The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

This is the view from near Dale Head looking across to Hindsgarth and Robinson on the Newlands Horseshoe. As I stood enjoying the landscape and relishing the isolation, a runner appeared as if from nowhere from behind me. That was a surprise!  We exchanged a cheery hello and then he was gone.

I waited until he was roughly in the centre of the frame to give perspective to all that snow and ice. I watched to see which direction he would take before he turned to follow the HIndscarth ridge (the middle of the three ridges). He had over 700m (2,000ft) of descent ahead of him and I found myself wishing him a safe return to the valley.