Thursday 25th January 2007

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale - Hole-in-the Wall - Striding Edge - Helvellyn - Swirral Edge - Catstycam - Birkhouse Moor - Patterdale

Distance: 7.8 miles     Total Ascent: 925 metres     Time Taken: 5 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Snowy with blue skies and a light breeze - perfect. 4oC.

Route Map

Wow, what a day today - bright blue skies and crisp white snow made for perfect walking conditions to Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge. Today I was joined by regular contributor to this site, Andy Lang; on the walk we bumped into Graham Thompson and the Trail magazine team doing a feature on Striding Edge and then Andrew Leaney on the summit of Helvellyn. Up on Catstycam we were alone and it didn't look as though many had trod there today - only a couple of sets of footprints!

Dollywagon Pike and Nethermost Pike at the head of Grisedale.

A cold looking Grisedale, Saint Sunday Crag left.

Above the snow line heading for The Hole-in-the-Wall.

Birkhouse Moor from the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Looking across to Catstycam.

Casper contemplates the crossing of Striding Edge.

Heading for Striding Edge.

Striding Edge and Helvellyn from Low Spying How.

The Trail magazine team sort out a photo shoot for an edition next winter.

Crossing Striding Edge.

Come on Angus, no problem!

Looking back along Striding Edge.

...and again.

Looking back to The Chimney, the awkward bit of Striding Edge.

Striding Edge with the High Street range beyond and The Pennines beyond that.

A similar view from higher up.

A superb view from the summit of Helvellyn today.

The summit of Helvellyn.

Ullswater and The Pennines.

An icy looking Great Gable with Green Gable in front and Kirk Fell to the right.

The pointed Bow Fell, left distance with the Scafell range covered in cloud over Ullscarf.

Looking back along Helvellyn summit with Striding Edge below.

Looking east over Red Tarn from Helvellyn.

Skiddaw.

Great Gable and Kirk Fell with Red Pike, Scoat Fell and Pillar covered in cloud.

The route of descent - looking along Swirral Edge to Catstycam.

Descending Swirral Edge.

Red Tarn and Striding Edge with the High Street fells beyond from Swirral Edge.

Heading for Catstycam.

White Side from Catstycam.

The north-western fells through the gap between Helvellyn Lower Man and White Side.

Easterly view from Catstycam.

The distant High Street ridge.

There was a great view of The Pennines and Ullswater from Catstycam with Place Fell, centre right, over Birkhouse Moor.

Snowy beards on these two Beardies!

Casper in the sunshine.

Descending from Catstycam looking back to Swirral Edge. The cloud was moving in on Helvellyn now.

A monochromatic Casper in Red Tarn Beck.

Catstycam.

Catstycam again - I just love that sky.

A third and final Catstycam + sky!

Casper - frozen nose.

Striding Edge, Helvellyn and Catstycam from Birkhouse Moor.

Casper, me and Angus on Helvellyn, photo by Andy Lang.

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