Now Then

Hi everyone and welcome to another post from your favourite blogging Méribel ski instructor. This time the post is very much mountain focused, without skiing I'm afraid. Last week Harriet and I were on holiday in the Lake District. An area that my parents introduced me to when I was a kid on holiday, and is quite possibly where I first fell in love with mountains. I'd grown up surrounded by hills in Sussex, but my goodness these mountains were something different. As an adult, I think I've probably been to the Lakes every year, the pull of the mountains are so strong. I kept checking the weather forecast well in advance of the visit. Even as far out as a week! Silly really, because the forecast kept changing, but I couldn't help it. I don't know if you are the same before a ski holiday?

After the long drive up from Leamington Spa, we arrived in Keswick just before sunset, and caught a glimpse of the sun dropping behind the mountains. This was a real treat because we knew that we might not see the sun every day. After unpacking, we popped out to Booths the local supermarket. On the way back to our rented cottage we grabbed a quick après-ski beer in one of local pubs. No-one was wearing ski kit of course, however plenty of gore-tex including jackets and trousers with muddy hiking boots were visible, it certainly had that après-ski feel to the end of the day!

It was great going for hikes with my camera, stopping occasionally and absorbing the views. An old favourite of mine is a stroll around Buttermere with its stunning scenery.

Most mornings I left the cottage before breakfast and headed down to Derwent Water looking across to Derwent Isle and Cat Bells. It's an iconic view, and if you've ever been to Keswick you will be familiar with it. For me as a very keen photographer, I have had quite a relationship with this view over time. For years I've been waiting to get that knockout shot, and what I mean by that is with epic light. I tried five mornings last week, and this was the best I got. Not bad, but one day I'll hit the jackpot and have much nicer lighting. Having said that, what a wonderful place to kill an hour or so each morning before brekkie.

Thankfully, we never had torrential rain. As we all know this can really break you down. I guess changeable was the best way to describe the weather. As is typical this time of the year, the wind was pretty strong which rules out high-level hikes. So lake level to mid-altitude hikes were the best. One day we tried a new route, up to Walla Crag. Starting in Keswick, it takes you to a wonderful viewpoint looking down on Derwent Water. Sadly rain showers drifted in and out, which was all manageable of course. But a Grumpy Martin appeared because he wasn't getting his dream lighting for photography. He was very aware of his grumpiness, and struggled to hide it!

We reached the top of Walla Crag by lunchtime, however it wasn't picnic weather up there due to the wind and chill. I lost a few minutes in my grumpy state, and just as we were about to descend to find some shelter, the wind blew some of the clouds and rain away revealing these views.

The grumpiness soon disappeared. We admired where we were, and soaked up again how amazing the mountains can be. Then we slinked off to find a sheltered spot for our picnic. A casual walk back into Keswick Town enabled a quick shower and freshen up before another aprés-ski drink.

The very next morning the routine continued before brekkie. Hey ho, great to be out and about again, although the hoped-for stunning light was still rather elusive.

Later that afternoon the sun occasionally appeared. I was relaxing at the time in the cottage, but couldn't help but notice that the sun was teasing me. Harriet was on a 'Working From Home' day. Which meant I could selfishly do whatever I wanted.

Now then. Close to Keswick Town is a viewpoint below Skiddaw called Latrigg. Not especially very high, but it really packs a mighty punch with views. I came across this spot about four years ago, and have dreamt and visualised certain situations since then. Was this teasing sun about create some magic? Game on, and up I went.....

Check out this view. Isn't it awesome? Easily accessible, with just over an hour of hiking uphill from town, a small effort for such reward. Don't you just love what the mountains can offer? This light hung around for ten minutes or so, before evolving over the following hour.

I absolutely loved being back in the mountains this autumn yet again. I often say that the French Alps are on steroids. But then the mountains of the Lake District in the UK are the same in such a very different way. To this day I can't quite articulate the difference between the two. You know what, who cares? Mountains are amazing.

Another thing I picked up on was how quickly a week's holiday whizzed by.

Now then. November is upon us. Then December..... Winter is on the way. Live With Passion. Martin.