Hello everyone, off to the lakes on saturday for a couple of mountain walks, but i have no crampons and as a student im unable to afford any. Are they necessary at the moment up there of is the snow starting to clear? all advice strongly welcome,thanks
Crampons are essential for anything approaching technical at the moment and if you don't carry them you could be making the aquaintance of the local MRT. I'd say you'd need an axe too.
John Whites mountainguides blog gives some useful clues to conditions in the Lakes .. more info on his main site here. If you do an 'out and back' route and don't go any further than you would be comfortable returning you will maximise your chances of a decent day out - or maybe hire some kit if you are more ambitious. It looks like ski and snowshoe conditions at the moment!
I was out yesterday up to 850m - the conditions obviously vary but if you wish to be prepared for all conditions and have a 'plan' either don't stick to it (echoing the advice of ALS)...or...
...make sure you have full winter gear, crampons, axe, goggles, suitable clothing and know how and when to use them all...
No idea of your capabilities.....but it is not a picnic out there IMO.
Please be careful; I've just seen on the news that three people have died today in avalanches in Scotland. See here.
Indeed! However this is due to surface hoar being formed and then covered by fresh snow. A dangerous but rare event in the Scottish mountains as I am lead to believe.
A reminder that winter mountains are dangerous!
My wishes go out to the families and loved ones of those who have died.
"when snow and ice is evident or forecast the ice axe and crampons are essential"
That said, on Monday, when I was in the Dow crag area, I walked back down Walna Scar Road behind a guy in shorts and trainers!At the very least, youneed an iceaxe, even for the soft areas where crampons wouldnt be worn. Hit hard areas andyou will want crampons and iceaxe.
There is currently a lot of snow from valley to summits, and it varies from icy crust to deep drifts and everything inbetween. It can be very deep in places and has drifted over the last couple of days. Even on more exposed areas, the snow is very deep, so be prepared for heavy slow going. Even though a lot of people seem to be getting away at the moment without crampons and ice axes, you can find yourself in a deep drift one minute, and skittering on ice the next. I would not go high without the right equipment, and more crucially, knowing how to use it.
There are lots of lower less extreme options, but bear in mind that even at 1400 feet, the conditions can be horrible. The white-out blizzard on the Kirkstone Pass last night was awesome. Have a good time, but take care.
assuming you are just walking whether you need crampons depends whether there is much slope on your route or any icyness. if there is not much of either you can get away without them.
i would have found a pair of snow shoes more use than crampons recently for what i was doing (winter hill walking in wales), the powdery drifts were the problem, not any issues of grip.
