WALKERS braving this week's cold snap to scale Helvellyn in soft boots and trainers have been condemned as "foolhardy" by the man who climbs the mountain to monitor weather conditions. Lake District National Park Authority fell top assessor Pete Collins came across four ill-prepared walking parties, some wearing trainers in the ice and snow conditions that warranted specialist walking equipment, including ice axes and crampons. Wintry conditions also led to the closure of a number of roads with the A66 between Brough and Bowes shut for much of Thursday after a lorry jack-knifed in the conditions. The A6276 between Brough and Middleton-in-Teesdale was also closed for safety reasons.