Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)
Patterdale – Hole-in-the-Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – High Crag – Dollywaggon Pike – Seat Sandal – Deepdale Hause – Saint Sunday Crag – Birks – Patterdale
Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 1419 metres Time Taken: 6 hours Start Time: 06:45
Weather: Sunny and clear. 13C
I was up early this morning to make the most of the expected good weather to come for the day. I wasn’t disappointed and it turned into a fantastic and memorable day on the fells with incredible clarity and an inversion over the Lake District as well. When I set off from Patterdale this morning (in the dark!), the temperature gauge was showing -1C but once the sun rose it was really warm and I ended up completing the walk in shirt sleeves.
![12.10.10-003 12.10.10-003](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2010-10-12-grisedale-horseshoe/cache/12.10.10-003.jpg-nggid0511445-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
It was below freezing when I left Patterdale and pretty chilly climbing to the Hole-in-the-Wall, here looking back towards Patterdale with Ullswater under the early morning mist.
![12.10.10-019 12.10.10-019](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2010-10-12-grisedale-horseshoe/cache/12.10.10-019.jpg-nggid0511446-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
It was below freezing when I left Patterdale and pretty chilly climbing to the Hole-in-the-Wall, here looking back towards Patterdale with Ullswater under the early morning mist.
![12.10.10-082 12.10.10-082](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2010-10-12-grisedale-horseshoe/cache/12.10.10-082.jpg-nggid0511456-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Even the normally dull as ditchwater Great Mell Fell looks good today, taking on a special interest in the inversion.
![12.10.10-142 12.10.10-142](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2010-10-12-grisedale-horseshoe/cache/12.10.10-142.jpg-nggid0511465-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
There is a big inversion to the south too looking over the cross shelter. In fact the whole Lake District is surrounded by the inversion.
![12.10.10-192 12.10.10-192](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2010-10-12-grisedale-horseshoe/cache/12.10.10-192.jpg-nggid0511474-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Looking to the south west from the path to Nethermost Pike. That distant fell (Black Combe), in solitary peeping out in the clouds intrigued me - I wonder what it would be like to be stood on the top of it? Actually, I have had a similar experience on Hard Knott with Connie (here) and you never know whether you will actually ever get above the cloud.