I set off really early to reach Swinhope Moor in Weardale at sunrise. My intention was to catch a good photo of the snaking river that I saw from the road the day before. When I arrived  I noticed that it was impossible to catch the "snaking" because the standpoint would be too low. So I continued along the road and stopped higher up where I took the photos of the deer the day before. Only than I noticed there was a proper ski lift. I decided to walk towards the ski hut and take lots of shots on the way up. Since the "snake" was already far away and it was definitely no weather to carry a lot of kit with you I only took the D750 with the 70 - 300 lens (the right decision for once :) ) The walk was really exhausting trying to gain higher ground all the time,  trying out the perspective and realising that I had to climb even higher to get a good composition. I continued despite the rough weather conditions (temperature -3 below celsius and gusty wind) and finally reached the ski hut at the top. It was great because as you can see on photo no2 every now and than the clouds broke and gave

"spotlights" onto the scenery.  

For photo no3 I took Gary Groucutt´s advice and made a hand held panorama stitched together from 4 individual portrait shots in photoshop.

My fingers were frozen afterwards but it worked. (on the panorama you can see the "snake river" glimmering below the road; nowhere nearly as good as I was hoping to get it though. I will try other locations in better weather).

I walked down along the pillars of the ski tow and reached the bottom to find out there was a closer "snake" being unfortunately in the shade at early morning. The view however was spectacular. Also the view towards the high ridge in the back that encircles Swinhope Moor in a semi circle (a bit like the canyon at High Cup Nick) was great because the mountains were lit up by the sun occasionally. I came back to the car absolutely exhausted but happy. 

P.S. The person who invented that emergency catch phrase including "typhoon" must have been up there in similar weather conditions. Very appropriate!

P.S. PS. The last photo was taken on my way to Newbiggin after the walk at the Ski Tow. I noticed that lone abandoned Farm during my walk to Carr Crags a few days earlier. Is it any wonder it was abandoned?