I went to bed last night feeling rather grotty with a stuffed head and runny nose. I didn't feel half as bad when my alarm woke me at 04:30am but during the drive north I had a couple of sneezing fits in the car and the grottyness returned. The fell forecast was too good to miss though with cloud inversions forecast above 700m I couldn't miss the opportunity especially in January. It was pitch black in Patterdale when I arrived with just the lights from the Patterdale Hotel in the distance I kitted up head torch fixed in full Winter gear minus the crampons with last weeks snow thawing due to a rise in mid week temperatures. It was a chilled kit up the breeze making the morning air feel much colder than it actually was so there was no hanging about. With Rod venturing out onto the northern Fells David had arranged to walk Place Fell with Kayleigh from this very spot but I'd be long gone by the time they would arrive at 07:30am. I was expecting a cloudy morning but as I looked north between the gaps in the cloud, I could see the stars.
No traffic had passed me as I locked the my car, crossed the road my head torch lighting the way as the bell at St Patricks Church chimed at 7am. With a lot less cloud than I anticipated I began to ask myself was I feeling fit enough for the whole route, it's not good doubting yourself so early into the walk but I like to think I'm a planner not a doubter and besides, I can always duck out at Deepdale Hause should my fitness or the weather go against me. After passing St Patricks I crossed the road my head torch illuminating the reflective road signs which shone back at me. The base for Patterdale Mountain Rescue looked quiet as I crossed the road again before joining Grisedale Lane. The lane looked eerie my head torch iluminating the white washed familiar cottage its occupants nowhere to be seen, the cottage sadly looking unloved. Accompanied by the sound of Grisedale Beck below I'm passed by a fell runner his head torch illuminating the wall then the trees as his head swayed from left to right. Soon after I arrived at the gate bound for Thornhow End where my head knew I'd be in for a steep climb ahead, I just needed to convince my lungs the same. |