Two sunsets - one Wasdale viewpoint

Having missed the Wasdale view for a few cloudy weeks it's back with a bang -

Unusually I took a photo looking away from the valley towards the sea yesterday as it was a superb sunset

- and today I took a shot looking the 'usual' way up the valley, this time not Great Gable but towards the Wastwater Screes

- it's hell living at Hallflat Farm!

Wasdale mountain rescue team update

Wasdale mountain rescue team have joined facebook - and produced a brief review of their year - its on their website
http://www.wasdale-mountain-rescue.org.uk/general~news.htm

This is some of the team bringing a stretcher down Lingmel Nose, above Wastwater

The website is worth a visit with all sorts of interesting and useful stuff  - and if you're a lover of Wasdale you may want to become a supporter (see website for details) of the team  which consists totally of volunteers and relies on public contributions to keep their vital service going.

So what's happening in Wasdale on new years eve 2010?

I had a quick ring round various Wasdale hostelries to see what's happening tonight and it's a varied and interesting selection.

Starting with my local in Santon Bridge, the Bridge Inn - a fairly informal night, with pre-booked meals followed by music in the bar.

In Nether Wasdale there's a choice of 2 pubs -
 - The Screes has a a variety of food available, from a £5 buffet to a full new years eve pre-booked meal. For entertainment they have some live music and a 60's,70's and 80's disco and fireworks at midnight
- The Strands has a new years eve menu and some singing - all helped by the output from their excellent micro brewery.

-and finally the Wasdale Head has a set meal followed by sausage, buns  and mulled wine at midnight.

- so whether you are going out or staying in, best wishes for a prosperous and peaceful new year

Wasdale tryptic - a photographic day in the life of Wasdale, Christmas eve 2010

The first shot is sunrise over Wasdale from Irton Pike this morning - just kissing the top of Great Gable (ok, not very intrepid as the sun doesn't rise rise till late this time of year)

The second shot is sunset, from Hallflat Farm

-and the third shot is Wasdale in the gloaming - about 4.00pm - only about 20 mins after sunset

- and now I'll batten down for Christmas!

wish I had one of those panoramic camera thingys -

Went up Wasdale 'minnow' Irton Pike (one of the Lakes great viewing points) late afternoon yesterday and took 3 photos of the spread of fells before me - If I knew how to merge them into a panorama it would be really something - see below

this would be the middle of the panorama - great gable and Wastwater in the centre

-and this is the right hand part of the view (tho' there is a chunk of the Wastwater screes missing on the left) - Harter Fell at the head of Eskdale

-and finally the left hand side of the view - Buckbarrow Crags with Seatallan behind and middle fell to the right

- so what do you reckon? - worth getting some panorama shot knowhow/kit?

Wasdale, the Lake district, enters the blogosphere

having put my toes in the water with Twitter I thought I'd have a go at a blog in case I need more than 140 characters or want to send out a series of photos - still intend to focus on all things Wasdale - so heres a few of my favourite photos that I've tweeted already