Helvellyn

Striding Edge

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!

Helvellyn

Blimey, it was cold this morning! It was -8C when I drove through Grasmere for an early start up to Helvellyn from Dunmail Raise. The slog up Willie Wife Moor took longer than I thought and when I reached the snow line at 650 metres, the going became even tougher with the iced over snow making walking difficult. Once on the summit of Helvellyn, I put my crampons on for security and enjoyed the high level traverse of the snowy ridge.

Helvellyn

The conditions looked right for a temperature inversion today, so I was determined to get high enough to get above the cloud. Thankfully I did and was rewarded with splendid views across the low lying clouds.

Striding Edge and Helvellyn

There was further excellent weather again today – cold, but with superb visibility. I couldn’t resist another visit to Striding Edge, absolutely the finest ridge in the Lake District. This is one I have been saving for just such a day and have dreamed about through all the bad weather.

Striding Edge

As it is StridingEdge ‘s first birthday on Monday, what could be a more fitting walk than an ascent of Helvellyn across Striding Edge. The day promised to be clear but by the time I reached Helvellyn across a deserted Striding Edge, the cloud and cold wind arrived. Still, it was a very enjoyable round…

Raise

Glenridding – Glenridding Dodd (199) – Heron Pike (Glenridding) (200) – Sheffield Pike (201) – Sticks Pass – Raise (202) – White Side (203) – Helvellyn Lower Man (204) – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Glenridding

Helvellyn via The Edges

Back up to higher ground today with a walk to Helvellyn from Glenridding, ascending via Birkhouse Moor and Striding Edge and descending via Swirral Edge to Catstycam.

Helvellyn

Patterdale – Birkhouse Moor (140) – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike (141) – Dollywaggon Pike (142) – Seat Sandal (143) Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Birks – Patterdale Dollywagon Pike and Nethermost Pike from the Grisedale Valley. View of Ullswater from the climb up to Birkhouse Moor. Glenridding Dodd

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