A MIXED BAG (25/01/10)

Went out around nine o'clock this morning. The forecast was for things to brighten later so decided to have a look at a stream that on the map was full of springs, a water fall and a few pot holes. It was dry! The cloud ceiling being higher than of late we backtracked and went for another look at Ingleborough. This, as I have said before, is grand walking country. Varied with lots of interest to take my mind off the arctic temperatures, exacerbated by the loss of a glove, more expense! We wander through limestone pasture, the rocky limestone pavement,  acidic bogs, eventually reaching the snow line.

Today's snaps are not of the best, the light was all but non existent and at one stage I was actually clearing snow from the filter, for once the smudges aren't rain! So a eclectic mix follows.

    Should this moss be red? Or is it a dead green one?

I met a farmer and let him know I had passed a dead Sheep. They have the bulk of their flocks off the hill but are bound to miss a few. This poor mite had failed to survive and it's no longer possible to leave cadavers lying around. Pity, they help foxes and numerous birds from buzzard to magpie survive the winter. Whilst chatting, he said. ' Watch yourself in the Grikes!'... Grikes?......Grikes are the gaps or fissures in the pavement illustrated above and the blocks of stone are Clints. Took to these two nouns. Great words. Grike must be the expletive used when one falls in one. Should you stub a toe on a stone......Well, I could have misheard!

No marks for quality here but I include it as it's a pre-glacial sink hole draining water into a cave system. The bonus is its name...........Braithwaite Wife Hole. I'll leave further elaboration and conjecture to you!

This duck boarding is erosion control on the acid bog. As is the following..........

These are gritstone flags and deadly when covered in ice. As a conservation measure it's the best of a bad job but a de-icer would have been appreciated.

      Ingleborough.....We made it to the snow line. It was too much for me. Going up was, just about, possible but descending was lethal without crampons, so no pictures of freezing mist from the summit. I, ever the optimist, had lugged a load of filters, spare batteries, tripod and a stack of stuff I have never used and barely know how to deploy.........Muppet should be my middle name!!

Molly doing her seal impression. Actually removing bits of bog. Good stuff is snow for a quick clean and polish...........If a jobs worth doing..........

...........It's worth doing properly.....That's her.....

.......Sparkling bright!

                          To finish.......A happy rock....Probably laughing at me!

That's all.