On Friday evening despite weather forecasts and a rather long journey 10 MMC'ers set off for the Lake District. At 1am a phone call from some cold and now rather sleepy members established that the key was just reaching the final destination and shortly afterwards the kettle was on.

Stefan made a late entry with John at around 3:30am but most of the party was comatose by then and didn't hear their arrival.

Saturday
Saturday morning saw the big lie with the first members stirring at around 9am - we were keen! Much time was spent chatting, breakfasting, faffing over routes and who was going where, doing what. To add to the usual faff a water faff took place; hunting for the tap to switch it on - with no luck.

Eventually the main party, a group of eight, left the bunkhouse at around 11am to head for Helvelyn. With most of the group wanting to take it easy a steady circular walk was in store and some wonderful views admired by all.

AG and Robin headed off mountain biking and decided to take on a Volvo - pushing the limits as ever. Robin darted past first but AG encountering a corner had to make a life or death decision: to wipe out on the road or to head for the verge down the bank? Keeping his cool and remaining totally calm in the face of drama he decided chancing it down the bank was better than the tarmac. A group of on-lookers enjoyed the acrobatic display, though AG didn't notice this as he was removing the snow from his ears! It resulted in some heroic bruising and minor injuries which certainly impressed the girls!

Meanwhile... after having an Alpine start getting up at 4am and driving up to the Lakes David, Alix and Beatrice arrived and wasted no time, talk about put the rest of us to shame. Whilst Alix spent the day with Beatrice David did a grand tour of Scafell and Scafell Pike, ascending the latter by the Corridor Route then dropping down to climb Lords Rake and West Wall Traverse to Scafell's summit. He descended via Foxes Tarn, cramponing down the iced gully below. He then summited Scafell Pike for a second time (the highest point in the Lakes on possibly the best day for years!). Having become numb in seconds in the sub zero temperatures, he headed down to Esk Hause then up Allen Crags to access the Glaramara ridge. Missing the descent path, he found himself high above the appointed rendez-vous in Seathwaite, peering over a precipitous cliff. By the time he had ran back and skidded down an iced grassy rib, he was in urgent need of a hot shower and a lie down! Fortunately that was possible at the B&B.

For the rest of the MMC it was a smelly affair. The water was frozen and there was no telling how much was left in the tank. So, to conserve water, well at least enough for a cup of tea the next morning no showers all round! Most were probably glad of this excuse as it was cold even though Robin and AG had made an honourable effort to get the fire going!

Off to the local pub for some warmth and good food. David, Alix and Beatrice managed to catch up with the group looking decidedly more refreshed and energetic than the rest of us despite our leisurely day.

Sunday

Steve, Stefan, John, Nikki and Ivone did a scramble over Sharp Edge. Great fun was had by all despite the frozen and slippery sections on the north side; described as an interesting route. Nikki had a fleeting love affair with a rock which wasn't letting go but all came down the hill running and jumping.

Jane, training for the marathon, did an 11 mile run. Always one to be over ambitious she decided to try going up Honister Pass (only a 25% hill) at which point the run became a power walk though it made the rest of the run into Keswick feel decidedly easy. After that she decided that spending the rest of the day in George Fishers gear shop and the excellent café was well deserved and was joined by the scramblers later.

AG's gammy shoulder and thumb injury meant a thumbs down on a second biking day so he and Robin did Skkidow and Little Man. They were glad not to have bikes with them on the way up but certainly missed them on the way down. The day was finished with the obligatory window shopping in Keswick.

Sarah and Ian who wanted a walk rather than scramble headed for Seathwaite and from there climbed Glaramara. They we travelled light and left axes and crampons in the car. Glaramara was lovely, if a trifle steep. From there they made for Allen crag to come back via Sty Head. A beautiful walk with very few people on it and to be recommended. However (and there is always one of those) they had to turn back as although a relatively low altitude compared to some hills thereabouts, there was a lot of ice (hard white slippery stuff) on steep shady slopes. So they did a U turn and went back the way they came. Despite that, a lovely day.

It was Alix's 'day' on Sunday and it was Scafell Pike again, in even more glorious conditions. A romp up the 'normal route' to Sty Head Tarn, Sprinkling Tarn and Esk Hause, then a clamber over the boulder fields on Broad Crag to the summit. The plan was to descend the same way but in a rash moment, she decided to go down the corridor route instead. It was very icy and precipitous in places, so no place to relax. Then a hobble down from Sty Head Tarn in winter boots which haven't been out for a couple of years and were now making their presence felt. Meanwhile Beatrice and David sailed round Derwent Water on the launch.

All in all a fab weekend and Harvington House B&B in Keswick and the new Birmingham M6 toll road come highly recommended.