Helvellyn by Swirral and Striding Edges, 28th March 2018

I seem to wind up hitting Helvellyn on about 50% of my Lake District excursions. What can I say but it's a fabulous mountain!  It's crazy to think that three weeks ago when I did this there were still some proper winter conditions to contend with. I think things are looking more Spring-like on the high fells for the most part now.

Previous trips to Helvellyn have been in good weather and I wanted to try it on a gloomier day. I also wanted to make the most of the free parking in Glenridding, before the restrictions come into force after Good Friday!

I started out on the track up Glenridding, for the most part into a mild headwind with drizzly rain, or rainy drizzle depending on one's perspective.

Looking back along Glenridding

I felt quite 'cozy' in my waterproofs, and felt a repressed optimism as I gained towards Red Tarn.  The drizzle ebbed and abated, and occasionally a bit of blue sky could be spotted.  I had picked a day with a relatively low wind forecast as I didn't fancy being perched on the edges in high gusts! I was pleased to feel the conditions were in line with the meteorological predictions.

Catsty Cam had a delightful 'sugar-dusting' of new snow

Looking back

As the path wound up between Red Tarn and Catsty Cam I climbed into the clouds and onto a frosty looking Swirral Edge.  I donned the crampons, in retrospect perhaps sooner than needed. I didn't want to slip on potentially icy rocks. I took as adventurous a line as feasible, sticking to the crest as much as possible, and thoroughly enjoyed the steady push up the edge.  The exit to the summit plateau was guarded by a steep bank of rock hard, icy snow. There were no steps cut in and no chance of traction by kicking boots in here as the snow was too hard. I front pointed up with the crampons, with ice-axe in hand to self-belay. I felt a buzz on reaching the top of this steep section, knowing all difficulties were now overcome and all that remained was a brief, straightforward saunter to the summit.

  

Looking back over the exit of Swirral Edge from the top

This cairn marks the edge

A wintery looking cross shelter with the summit behind

I took a summit refreshment break; and turned my attention towards Striding Edge, my next objective. I was a little apprehensive about one section on the initial descent down, but on reaching it everything was straightforward enough, and I adhered to the crest more than I ever have along the length of the ridge, it was a blast!

Looking down on Striding Edge

Looking back up the steep top-end of Striding Edge

Striding Edge is a magnificent adventure in the mist

On reaching the memorial and High-Spying-How, marking the end of the serious scrambling, I felt sad to think of Winter coming to it's close. This year I invested in an ice-axe and crampons, and put a lot of time and work into learning the ropes of winter hillwalking. Proficiency moving and scrambling in crampons comes with time for sure. I am pleased with how far I have come. I look forward though to the longer Summer days and the opportunity to ditch the extra weight in equipment and increase the mileages. So it's goodbye for now Winter!

Looking down from Birkhouse Moor towards Ullswater

I ran into a father and son team who had wild-camped by Red Tarn (they were braver than me) and enjoyed chatting on the stretch from Hole in't Wall to Birkhouse Moor where we parted ways. I love meeting people on the hills.

Place Fell presides over the lake

Looking across Glenridding

It was a perfect morning out for me, just right given the ongoing precipitation, I wouldn't want to be out all day in those conditions! I made my way home for a well deserved early bath.