Dawn light touches the top of High Street as I set off on my walk at just after 7am.

We were ascending the North ridge of Branstree and behind me was the early light on the ridge that we would be descending later.

Reflections on the lake.

High Street from Boat Howe. The pictorial guide is placed where AW sat to get his reference for Mardale Ill Bell 1.

Morning shadows of man and dogs.

The cairn on Artlecrag Pike

The lower cairn and Selside Pike, meantime the Eden valley remains covered in fog.

The team on Branstree summit.

The wall on Selside Brow almost covered.

The view of Longsleddale from the descent to Gatesgarth Pass.

Harter Crag.

Gatesgarth Pass.

Haweswater below us as we gain height on Harter Fell. It had snowed again last night and the fresh snow was making it hard work.

AW's "third cairn" on Harter Fell.

From the same location Blencathra appears through the Straits of Riggindale.

Harter Fell summit.

The Ill Bell ridge and the distant Coniston fells from the descent to Nan Bield Pass.

Nan Bield pass.

Sheet ice on the path so the crampons come into their own.

Looking back to Harter Fell from near the summit of Mardale Ill Bell.

Frozen Small Water from the same spot. From here I had to drop down to Poit Crag to get my next reference.

I already had acquired this reference but in the wrong season. Today in full winter conditions the view was just right. (High Street 14a for those who are interested.)

Kentmere valley from above Bleathwaite Crag. Part of my task today was to get the shots I needed of Ill Bell and Froswick which are to be taken from halfway up the ridge in the foreground. I decided to leave them for another day.

Snow gully and Ill Bell.

Thornthwaite Crag beacon.

Approaching from the south.

A great place for lunch, quite popular for a weekday in March but in such conditions its no surprise. Next I headed to High Street.

Near High Street summit.

High Street summit.

I dropped over to the west and from the Roman Road and took this shot of Hayeswater before retracing my steps and past the summit again to the east side of the hill.

Long Stile from High Street.

Bailey is keen to head on.

 Harter Fell over Long Stile from the top of Short Stile.

Looking back up to High Street showing the deep snow which made walking really quite tiring (maybe I'm just getting old!)

 Thornthwaite Crag and Hayeswater seen from near the summit of The Knott.

Bailey "claims" The Knott. Next up is Rampsgill Head, seen here top right.

 The fells to the east including a glimpse of a far distant Pillar.

Martindale from Rampsgill Head.

Now approaching the summit of Kidsty Pike.

Kidsty Pike summit looking south east. My route now took me north east and on towards High Raise. Only two others had used this route in the snow, it was hard going.

Rampsgill Head. High cloud was now filtering the sun.

Nearing the summit and Great Gable shows just to the right of Cofa Pike.

The summit cairn of High Raise with the shelter behind. Now on to Low Raise.

Low Raise and the snow covered Pennine Fells. From here the south east ridge would take me off the hill to the shore of Haweswater.

Haweswater below as we just leave the snowline.

Bonus of the day was this small group of Red Deer

Light was fading fast and I still had to get a couple of references including this one of Branstree.

Crossing Riggindale Beck with Kidsty Pike seen on the right.

Sections of the path here were lined with stone markers, very unusual, I wonder if it is anything to do with the old Corpse Road?

 Mardale Head and Harter Fell.