had just reached the grand age of 70 which he didn't look and probably had better legs than me and Andy put together.

Was he a little reckless for gaining the summit against his Doctors wishes, aye of course he was but I think I would have done exactly the same.

We didn't make the summit in any hurry instead stopping to chat or just soak up our views. Underfoot the snow had now turned to powder after leaving the firmer crustier snow lower down the ridge and we both agreed sometime during the early hours more snow mixed with hail would have fallen which meant that for now, the new snow on top of the old, was much easier to wade through.

We watched the gent we had been talking to just minutes earlier disappear over the shoulder of the fell and followed his footsteps almost print for print, below us and due to our recent stops a middle aged woman quickly gains ground on us and we almost all arrive at the summit at the same time to find the gent taking shelter from the wind drinking tea from a hot flask.

"I promise I'm heading back after I've had this he smiled"

I guess it was around this point did the thought of completing the whole Coledale Round started to play on my mind after watching the solo woman walker who we later found out was from Keswick make her progress on Hopegill Head. Here we could see that one or possibly both the solo walkers we had seen earlier during the morning had blazed a path through the virgin snow which was making their progress slow.

I don't mention what I'm thinking to Andy just yet.

By now the snow depth varies between one and two feet and sometimes drifts over the tops of our Gaiters, even Billy the dog is finding it difficult as with each step he sinks up to his belly in the soft snow, he's a clever little rascal though and before long he's trailing behind me still wanting to play at times walking through my legs and clipping at my heels, his company here just made the experience that bit more enjoyable.

Below the solo walker adds scale to Hopegill Head snow capped summit and although you cant strictly see it demonstrates the tough time she is having wading through the fresh snow.

Her route sees her veer widely left when in fact the path cuts straight across the top of Hobcarton Crag towards the right, with this I cut a new path below the original from our ascent and soon fellow walkers who are making the same crossing follow.

Quite a few of the crowd left while we de-shoulded while some remained all trying to keep out of wind that bites at exposed skin. We secured a snow covered spot slightly out of the chill where I used my pack (outer side down) to sit on while Andy used his waterproofs to keep the chill out, here we broke out snacks, me with a trusty semi frozen sausage roll while Andy and Billy enjoy hot soup.

It was here we agreed our route back to Braithwaite via the Force Crag Mine path.

With our backs to Coledale Hause we strike out along the Mine Track shadowed by Grisedale Pike to our immediate flank. Soon though the sunlight starts to peak through and for the last half mile we are blessed in Winter sun all the while the grandeur of Skiddaw reveals her ridges and peaks with each step taken. It's not long before we are back at the car park which by now is full to bursting with badly parked cars in every direction you look.

We kit down with tailgates open as Billy is eased back into the car and Andy holds out his hand to thank me for a great walk, no need to thank me mate it was my pleasure and with that I climb into the drivers seat and slip the car into gear before taking one long look at Skiddaw which is peaking out above the rooftops of Braithwaite while set against a cloudless Winter sky.