Dale Head Inversions Jan 17 th 2022

Over the past week there have been temperature inversions in the Lakes almost everyday , so i decided to take a trip up on Monday .  My plan was to climb Helvellyn, which has had some fabulous inversions over the valleys all around Thirlmere, But upon driving through Grasmere and up Dunmail Raise it was completely clear of any mist fog or anything.  Plan B , Err  not a clue .

Driving towards Keswick i could see mist in the distance , so a quick decision was made to drive along Derwentwater and go up towards Honister to see if Buttermere Valley area has any . 

Parking at Honister NT carpark i could see an inversion over the top of Fleetwith Pike and coming down wards into the Honister pass.   So  two options , go up Dale Head or head towards Fleetwith and Haystacks. Since i have Ozzy with me the easier route up Dale Head which has blue sky above it may be a better option.

The blue sly over Dale Head is being replaced by thick cloud now as i start walking up the steep first section . It is flowing over Fleetwith Pike on the left in the above image. 

While there is still a bit of sun illuminating the fells i will get the drone up for a few images , the new Mavic 3 will handle the fairly strong wind easily. 

                             Dji Mavic 3    12 manually shot frames merged in lightroom

                        Seatoller Fell is completely covered in cloud and the sun is trying to break through!   

   Mavic 3 drone 9 frames merged with three extra frames for the right hand side due to the highlights.

I can see the inversion  around the drone so i bring it back quickly just before the visibility disappears completely. 

The inversion cloud has now almost completely enveloped me,  amazing how fast it moved in!

Time to carry on walking upwards and hopefully get out above it. 

Finally i have climbed above the cloud and the views of the inversions open out.  it doesn't look like a full inversion here unfortunately.    

Just as the visibility increases i notice a Fogbow directly in front of me , i manage an image with Ozzy sitting in the middle.

        Time to get the drone up again while the conditions are looking good.  this is a 3 frame merge.

                                          14 frame panorama , the cloud is lifting again now 

           Using the my 100-400mm lens on 5dsr to fill the frame with the interesting inversions.

                                                Two hikers surrounded by the inversions.

I have been watching the clouds moving like waterfalls between the peaks, fascinating to watch, it appears to be a full inversion in the distance over Wastwater and Coniston over to the far left from my position..

                              We are almost at the summit now , a few phone images now 

                                    i phone 13 pro max raw dng files edited in lightroom.

Having reached the summit, it is cloud free on the other side looking down towards Keswick and  Skiddaw in the distance. 

                                   Ozzy doesn't look happy sitting on this rock for a picture!

                              Fabulous views across the fells today away from the inversions.

Up in the sun watching the clouds ebb and flow around the summits , 

Days don't get much better than this .

                       The inversions have mostly crept back towards away from me now, shame .

We have now walked along Hindscarth edge and taking a rest in the warm sun.

              The floor of Buttermere valley is in full sun, but creeping towards the trees now.

                                                     5dsr with 100-400mmL at 400mm 

What a great place to sit in the sun , I think that is Pillar in the background over Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks.

            One last look at the view from the summit cairn , stunning!   a fabulous day in the lakes .

That's it for today , until the next adventure.............

Rannerdale, Bluebells and Dalehead April 29

Today I am going up to the Lakes to Rannerdale to see the famous Bluebells , they cover the fellside along the valley near to  Crummock water in Buttermere Valley.
The weather forecast is looking good , warm and sunny so an early start needed to get up the m6 .

Arriving at the Rannerdale car park, which is full and continued to the second , Yes  you guessed   Full!    one more area left and I managed to squeeze in the last spot. Right opposite Crummock water and Look at the reflections, fabulous.  I get the drone up immediately to get some shots before the breeze ripples the surface.

                  9 frame panorama , auto mode .Rannerdale Knot on left in deep shade , High stile, Stirling Dodd and Mellbreak opposite me with great reflections.

Looking down the lake towards Darling Fell and Fellbarrow.  Loweswater is just hidden to the left of the small mountains .

                            9 frame panoramas , great clouds today , and not a breath of wind.

                  Now time to see the Bluebells, its a short walk from here across to the valley.
                     Looking back towards Crummock water.

                             I am at the head of Rannerdale valley now, Buttermere is just visible.

This is a six vertical frame panorama shot with canon 5dsr and 17-40L lens, a 0.6 soft nd grad to hold back the exposure on the sky.

                                                             Mollster is with me also.

Walking up into the Bluebells,  all the paths are roped off now to prevent people trampling the flowers , which unfortunately still happens.

                                                Close up on the tree with 100-400 lens

A two frame panorama , showing the path I have just walked down , having made my way down to the edge of the stream to get this composition.

I waited for the sun to break through the light cloud to illuminate the hawthorn blossom , with the shade behind giving good contrast.

Time to go climbing now, I did think about going up to Rannerdale knots summit, but since I have been up there quite a few times I have decided on  Dale head , it must be at least 7 years since I last went up there.      Time to drive up Buttermere valley along the lake and then up to Honister slate mine to park in the NT  car park.

 Now for the steep climb all the way up to the summit Cairn, which is one of the very best in the entire lakes .    unfortunately the higher I get the stronger the wind is getting, just hope it doesn't get too much to fly the drone.

                                                  Dale Head cairn, what a stunner it is .

                                   The drone is up , but Mollster doesn't seem interested.

                                                                    That's better Mol

A multi frame panorama , shot manually in rows of three frames vertically. overlapping about 30% -40% when shooting.

                                                    Mollster waits for me to finish flying.

15 Frames merged in this image , showing the ridge line towards Robinson and around to Hindscarth.

                                                               a 5 frame Vertorama

I have now left the summit and walked along to get a better view over Buttermere with High Stile in the background.

                                                                         Now a dronie

A 27 frame manually shot Panorama ,l-r   Fleetwith pike, High Stile , Starling Dodd ,  Centre - Dalehead cairn , Robinson, Hindescarth ,  Right - High spy , Maiden Moor .  I think  

                                                                   View Larger  HERE

                        Time to head back now,  its very windy now and clouding over.

                                               Fence line leading down towards Honister

                                                                     Mol and her shadow

The end of a fabulous day in the Lakes ………………….

images shot with canon 5dsr, 17-40L, 100-400L , Phantom 4 pro drone and I phone7+