As a volunteer leader for the grand day out fundraiser in cumbria, I led the Fairfield horseshoe.
a group of nine of us, one of which the other leader.
no wind, and blue skies, deep soft unconsolidated snow made it quite tough going. many people on the same route.
before the summit of Fairfield was reached, the conditions changed to quite low visibility, perhaps twenty metres at one point, and heavy snow.
the weather stayed this way for the remainder of the route back via dove crag and high pike, to ambleside.
the summit of Fairfield was hard ice and snow, but did not warrant the use of crampons.
an ice axe was useful for the descent to hart crag, but again the snow was deep and soft, a slip would not have resulted in an danger.
Area :
Central Fells
South of the A66 and east of the Hardknott Pass as far east as the Kirkstone Pass
