Helvellyn and Striding Edge
DATE 17.06.2017 | DISTANCE approx 12.3KM | HIGHEST POINT 950m
Posted by Matt | Filed under LAKE DISTRICT
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Scrambling through fog to find the summit of Blencathra only the day before, it was a real shocker to wake up to the most perfect conditions for our Helvellyn ascent. I attempted to do the same fell last November, only to be faced with horrendous weather conditions. The snow and poor visibility wasn’t the main problem, but it was the thought of either slipping on the ice or being blown off the ridge by the gale-force winds that made me a bit nervous. So it was with great disappointment -nevertheless a wise decision - that our little group came to a mutual decision to abandon the hike.
So here I was grinning from ear to ear, knowing I would have that clear summit I’d been waiting for these past six months. Matt was well accustomed to Helvellyn (or ‘Helly’ as we now aptly call it for short) having climbed her in the maddest snow conditions ever, but I could tell he was just as excited as me to get up there.
My first ridge walk and I felt an enormous sense of achievement, not only for that but also for returning and conquering the fell that had beat me in the first place.
WORDS BY CATHERINE
Leaving glenridding and feeling blessed by the weather today
looking back to glenridding
heading up little cove
great views back to ullswater
Striding edge, helvellyn, SwirrAl edge and catstycam
no messing around. straight onto striding edge
red tarn
quite a few people on striding edge today. not surprising in this weather as It's the best time to tackle ridges.
sunbathers on the chimney
The main ridge done and starting the ascent to helvellyn's summit
Charles Gough memorial plaque
lunchtime with a view down to red tarn
descending swirral edge
looking down swirral edge to catstycam
looking back to helvellyn from catstycam
following the path beside red tarn beck
back to glenridding