Clear sky clouds building, rain in the night followed by frost.
Huge amount of ice on tent, 5.30 eating cheese sandwich and mars bar for breakfast, shake ice of tent and pack. Soon on way up side of malham cove, on the steep track.
Started of with gloves on , soon wooly hat as cold wind hurting my ears, then had to don waterproof to get warm , there just isnt much shelter and the weather is good for november. From the top of Malham cove to Malham tarn the signage isn’t brilliant and from there up fountains fell certainly a close eye is needed on the map as confirmation posts are distantly placed along the route.
The area around Malham tarn is worthy of mention for its amazing environment, with acid bog on top of limestone its quite remarkable, up here can be found insect eating plants, club mosses and who knows how much archaeology is preserved in the bogs. On reaching the top of fountains fell Pen-y-ghent looms large into view on the horizon though it is a good distance yet away.
The walk down from fountains fell was straight forward to follow and then a small road section connects with farm track that passes Churn milk hole, a sink hole that is very impressive in size and depth (see how near the rim you don’t dare step), then its the climb up Pen-y-ghent itself which get very steep at one point, the wind at the top was ferocious with snow on it at times, and here after seeing no hikers all morning quite a few were to be found.
Image is sheltered seating atop the mountain (one of the three peaks challenge summits).
LeJogPlod Reader 