Sat was due to be a fine day with clear skies and reasonable temps, but Friday night was set for mucho wine so no hope of getting an alpine start for the Lakes. Much to our surprise Simon C suggested a civilised 9am start, and picking up Jules and I we headed into the snowy Dales. The drive to Cautley Spout is spectacular when the hills, though small, are snow capped.
Setting off on an icy path we sprinted across the bridge to beat the farmer driving his sheep in our direction. 
We needn't have hurried as the sheep were going through the river not over it! Well eventually they would, not before some serious water avoidance and many harsh words from the farmer and a few nips from the dogs.
A long pull up right eventually brings us (stripped down a bit) to the summit of Yarlside, and some indecision as to where to head. We choose to drop down into the valley then slog up towards Hazel Gill Knot.
The descent proves a tad faster for Jules as she slips then slides about 60m or so down the icy slope. Quite some feat as I couldn't slide more than a foot. Spreadeagled and head first seems to be the most effective for those interested in repeating the feat! 
Once on top we scoffed cake in the windless sunshine with great views to the Lakes (picking out all the fells from Sharp Edge, Blea Water and High St, the Langdales, Bowfell, Scafell and Coniston hills).
A long slow trudge through the snow, thin crust and 6 inches of powder made it harder than it should have been, but the hordes had dissipated by the time we summited the Calf. The way down was to follow a fell runner's tracks in quite a level traverse across Bram Rigg Top and Calders and Great Drummocks before running down the snow fields and back to the car with a warm pink glow and great sunset.
What use is a temperance pub, especially when it's closed and it wasn't yet dark!
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Tags: Howgills, snow, spreadeagled, sun