Name of walk	Lingmell and Scafell Pike in Blue Skies and Snow
Date of walk	2008-03-04
Distance walked (miles)	7
Duration of walk	5 hours 40 minutes
Weather	Blue skies and sunshine
Peaks on walk	Lingmell and Scafell Pike
Walked with	On own
Parking	Lay-by parking, Brackenclose

I did not intend to go walking today, but on looking out of the bedroom window I saw blue skies and mountains covered in snow. So I decided on a solitary walk up Lingmell (2649ft) and maybe Scafell Pike (3210ft) from Wasdale. I set off at nine and started the walk at 10.40am.

Looking down Wast Water, not a cloud in the sky. From left to right....Yewbarrow, a glimpse of Kirk fell, Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Illgill Head. The path up is just in the shade to the right of Lingmell and goes up the side of Lingmell Gill.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable.

Lingmell with Scafell Pike behind.

The gill path up to Hollow Stones is a steep trudge and slippery with ice in places, now we reach the boulder field. The blue skies were becoming darker.

Mickledore buttress, Mickledore and Scafell Crag. The last time I came this way I went straight up the middle and up a gully to the right which takes you to the base of Broadstand. Today I continue on up the path to Lingmell Col.

View to Sty Head Tarn from the summit of Lingmell. Snow clouds coming in..

Looking over to the summit of Scafell Pike.

The Mosedale Horseshoe.

The 10ft far summit cairn with some great views of Great Gable to the right.

Great Gable.

To the right is Great End.

Mine were the only tracks to this cairn, everyone else got no further than the main cairn. They missed some excellent views out.

Especially the view down to Wasdale.

I walked back down to Lingmell Col and took this photo of Lingmell Fell. I then decided to carry on up to Scafell Pike.

The path up was difficult to spot in places and winds to and fro for what seems like forever. The terrain is very rocky, eventually the summit comes into view.

The blue skies returned just at the right time.

View down Borrowdale to Derwent Water. Skiddaw and Blencathra seen behind.

To the back is the Helvellyn range. To the front is Ill crag and to the right is Bowfell.

Bowfell and Crinkle Crags and Wetherlam. In the distance are the Pennines and Windermere can just be seen.

Looking across to Scafell.

Me by the Trig Point.

When I arrived the summit was empty. That never lasts long before the world and his dog arrive!

The south peak. The Coniston range in view, to the right is Furness.

Trig Point. Clouds getting blacker.

Close up of Borrowdale.

It was windy on the summit, I had to kneel to take some of the photos, so I only stayed for a few minutes before setting off back down. Passing Mickledore on the way down.

The path back to Hollow Stones. The sunshine had melted the ice on the paths so it was quite easy going down.

Lingmell Gill.