Tebay, Hare Shaw, Roger Howe, Cumbria
[ 11.3 km] Tue 06 Dec 2011

NY 6188 0446
There was still snow on the fells and some on the old road towards Gaisgill. The temperature was just above freezing but the problem wasn’t the snow, it was the ice on the road. I had just over a mile to walk to my turn off point before Gaisgill and the icy going made it very difficult to keep upright.

When I reached the right turn that took me up the track to Intake House the going wasn’t any easier but at least I could leave the track and walk in the snow at either side. After the Intake buildings the going was a mix of snow, wet ruts and not nice to walk on. I kept to the track below Knott heading for the sheepfold at the head of Eller Gill.

Just before reaching the fold I turned steeply up the fell side to head for Hare Shaw. There was a strong westerly wind and the snow had drifted on my side of the hill causing some very deep drifts. After wading though and making slow progress I managed to get to the line of the path and continue to the summit. Instead of continuing to Blease Fell I cut across the top of Tebaygill Head and joined the descent route over Powson Knott.

The snow had obliterated most of the path but the views to the north were good even with the overcast cloud. The snow continued to make the going difficult but thankfully when I reached the track at Tebaygill there was no ice on it, just lots of running water. It was only a short walk back to Tebay and I met my first and only person of the day, a woman walking her dog.