Start point: Wythburn (NY 324 136)
Wythburn – Birk Side – Nethermost Pike – High Crag – Dollywaggon Pike – Seat Sandal – Wythburn
Distance: 8 miles Total Ascent: 1042 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 06:30
Clear Temperature 5 ℃ Felt like 5 ℃ Wind Speed 1.3 mi/h Wind Direction ENE
Regular followers of this site over the years will know I like a sunrise walk and particularly at this time of year up to Helvellyn. All the conditions looked to be good for a decent sunrise today so I felt compelled to go for it, and I am mighty glad I did as it was absolutely fantastic up there. Previously all my December walks up there have been memorably cold but this time it was not so bad. Of course you never know what the conditions are really going to be like walking up in the dark but the view of the inversion to the east when nearing the top was fabulous and I knew I was in for a treat from that moment.
![DSC8829 DSC8829](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2021-12-18-helvellyn-sunrise/DSC8829.jpg)
I had time for a walk along the summit plateau before the sunrise proper - there were another couple of people there to witness the spectacle as well.
![DSC8839 DSC8839](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2021-12-18-helvellyn-sunrise/DSC8839.jpg)
Here we go, the first glimpse of sunrise - it is, of course, relatively late at this time of year at around 08:30.
![DSC8879 DSC8879](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2021-12-18-helvellyn-sunrise/DSC8879.jpg)
Striding Edge is constantly changing with more - or less - being revealed by the clouds as they ebb and flow.
![DSC8894 DSC8894](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2021-12-18-helvellyn-sunrise/DSC8894.jpg)
I did hang around on Helvellyn for a good while (for me anyway) and walked along the ridge a couple of time before heading south to Nethermost Pike, here looking to the west with Bowfell to Great Gable in view through the inversion.
![DSC8926 DSC8926](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2021-12-18-helvellyn-sunrise/DSC8926.jpg)
Seat Sandal under a cloud cap. I stopped on Dollywaggon Pike and had a coffee and watched the fascinating cloud movements unfold. The cloud was pouring from Grisedale Tarn and down Raise Beck and began to fill up the Thirlmere valley.
![DSC8927 DSC8927](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2021-12-18-helvellyn-sunrise/DSC8927.jpg)
Looking along The Tongue from Dollywaggon Pike summit, a good place to sit for a while. Amazingly I never saw anyone along this ridge after I left Helvellyn.
![DSC8930 DSC8930](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2021-12-18-helvellyn-sunrise/DSC8930.jpg)
At the old gatepost that marks the start of the steep descent to Grisedale Tarn, Seat Sandal summit is out of the clouds now so let's go for it!
![DSC8940 DSC8940](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2021-12-18-helvellyn-sunrise/DSC8940.jpg)
Then, as if by magic, the cloud has all but gone looking to Fairfield and St Sunday Crag from the steep climb to Seat Sandal.