... I am very sure that the ski-runner who unhooks himself from a ski tow does not see the same view as the man who has paid for beauty in the currency of toil.
Arthur Lunn, Mountain Jubilee
Although at first sight, the Northern Dales are hardly a skiers' paradise, enough snow falls and lies almost every year for downhill skiers to have considered it worthwhile to invest in uplift facilities on the Tees/Wear watershed. Nordic touring on gentle terrain needs much less snow cover than downhill skiing, and in good winters, enjoyable skiing may be had when conditions allow from mid-October to late March. In a hard winter, deep drifts accumulate on lee slopes and in gullies and there may be worthwhile alpine ski touring. Most of the tours on these pages, however, are more suitable for nordic skiing. While possible steep descents are noted, the main routes follow fairly gentle terrain and open slopes.
Whilst these pages are primarily concerned with the Dales, there is good skiing to be had in other areas nearby. If snow comes from the east, off the North Sea, the North York Moors may get heavier falls, and also offer good nordic touring. If snowfall is general, the Howgills offer some excellent nordic touring on very rounded and grassy (rather than heathery) siummits and long ridges. The Howgills have a reputation for catching the wind, however. For more height, the Lake District has the edge, with the added benefit of some high roads, if the snow line is high and the roads are open. Whilst there are some good nordic tours here, a lot of the Lake District involves steeper slopes which are often more suited to alpine touring gear.
I'm hoping to add a few pages of tours in these other areas over the next few winters, but I doubt that these will add up to a "comprehensive" guide - we just don't get enough good days out in an average winter for one person to compile such a guide in a reasonable timescale. I have a few photos of tours in the Howgills and Lakes which I'll add if space allows. Any reports of your tours and experiences would be welcome.
Meanwhile, there is some info on other areas from the Manchester Cross Country Ski Club.
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