Start point: Wythburn (NY 324 136)
Wythburn – Birk Side – High Crag – Nethermost Pike – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – Dollywaggon Pike – Wythburn
Distance: 5.8 miles Total Ascent: 924 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 06:40
Weather: Freezing, some cloud and a cold wind. 0ºC
I seem to be following a bit of a pattern here with heading out early, chasing the sunrise but I find it is well worth it. Today’s views were just jaw dropping with the sun lighting up the fells with some fabulous colours. The wind was very strong making it feel like a bit of an Arctic expedition at times and I was well layered up for this one.
Helvellyn Route Map
First light, the moon still high in the sky.
Climbing to High Crag, trying to make it in time for the sun coming over the horizon.
Made it, and well worth the effort it was too.
Big cornice lit up with a lovely pink hue by the early morning sun.
The Coniston fells.
Looking back to High Crag.
There was a strong, cold wind blowing up here as Casper and Dougal will tell you.
A jaw dropping sunrise, just fabulous.
A panoramic view from Nethermost Pike, select on the image to see a larger version.
Pink snow looking to Helvellyn from Nethermost Pike.
Catstycam and Striding Edge.
Cornice on Helvellyn and the climb to the cross shelter. Time to get the crampons on from here, there was snow on ice and it was quite treacherous in places.
My original intention was to drop down and cross Striding Edge, however I reckoned it would be a little tricky today especially with this wind so I gave it a miss.
It has calmed down a little now looking down on Striding Edge.
The view from Helvellyn. Select on the image to see a larger version.
A brand new white coat for Catstycam.
The cross shelter.
The summit of Helvellyn.
Spindrift on Helvellyn.
It was quite fierce at times!
Striding Edge from the summit.
Swirral Edge.
Swirral Edge to Catstycam.
Heading back across the summit plateau.
Snowbeard has a piece of my banana!
Having a quick coffee in the cross shelter Dougal decided he would become the King of Helvellyn. People often ask how Dougal and Casper manage in the snow but remember, they are fell bred and the fells are a Beardies home turf.
At the Gough Memorial.
Of course, I can't resist another view of Striding Edge!
A panoramic view of Striding Edge. Select on the image to see a larger version.
Blue skies now the sun is up but it still oh so cold.
The view to the west from Nethermost Pike.
Seat Sandal.
Grisedale, frozen Hard Tarn below.
Sun, shadows, cloud and cornice.
Fairfield.
The summit of Dollywaggon Pike.
A lovely, windblown view.
Great Gable to Pillar across Ullscarf.
Bowfell to the Scafells.
A panorama from Dollywaggon Pike. Select on the image to see a larger version.
From the descent of Dollywaggon Pike.
At the ruined sheepfold on the descent - I managed to lose the path here, I couldn't see it anywhere!
This will do though, Thirlmere and Skiddaw from the descent.
