Posted by Guy C. on January 19, 2004 at 20:46:00 from 68.228.36.59 user Astronomer_Guy.
In Reply to: Climbimg Coniston Old Man posted by Laurence Monkhouse on January 19, 2004 at 17:28:06:
Actually, the route you take may depend on the weather. The rocky path by the old copper mines is far safer if the weather is at all dicey -- and the day we climbed, last summer, we managed to get soaked by rain and get a sunburn all in the same day!
It is a vigorous walk, but well worth it. Don't let snide comments about "tourists" discourage you, or lead you to treat this (or any walk on the fells) with contempt. It's a good workout, and it's tricky enough that you should take sensible precautions (hiking boots, water and foot, warm clothing, a whistle in case you get lost in a sudden appearance of clouds. Might be useful to have a compass and map -- and not just because the S&A'a did so!
Once you get past Windermere and Bowness, the fells are never over-crowded even in the heart of August. And buying Wainwright's books, is a good way to bring back memories when you go home.
I keep a notation in my copies of when I tried out each path; it's like a little diary.