Since I have owned Fornside I have traversed High Rigg more times than I care to remember. I've done it in sun, rain, mist and snow but never on a frosty morning until today.
To be honest, after seeing the forecast last night, I'd planned to do a longer walk up a higher fell but Polly didn't eat her breakfast. Apart from loss of appetite she seemed happy enough but I thought it best to pick a fell I could soon get down from if she did fall ill. So High Rigg it was. In the event she was fine and has eaten a light lunch.
I didn't fancy descending the steep grass above the youth centre at the northern end of the fell so I headed along the valley path and climbed up the steep grass (very slippy in frost) from the youth centre by the church. It was great to meet the sun on the summit - but I was surprised how much wind there was up there. The ridge to Wren Crag was a delight - as it always is in clear weather - with great views over the Dodds, Fornside, the Helvellyn range and over Great How and Thirlmere.
Approaching Low Bridgend near the end of my walk I met James rebuilding some drystone walls. James used to be the warden of Black Sail youth hostel for 20 years and is a friend of Ann and Roger Hiley from those days. His wife Clare diagnosed my diabetes. Now he seems to be engaged in rebuilding every drystone wall in the valley.
There appears to be only one Turkey left at Low Bridgend - there were two last time I passed through. If anything the remaining one is even bigger than before - Polly gives it a wide berth as it towers over her.
I never fail to enjoy High Rigg. The pictures are on my October/November short walks album http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2403239250035788806nqwGAq
