The Grey Friar Captured At Last

Day 37 – Thursday 30 April – Thursday, a rainy day, should have been a day off, but the forecast for Friday looked so bad I decided we might be better starting at dawn the following day to get as much as possible done before we got soaked. Which meant going to Bowness today, giving us the chance to climb Grey Friar (2536’) – the mountain we missed on the Coniston Round four weeks ago - in the evening, weather permitting.

As we arrived at Wrynose Pass at 5.15 pm it was still cloudy and misty but the rain had stopped, so we set off up to Wet Side Ridge in hope, and as we reached Fairfield Col between Great Carrs and Grey Friar the cloud lifted, allowing us to see our objective at last, as well as the surrounding Coniston Fells. Although the mist came back at the top, the weather cleared completely on the descent and we were treated to glorious evening sunshine.

My fitness must be improving (at last!) – 65 mins up, 70 mins down, hardly any difference.

Back at Robert & Margaret’s lodge in Bowness we phoned for the latest Lakes forecast, which gave heavy rain from early morning, clearing early afternoon, and changed our plan from a dawn start to perhaps a 1pm start and a late finish – a decision we were later to regret, and from which flowed a long series of mutual recriminations (in good humour, of course!).

Two more days and seven fells to go, but with Crinkle Crags and Bowfell, still two big hills tomorrow.

Photos: 1. Grey Friar emerges from the mist; 2. Finally on the summit!

of our elusive fell!; 3. Looking towards Elterwater in the evening sun; 4. Pike o'Blisco.