Best time for Lakes Winter Climbing?

New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
 Jay Oram 13 Oct 2020

Planning on some trips to get up to the Lakes - obviously covid pending - will be ready to go at the drop off a hat, but with work I have to give some notice for project planning. So from past experience which month is a good bet?

 Dan Arkle 13 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram:

December 1982

 Wainers44 13 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram:

January 1952.

Sorry 😁

 Sean Kelly 13 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram:

Feb, March '91. It was like climbing on styrofoam!

 tjdodd 13 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram:

Very difficult to say.  Depends on what grade you are climbing as well.  You can get conditions anytime from November to April but my experience is most likely end January to early March.  You do need to be prepared to go at the drop of a hat though.  You often get just a couple of days before the conditions change massively due to rise in temperature/rain.

 ebdon 13 Oct 2020
In reply to tjdodd:

I've spent loads of time winter climbing in the lakes (or trying to) over the last 15 years and I have had what I would consider good conditions around four times (anytime between February and March). Lakes conditions are very fical!

If you cant be really flexible and go when it's good I'd stick to Scotland.

In reply to Jay Oram:

Christmas to mid-April, but have seen 600 feet of water ice in Central Gully Great End in November.

Some February and March days you can do winter routes on Great End in the morning then climb in a T-shirt on Shepherds in the afternoon.

DC

 DaveHK 13 Oct 2020
In reply to ebdon:

> If you cant be really flexible and go when it's good I'd stick to Scotland.

TBH it's often fickle enough in Scotland too. The days of being able to confidently book a week's trip 6 months in advance are gone.

 TobyA 13 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram:

Have you read https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/chasing_the_very_bloody_epheme... ?

I've climbed in nick winter routes in the Lakes from early December to early April in the last 5 winters. But really besides the obvious January and February are likely to be best, there's not much to say beyond go when it is in nick. The depressing truth though is that routes can go in and out of condition in a day and you may end up doing the Helvellyn horseshoe quite a few times when that's the best option (or indeed only option). It's a great day out of course, but just a shame there aren't more options that are 'in condition' as quickly and reliably.

In reply to Dan Arkle:

> December 1982

Feb 1982 the temp at my house didn't get above zero for three weeks and we had minus 19 C.

DC

 tobyk 14 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram:

Just when you’re desperate for spring, typically winter conditions come good. Personally I’d say late February/March can be pretty good for consolidated snow in gullies. My experiences of December and January are usually pretty powdery with mild temperatures and unfrozen turf. Obviously a lot of variables though, and depends what type of route you want to do.

In reply to Jay Oram:

It cannot be predicted, other than "the day" will be that Wednesday that you cannot get out of work but all your mates can. 

OP Jay Oram 14 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram:

Thanks for all the help - I wish a climbing time machine was good to go!

Think I'll just let my boss know that in January/February I'll be taking some days off with only 24hours notice... 

I'll be a pro at the Helvellyn horseshoe route if nothing else. From last winter, was there any really good places to keep an eye on for winter conditions (other than this forum?) - I follow and use a few for Scotland, but not sure about Lakes conditions blogs??

 leon 1 14 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram: From December these guys climb Helvellyn daily and give conditions reports and pics     https://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/

Also   https://www.mwis.org.uk/forecasts/english-and-welsh/lake-district

Post edited at 10:31
 Bob Bennett 14 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram:

Winter 1978

 djwilse 14 Oct 2020
In reply to Jay Oram:

Winter climbing Lake District FB group is worth joining for conditions.

 Jackob 14 Oct 2020
In reply to leon 1:

The key with winter climbing in the lakes is making your own decisions by following the forecasts/turf thermometers and not waiting for others to find out for you. Last year I did Moss Ghyll (Winter) (IV 5) in brilliant conditon what was deemed a poor winter. My partner posted some photos on here and I heard reports of people heading up to try the route just the following day only to find it not to be in condition. 

1

New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
Loading Notifications...