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: 07:00
Weather: Mostly sunny. 19C
It has been sweltering over the weekend so I fancied getting out early today to ‘beat the heat’. I certainly managed that as it was pretty cold crossing Striding Edge this morning when the clouds swirled in. By the time I reached the summit of Helvellyn, the clouds had disappeared and the summer weather returned once more. On the way down to Patterdale I bumped into a gang of Striding Edge fans from Hull – nice to meet you all Martin and friends!
Helvellyn route map.
Early morning in Grisedale.
Climbing the path to the Hole in the Wall. The bracken is coming on quickly!
St Sunday Crag.
The head of Grisedale from the climb. It is sunny here but looks a bit murkier up on Helvellyn.
Birkhouse Moor from The Hole in the Wall and the sun has gone.
It's sunny down there, but not here now.
Striding Edge.
Red Tarn and Swirral Edge, Helvellyn lost in mist.
High Spying How.
Dougal leads the way across Striding Edge.
The mist is swirling in and out and the temperature has plummeted.
Catstycam across Red Tarn.
Continuing along Striding Edge.
I wonder if it will clear up?
At least you can just about see the top now.
Looking back.
Striding Edge from the climb to Helvellyn.
Another view of Red Tarn and it seems to be clearing now.
Striding Edge from the top.
Blue skies now on the deserted summit.
Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike across the cross shelter.
Striding Edge and Red Tarn from the summit.
A panoramic view from the top.
All is still under cloud to the west, the Coniston fells are over there somewhere.
Dougal and Casper take a breather at the summit - there is a bit more of the column on show than the last time they were here, a whole 10 weeks ago...
The path to Catstycam.
White Side.
Swirral Edge.
Dougal chooses his route carefully.
Looking back up Swirral Edge.
Brown Cove.
Swirral Edge and Helvellyn with two stubborn bits of snow visible.
Ullswater from Catstycam.
There is no water to drink on Catstycam either.
Looking across to Raise and we are not going that way either Dougal!
Striding Edge across a doggy bathing/drinking opportunity.
Helvellyn and Swirral Edge.
At last! There was no stopping these two today.
Red Tarn.
A panoramic view of Red Tarn and Helvellyn.
The path to Swirral Edge.
Catstycam.
Back at Grisedale Beck all is lovely now.