Congratulations Coope's Dozeners

Sorry to have missed the event.  Well done everybody.  Enjoyed similar weather on the Duddon Fells reccying the Cumbrian Traverse, as recommended by Paul Murray.  We hope to do the full route in April with our mate Keith.  Incredible storms on Friday and Saturday night but amazingly didn't get wet during the days, although the wind was challenging on the high fells.   

Saturday saw us abandoning Keith's car at Broughton Mills and traversing a couple of Wainright's outliers before tackling Caw.  Keith took the decision to go at a more leisurely pace at this juncture whilst we cracked on to White Maiden along the Duddon Race route over to Dow Cragg, Coniston Old Man, along the ridge to Swirral How before picking up the Old County Tops route down to Cockley Beck and along the valley back to High Moss.  This gave us just under 16 miles and about 5,000ft climbing.   

Back to the hut for hot showers and afternoon tea before indulging in the five course dinner prepared by the meet leaders Kath and John.  Chance to get to know a few more Rucksackers - over several bottles of wine - well there were eight of us.  

Sunday was a slightly more leisurely pace back over Caw, which for a little fell, does seem to go on for a bit, retracing our steps of yesterday to pick up Keith's car.

Harter Fell after a sprinking of snow on Saturday night

Harter Fell again, but a better image of High Moss in the bottom right hand corner

NLN