BB2309 : Fifty Words For Snow?

Wednesday 15th March 2023

It took me by surprise to learn that in 2011 Kate Bush had recorded a song entitled "50 Words for Snow".  Stephen Fry obviously had a big part in the lyrics and speaks the words on this atmospheric recording.  I suggest you click on the picture and listen to the music whilst reading the rest of this report.

It wasn’t snow but fog that concerned us when we set off.

I did know that the Met Office has words for at least six different types of fog- Radiation, Valley, Advection, Upslope, Evaporation and Coastal.  That is in addition to Mist which lets you see at least 1,000 metres due to its lower density of suspension of water droplets.  It made me wonder where does Fog end and Cloud begin?  The answer seems to be that Fog is a Cloud that touches the ground. Sounds reasonable.

We parked at a location that Bryan has sworn me to keep secret in case you start using it.  The Met Office had said that it would be in fog.  Fortunately no-one had told Ambleside and it was still clear as we climbed up the Struggle.  We were not yet in fog but there had been snow. 

The fields were white but the tedious road had treacherous black ice.  Fortunately we negotiated this without incident then turned off onto the path that leads northwards to Snarker Pike and Red Screes.

As we climbed, we entered the fog which became thicker and thicker whilst the snow became deeper and deeper as the ground became steeper and steeper.  It was hard work.  At least it was for Stan and me.  Bryan of course had no problems.

We were following a breadcrumb trail on Bryan’s Garmin watch.  He paused at one point to point out that only a few yards to the right, and virtually indistinguishable in the fog, was the start of the 1,000 foot drop to the Kirkstone Pass Inn. 

We weren’t so thirsty that we needed to take the quick route.  Instead we trudged on to the summit, paused briefly for photographs then began the long descent to the top of the Scandale Pass. 

We had not seen anybody although we had heard a dog barking somewhere.  Suddenly out of the gloom two men appeared but they weren’t the dog walkers.  

It was hard going, negotiating the deep snow down to the pass.  A tantalising view of Brothers Water kept appearing and vanishing.

Once safely down we hid out of the wind behind a wall to have a quick bite.  It wasn’t a day for lingering.

It’s a long, long trail down to Scandale Bottom.....

..... then onward to Ambleside plus the further stretch to Bryan’s secret parking place.  Stan and I were somewhat weary by the end.  Bryan of course had no such reaction.

We had experienced several types of snow but few that match Stephen Fry’s description.  Strangely, he omits one of which there must be many varieties.

Now we know it’s not just the Eskimo.
That have 50 words for snow.

But when it melts, ask Fry and Bush
If they know 50 words for slush.

Don, Wednesday 15^th March 2023

Thanks to Bryan for some of the photos

Comitibus:

 Stan, Don, Bryan

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STATISTICS

BB2309 : Fifty Words For Snow

Date:

Wednesday 15th March 2023

Features:

Red Screes

Distance in miles:

9.0

Height climbed in feet:

2,544

GPX track:

BB2309GPX

Comitibus:

Bryan, Don, Stan

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