So, I have managed to get out 3 times in 2 day's. Not bad when your working hard.

Round One: I have been lucky enough to ski to work from my girlfriend's house in Windermere. My house is having central heating put in, so I am staying at Nicola's for a week or 2 until my house is habitable again. This has fallen very nicely with the snow, as it means I am closer to it for a week or so. The snow fall in the Lakes on Sunday night put down 3 inches, just enough with frozen ground, for my skinny Fisher Touring skis. I find these the best for Lakes conditions, as it means I can get out on limited snow cover & after doing it like this for 20 years + I think it is a good way to go. On Monday I skied from Nicola's on Park Rd, Windermere, up to Lickbarrow Road, left to rise up onto School Knott round the back, past the Tarn & onto the summit. There is a good covering all the way, only a few rocks showing & enough cover to smooth over the ones you can't see. From the Tarn I skied up on to the summit of School Knott to look out over Windermere blanketed in snow & the Lakes vista spread out beyond. From the Coniston Fells all the way round to Troutbeck was white & looking further East, the Howgills looked the same. I then skied N/E down to behind the housing estate at the bottom & across the Windermere - Oxenholme train line skiing upto the A591. Here I crossed, having to take my skis off, for fear of being run over by a speeding car. Skis back on over the other side & I moved up onto Orrest Head. I should have turned left at the summit & gone to work, but I couldn't help myself & skied down the back & then round the side. Beautiful light powdery snow on top of frozen ground. Then through the wood, down the road finishing at the entrance to Orrest, just opposite our shop.

Round 2: Honza & I set off from the shop at around 19:15 for Kirkstone Pass. We were told of oncoming snow fall as we filled up fuel at Troutbeck Bridge garage, but ignored it in favour of climbing, the sky was clear, what did we want with heresay & rumours!! As we hit the top of the pass, we were greated with the first flakes of what had been predicted. Brushing this aside & our fears of not getting down again (no snow chains), we headed off up Red Screes for a chimney line I had seen when running earlier last year (I soloed it in the wet with my 2 dogs, to their dismay!! still, they topped out unscathed). As we walked across the front of Red Screes on icy rock, lightly covered with snow, we both realised, quietly, it was a long way down if we slipped. Kahtoola Microspikes would have been a comfort. Coming out towards the top we entered a blizzard, snow whipping round in all directions. Of course, no goggles meant limited vision, but we found our objective & descended the open gully next to the crag we were heading for. Lots of hard packed snow & plenty falling, this gully, if your careful, if ready for skiing. I have it tagged down as my next daylight mission. The chimney was full of ice, pretty thick in places. We had a beer, got ourselves together & soloed up carefully, enjoying the blizzard around & the thrill of no ropes. With calves burning, breath heavy, we pulled out of the top & back into our full-on conditions. Our tracks had disapeared, showing alot of snow fall. We crossed the shoulder & found Red Screes gully quite easily & descended this way as a safer option, both worrying about the snow cover on the road. Suffice to say, we made it down the road & 2 inches of snow cover, very slowly, but safely. Back at the shop for 23:00

Round 3: Up, not as early as planned, breakfast with Nicola & kids. Get dressed, I feel like I am at a ski resort, although not, but you know the feeling when you getting ready for skiing. Marmot DriClime pants on (the old style with full side zips, their the best for venting), Montane windshirt over base layer & then Rab Vapour-rise Stretch top on top (it stops the binding you find between 2 'grabbie' layers, i.e: fleece against base layer. Coffee & ready to go. Skis on again, on Park Road, same way up onto School Knott, the mornings light was fantastic, plus the extra snow from the night before made for better skiing again, although not so for coming down the toher side & a quick shoulder planted reminded my of our lovely windslab & breakable crust. Never a problem on normal skis, but skinny tourers & its harder, but still fun. Harold Lloyd type movements spring to mind!!I didn't make Orrest this morning, as work was beconing, but I'll be out again tomorrow, I think the saying is "Seize the Day".

Conditions: Low down: snow is good, no base, but frozen ground. The tarns are freezing over & snow is still lying on leaves on the tree's when the wind isn't stripping it off. Snow is collecting in windslab drifts. High up:  Ice is formed on all ground where water is running, paths are very slippy, deffinate MicroSpikes territory. The turf is well frozen where exposed to the wind, but in the lee of the wind some ground is still soft. If climbing, choose wind facing aspects. Snow is covering the ground & drifting, forming windslab over compacted snow & neve. Both windward & sheltered aspects building drifts, with cornices forming readily in all areas. Ice is abundant on N/E aspects & forming well. Turf is well frozen. Crampons & Axes are necassary if venturing above 600m, plus full winter clothing & safety gear should be carried. Wind chill is extreme. MWIS Planning Outlook: Planning Outlook: All mountain areas of Britain from Thursday, 2nd December, 2010 Cold conditions will persist for the next week to a fortnight. The lowest temperatures will be in glens in Scotland over the next few days where in places the mean daily temperatures will be below -15 Celsius - albeit over the weekend, there will be a slight lifting of temperatures on the hills. Clusters of snow showers will at times come in, affecting particularly coastal mountains, but toward and over the coming weekend, most mountain areas fine with light winds. Threat of upland gales and snow spreading north next week. Stay warm, stay safe, stay happy!!