A big day

This is Nick, he is a brit who lives in the States. Nick flew over from America to visit family for Christmas with his wife and toddler. While he was over here he fancied a go at a winter Bob Graham Round.
Despite being jet lagged Nick set off from the Moot Hall at Keswick at 0200hrs on Wednesday morning accompanied by 2 new friends acting as navigator and pacers, carrying food and drink.
Deep snow on the first section over Skiddaw, Great Calva and Blencathra delayed them. However with fresh pacers Nick who is an accomplished ultra runner made up time on leg 2 from Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise.
I was waiting at Dunmail with Bill and we were to pace Nick as far as Wasdale. I knew when we reached the top of Steel Fell in 20 minutes that this was going to be tough.As we made our way towards the Langdale fells the snow got deeper and softer, where there was no snow there was deep water, my feet were blocks of ice.
We reached Rossett Pike after 2h 50mins and I had to admit defeat, made my apologies and retreated down to Langdale, the other 2 carried on and made it to Wasdale encountering deep snow from Bowfell onwards on a route that took them over Scafell Pike and Scafell.
At Wasdale 1 hour behind schedule and with the prospect of more difficult conditions over the leg 4, Nick took the difficult decision to stop the attempt.
This picture was taken at about 23:00hrs last night when Nick was enjoying a well earned bowl of soup and a beer.
What a Day!