Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)
Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Patterdale
Distance: 7.6 miles Total Ascent: 900 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 08:15
Weather: Half beautiful, half dull! 7oC
I couldn’t resist a walk over Striding Edge today in winter conditions and at the start of the walk, it looked very promising indeed. I was glad later that I had set off relatively early for this walk as a sheet of cloud caught us and covered the fells whilst I was on the summit of Helvellyn. I cannot complain though as it was a superb walk in brilliant conditions. On the way back down to Grisedale it was nice to bump into a couple of Striding Edge followers and have a chat.
![11.03.10-023 11.03.10-023](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2010-03-11-helvellyn-via-the-edges/cache/11.03.10-023.jpg-nggid049760-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
A lone figure ahead on the climb towards Striding Edge. I stopped here to put crampons on and by the time I caught him at Low Spying How, he was admitting defeat and turning back as he was not equipped for the conditions - a wise move I think.
![11.03.10-027 11.03.10-027](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2010-03-11-helvellyn-via-the-edges/cache/11.03.10-027.jpg-nggid049762-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Ullswater beyond Birkhouse Moor. Look at that great sheet of cloud creeping towards us from the north and east.
![11.03.10-091 11.03.10-091](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2010-03-11-helvellyn-via-the-edges/cache/11.03.10-091.jpg-nggid049781-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Dougal and Casper on Helvellyn - there isn't much of the trig. column sticking out of the snow, these two are almost level with it!
![11.03.10-121 11.03.10-121](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2010-03-11-helvellyn-via-the-edges/cache/11.03.10-121.jpg-nggid049789-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Looking back up Swirral Edge. The deep packed snow has smoothed out the normally rough and rocky path making the going more straightforward than usual.