Eager (perhaps eager is a slight exaggeration) to avoid the rush hour traffic and keen for an early start on the walking, Wendy, Juliet, Marvin and David B left London at 4:00am on Friday morning to arrive at the bunkhouse by 10:30am. Snow-frosted hilltops, midmorning sun and a freezing gale greeted them. After a brief pause for a fireside lunch in the bunkhouse, the intrepid group (undaunted by the high winds and the forecast of -16ºC wind-chill on the hilltops) embarked on a route taking in Place Fell (657m) overlooking Patterdale and returning via the shore of Ullswater. Navigational skills were perfect (wide footpath) and as they were sheltered from the wind the walk progressed smoothly. Things went downhill (figuratively speaking for the moment) when the full force of the gale left the group unable to stand, walk or make any progress at all. Metres from the summit the walk was abandoned and the intrepid foursome retraced their steps back to a local Public House.

The rest of the day was spent sampling the wares of the establishment before returning to the bunkhouse to await the other meet attendees and planning for the following day.

Those arriving on the Friday night from the South had mixed fortunes, as the snow set in, tackling the Kirkstone Pass. Chris Thring and Maria only just made it, after a few deft shoves from Maria kept their car clear of the roadside walls. John Bradshaw's driving skills and Saab saw him, Rosie and Edmund across even later after a stop for last orders in Trout Beck. But Margaret was thwarted and had to turn back for a hotel in Ambleside. Worst of all, Kate Chadwick and Bea reportedly had to have their car dug out to escape the clutches of the pass.

Saturday dawned crisp with everything (including the now impassable road down from the bunkhouse) covered in snow. The pristine snow was greeted with great enthusiasm and the group split into two main walking parties - one lead by Chris and including Wendy, Edmund, John B, Rosie, David B and Lucy. The other consisted of Ian, Sarah, Alix (David D babysitting), Marvin and Juliet, who took the more sedate route to Helvellyn. Diane joined David D walking the baby and Maria settled for a gentle walk around Ullswater.

John, Ed, Rosie, Wendy, David, Lucy and Chris motored up the glen to Red Tarn, at which point David and Lucy discovered to their horror that they were trying to keep up with three of the fastest walkers in the club (modesty compels me to say it - Chris) as well as 2 marathon runners and elected to split off up Swirrall Edge, later having to turn back due to icy conditions. The remainder of the party ascended Striding Edge in beautiful conditions, lots of powder and no ice, and trudged up the snowfield on the other side to eat lunch in an icy wind on top of Helvellyn. A trek over Nethermost and Dollywaggon brought them to Grisedale Tarn from where they took in Fairfield. In increasingly poor conditions (snow and howling gale), they climbed off the mountain and up St Sunday Crag. The fierce wind blew Wendy off the track into a snowdrift at one point - but they struggled over and down to Patterdale to the teashop.

The Helvellyn group (Ian, Sarah, Alix, Marvin and Juliet) decided to tackle Helvellyn via the hillside overlooking Glenridding, over the Grisedale Brow, to Red Tarn and then on to Striding Edge - the best laid plans of mice, men and MMC members. The sun shone, the snow was crisp, and even the wind had dropped. Things were going well, except for some slight navigational confusion ("I don't remember crossing a second footbridge!", "It's not on the map!") with glorious views of snow covered hills and glittering lakes. Then the clouds came in, the wind picked up, the temperature plummeted and the blizzard started. Staggering towards Red Tarn the group joined several other walkers sheltering in the lee side of a drystone wall for lunch before deciding to abandon thoughts of Helvellyn and Striding Edge and head for a teashop in Patterdale (seems to be a pattern developing here).

The decent into Patterdale turned into a gentle bumble with the group bumping into David D, baby and Diane en route back to their hotel. Alix joined them and the remainder of the group decided to extend their route to Patterdale through a damp and squalid farmyard and round the side of Glenamara Park. Foregoing the alluring pleasures of the pub in Patterdale, they hiked back along the road to the teashop in Glenridding. Cakes, hot chocolate, teas and coffees flowed abundantly. Suitably sated, the group drifted to the nearest pub and became suitable ensconced for the evening, joined later by David, Alix and Margaret.

Sunday dawned crisp and white but with the road down from the bunkhouse passable for traffic. John, Edmund, Rosie, Chris Thring and Maria headed up Blencathra via Sharp Edge. They set out about 11:00am, skirting the foot of Halls Fell before heading up to the tarn below Sharp Edge for lunch. They started up Sharp Edge from 1pm to find another party making heavy going of the crux (Do walks have cruxes? - ed.) using ice axes and ropes. Rosie successfully cajoled the last of their number over it to clear the way - 'You may as well put your ice axe away as you clearly don't know what to do with it'! - superb advice from someone carrying lunch in her pockets. She then stormed up the ridge in great style leaving the fully axed, cramponed and roped-up party below tentatively contemplating their next moves. The party minus Chris and Maria - who elected to turn back - scrambled on up through the queue and made it back down the lesser scramble of Halls Fell to their car by 3.30pm. Maria and Chris had an epic struggle to descend the first half of the ridge in a snowstorm, but later ascended Blencathra by the normal route except for being unable to find the summit in the clag. Eventually they dropped off the far end of the ridge (by this we assume they walked down-ed.).

Determined to summit something during the weekend, Wendy, Marvin, Juliet, Sarah, Margaret and Lucy set their sights on Skiddaw (931m) ("a boring plod" according to Chris). The best laid plans... Parking above Ormathwaite the group started off along the side of Whit Beck, but it wasn't long before the cloud closed in, the snow fell, the wind blew and whiteout conditions ensued. Determined to achieve a summit, the group plodded on with map and compass in hand, joined by a potential new member (recruit them where you can!) met on the hillside en route to Skiddaw with his daughter. Some confusion reigned on the plateau near the summit - was there a trig point or just a cairn - but eventually the trig point was found and the summit achieved (one out of three can't be bad). The descent into the warmer valley proved problem free, but gradually degenerated into a rolling snowball fight. A quick stop in the inn at Threlkeld followed before the return home.