Old County Tops front end recce - or not.

The weather forecast for Monday was grim and true to form it lived up to its billing.  Despite that both Andy F and I hit the road to the Langdales to do the first stages of the OCT round to Angle Tarn.  Damp  and reasonably mild conditions took us along the valley bottom and with the hinderance of a couple of minor navigational hiccups we got over Silver How into Grasmere where there was a noticeable drop in temperature and increase in wind speed.  Despite the heavy blanket of clouds down to about 400m we slogged onward and upward towards Grisedale Tarn.

The lack of visibility and the wind driven cold rain took its toll by the time we reached the tarn - decision time - carry on, see nothing, getting even colder ( couldn't get any wetter) or call it a day.  So a day it was called.  Better to drop down Raise Beck and head back than to risk hypothermia or injury.  There will always be another day to enjoy the delights of Helvellyn and High Raise.

All was not lost , we knocked out 24.5 km (15.3 miles in old money) with 1350m of ascent and managed to run most of it.

Next planned attempt at the recce will probably be 28 or 29 April.  I will be doing the LDWA Grasmere - Fells, Tarns and Gingerbread on 21 April as part of my prep for the OCT.  I think Andy will be getting some much needed physio for his knee.  All part of our "muddle through" plan for the OCT.

KLM