DSRT Tavistock in The Lake District

A week of winter hill walking and mountaineering in the Lakes with some of the DSRT Team provided a great excuse for some winter fun Type 1.

Two days of snow, ice and clear sun was a gift.  Clambered up Scafell Pike, St Sunday Crag, Dollywagon Pike, Helvellyn, Causey Pike, Crag Hill to name a few.  Dartmoor weather then caught us up and rendered the views anonymous.  It's been a while since I stayed in a bunk house and I had clearly forgotten the smell of drying rooms until after the first wet walk.  Ye gods, you cold hardly breathe in the fug of smelly clothing and boots.  Fruity isn't even close.

A few photos of the better bits:

Nethermost Pike on the way to Helvellyn in Winter

Team members clinging on to Scafell Pike in the wind

Grisedale Tarn on the way to Helvellyn

Dramatic lighting on the Helvellyn ridge

Whiteside Bank after Helvellyn

Frozen tarn on way down from Scafell Pike 

Exploring the Wonders of the Hautes-Alpes in France at Serre des Ormes

Spent a wonderful week winter walking in France at the fabulous Serre des Ormes, run by Kate & Paul.  Incredible food, company and location.

The Gorges de la Méouge is a geologist's paradise with startling folds in the sedimentary rock, slabs chock full of ammonites and caves, stacks and arches galore.

Best day was snow shoeing up to Téte de Merlant.  Ours were the first tracks out on the deep virgin snow.  running down the steep snow fields has to be in my top 3 fun things to do.

The lighting and clouds was so dramatic.  Here are a few photographs.

Mountain landscape at Téte de Merlant

Mountain Views at Téte de Merlant

Snow Shoeing up to Téte de Merlant

Amazing Sedimentary Folds in the Gorges de la Méouge

Climbing into Le Rocher de la Baume to reach the summit

The French still have the best vintage wall advertising