It's that time of year again when we all get together with work our colleagues and hold the annual Christmas do. This year as was the last our Christmas do was held in Manchester which is where most of my colleagues live with the exception of myself and a few others who might as well live in the next galaxy owing to the time it takes me to get to work each morning which can be anything from an hour and a half to two hours, yes that's two hours each way staring at the longest line of brake lights your ever likely to see, which can have its advantages because this is where I plan walks like todays.

The last time I walked the Howe Pike ridge in order to gain Harrison Stickle was back in February 2015 which doesn't seem that long ago but it's almost two years and that's two years too long. I remember thinking how delightful the ridge was with fantastic views over Dungeon Ghyll, Thorn Crag and of course the summit of Harrison Stickle, it would seem I'm not the only one who's keen on the route after hinting to my walking pal Rod in a e-mail earlier this week what I was upto who then returned my email with a hint of jealousy that it was also one of his favourite routes and, if the rock is dry enough ascent can be gained via the Ghyll itself where many a scramble can be found, good scrambling.

Unfortunately after a night of rainfall this wasn't to be the case but that isn't to say that I didn't enjoy a great mornings work while taking on one of Lakelands most distinctive peaks.

I had driven through darkness and dawn still hadn't broke by the time I arrived at Rossett Bridge at around 08:00am. From the drivers seat I sat and watched the cloud which clung to the Crinkles, it was the same scene above the Mickledore valley as the same cloud base obscured the slopes of Bow Fell but thankfully the cloud was contained around the higher summits and not the Langdale Pikes whose peaks for now, are clear and remain to dominate the Great Langdale valley.

After five minutes (yes just five minutes) I started to become restless being the sort of bloke who isn't good at sitting still I started to kit up behind the car. Despite it nearing into double figures the wind causes the temperature to feel much cooler than it actually is although not cold enough just yet for hat and gloves. After adding my Gaiters I shouldered my pack before striking out towards New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel all the while peering over the top of a stone wall at my route ahead.

From the road I enter an almost deserted New Dungeon Ghyll car park with the exception of a camper van which was the same van I followed into Great Langdale from Elter Water. There are two paths which gain access to Dungeon Ghyll from the car park one of which was the first one I passed at the entrance which appeared saturated after the previous nights rainfall which saw me continue on towards a well worn path at the rear of the Hotel and after a steady start, I reached the stone wall as views of Pike Howe open out.

My route will see my pass below Miller Crag (seen lower right) before picking up a stepped path which follows the course of the ridge all the way towards Pike Howe summit.

The path is at first narrow and has grass and loose scree underfoot which rises steadily while flanking the stone wall, soon you are left with the options to continue ahead towards Stickle Tarn via Stickle Ghyll or head left as I did from where the stone staircase rises steadily as views open out over the Great Langdale valley.

Talking of Great Langdale, it sure feels very quiet in the valley this morning at a point when I can still see that my car is the only one occupying the parking spaces at Rossett Bridge.

The morning light hadn't altered and remained the same since leaving the car well over half an hour ago despite the suns efforts to break though the cloud all it could muster was a tinge of orangy red afterglow through a gap in the cloud. The forecast was for sunny spells throughout the morning but I wasn't holding out much hope now.

Despite the mild air and lack of frost underfoot todays walk really has a 'Winter feel to it' brought on purely because of the low light.

As far as impressive views go no matter the conditions you aren't going to get as impressive as Dungeon Ghyll middle ravine. It was here I stray off path just below the summit of Pike Howe from where I peer down into the ravine which is steeply flanked on both sides by almost vertical rock. Meanwhile up ahead I get my first view of the Waterfall which falls into a rock basin below, it's no wonder that this route is so popular with views as impressive as this.

After taking in the views from the Upper Ravine I entered Harrison Comb which was cloud free although beyond Loft Crag and Pike O'Stickle the cloud still lurked above Bow Fell and the Crinkles. With this in mind I decided to head for the summit timing myself at twelve minutes from Harrison Combe to the stone cairn by which time the cloud which had been pushing into the valleys had made its way over Harrison Combe and soon took the summit with it although at least, I could see the brightness of the sun trying to pierce through the cloud which sadly, wouldn't amount to much.

I figured my hands had stood the chill long enough so while at the summit I de-shouldered and eased my chilled fingers into what felt like gloves that had been microwaved! It's cold, yet despite my beanie being tucked away in my map pocket I let my ears feel the chill, after all it wouldn't be a Winter walk if you didn't have cold ears and a leaking nose.

On reaching the stone cairn low cloud was still obscuring my views so I plotted where to head to next, had Loft Crag and Pike O'Stickle not been below cloud I would have summited both and descended back to the valley via Mark Gate but my options are now a little more limited so I choose to head to Thunacar Knott and High Raise instead, both worthy summits of those I decided against.

I felt quite privileged to be on this particular section of path despite summiting Thunacar Knott and High Raise a number of times usually I would also summit Pavey Ark thus missing out on this short section of path between here and the last push towards the summit.

I'm going to make sure I enjoy these next five minutes or so.

Despite todays walk being a rather short one it was one that I could take many highlights from like the ascent and views of Pike Howe or those momentary bursts of sunlight while descending Harrison Stickle but I guess all good things must come to an end as I shorten my walking poles and begin the short walk back to Rossett Bridge.

With my car reached I start to kit down which by now had been sandwiched in between two other cars but before I go home I take in the views from Rossett Bridge once more towards the head of Great Langdale where the low cloud seems to have settled in for the rest of the afternoon.