A post-flu short walk, the first of the season, after six weeks of rain and heavy skies.
Route: From the Steel End water authority car park at the southern end of Thirlmere, taking the path on the north side of the Wythburn (marshy but frozen) picking a way between areas of frozen surface water, to cross a footbridge to the southern side thence slowly gaining altitude to reach the remains of Wythburn Tarn (pictured). Thence, cutting up to the left uphill, pathless, to reach the summit ridge near two frozern tarns. Along the southern edge of the ridge to the summit of Steel Fell and very steeply down the north east ridge, back to the car park.
Conditions: Bitterly cold and windy in the valley and cold with occasional sun on the top.
Pub: The Traveller’s Rest for Jennings Sneck Lifter.