A dull morning made brighter.

An afternoon...

seen greener,
wider,
and all together -
stunning!

Hartside Top looking towards the Lake District
Time for a bit of colour on the page. This was taken just after new year on a morning when I wasn't sure I'd be able to get across the pennines via Hartside. As it happened there was hardly any snow and the view was clear. It was brisk though. Just a few miles away and coming my way were grey snow clouds dumping on the hill tops just north of the pass.

After getting caught up in a blizzard last year I'd promised myself I'd not attempt the Hartside route if there was any chance of snow. I broke my promise.

The passing of Eve Arnold should not go unmarked here on Jade Mountains. I found this tribute to her this afternoon; Bidisha's thought for the day: Eve Arnold. The thoughts echo my own.

And just in case you are not familiar with her work....

Cotter Force, Yorkshire.
What a very pleasant few hours today walking, talking and eating with Angie loyal Jade reader and long time acquaintance. We took a short walk beside a river to these falls in wintry sunshine. There is a video however it is more water than voice, but no matter! It will be kept for the record at least. And can be viewed by clicking the link.

On the path there were obvious signs of bird carnage - bunches of remarkable pheasant feathers. So sorry.

On the road we stopped at Artbar Gallery and were fortunate to meet the artist herself, Moira Metcalfe. Her paintings are stunning, drawing you in. And outside there are chicken and a couple of cockerels roaming free....

Chicken Talk from Mugo on Vimeo.

Listening to chicken is for me like hearing from long lost friends. One thing about them is that they are such characters, they are uniquely themselves. Which I admire.

Thanks to Angie for a very pleasant day. Let there be more.

I found this link and was bowled over by it - to think this scene is above us all the time-could we but see it!
Apparently there was a Pope once who tried to ban street lighting since it stopped people from appreciating the night sky, after I watched this I decided he was right! Anne.

Thank you Anne for sending the email with the link to this amazing time lapse video of the Milky Way - with storm.

There are those who are inspired and awed standing in a Buddha Hall. All candles and incense, dim lights and soft chanting. Others though find their spiritual home and inspiration while out at sea or in a desert. For some though it is the night sky. Ah, the night sky. I've a dim memory of walking hand in hand with my dad gazing up at the night sky. Or did I dream that!

PS Watch out for the Whitetail buck. It apears briefly at about the 1:57 mark in the video.

Bassenthwaite Lake and Mugo in walking gear.
On Saturday there was an ambitious plan to climb Skiddaw via Ullock Pike (see map of route). Ullock Pike is described as a very distinctive peak resembling a small "Matterhorn". Indeed! My first view was with mists swirling around it's heights; impossibly high, dauntingly distant and scarily imposing all had me wondering on the wisdom of this venture. And indeed it was too high, too distant and above all too weathered in to continue far up the path. All the same it was a joy to be in the Lakes once again and I thought you'd like to share that with me. Thus the photo.

All the same we, my Throssel walking companion and I, were out for about two hours or there abouts. In Keswick we met up for lunch with a small group of sangha members who'd been retreating all morning. Before that though we made a pilgrimage to Love The Lakes, a shop stocking all sorts of goodies and in particular some really wonderful photographs. Serving the customers was Sean of StridingEdge photo diary fame, his two dogs carpeted the floor. What a happy encounter. Happy and glad to show my appreciation of his photography skills. Leaving the shop I pondered on this humble and tolerant chap! I guess it takes a special person to consistently climb the fells, spring, summer, autumn and winter. And to consistently produce such inspiring photographs too.

Sitting over lunch with some sturdy hill walkers I confessed that some years back I'd lost the drive to struggling to the top of mountains. Oh the pain of it, mental and physical pain that is. From what they said in response it's common for even seasoned walkers to question what they are doing! I guess we keep on coming back for more in spite of swirling mists, precipitous path and the stress.

The specter of a steaming mug of tea at the end of a walk has cheered many a straggler to take the next step.