Saturday 22nd December 2001 10.33am
A strong northwest wind chills the day, and keeps small puddles of water frozen in their corners on the ground. It’s a bright cloudless day, the sky blue above, and with a band of white air close to the horizon. Black Combe looks rested and is full in the view. Northeast, the hills of the Central Lakes are iced up at their peaks, their tops showing white against the blue sky.