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Magical morning on Helvellyn

Magical morning on Helvellyn


Postby Broggy1 » Thu Dec 23, 2021 11:42 am

Wainwrights included on this walk: Catstyecam, Helvellyn

Hewitts included on this walk: Catstyecam, Helvellyn, High Spying How (Striding Edge)

Date walked: 21/12/2021

Time taken: 3.2

Distance: 13.5 km

Ascent: 1054m

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A wonderful and magical hike above the clouds with the lads for our Christmas walk - I had to be back for a meal in the afternoon so we decided on classic Helvellyn using the Patterdale approach there and back.

Only the real highest tops where above the inversion today as the cloud level had risen.

Cold at valley level but warm on the top. Both edges free of snow but some icy sections needing care.

A day to remember!

2 approaching striding.JPG
Approaching Striding Edge and already above the cloud


3 Over to St Sunday Crag.JPG
St Sunday Crag and Fairfield just poking above the cloud


4 SE.JPG
Classic Striding Edge


5 SE.JPG
Striding Edge


6 back along SE.JPG
Looking back along the edge


7 And again.JPG
And again


8 Inversion again.JPG
Spectacular weather


9 Summit ahead.JPG
Final climb now ahead


10 C sticking out.JPG
Catstyecam sticking out


11 Last climb.JPG
On the final scramble to the plateau - don't let the angle he's taken this photograph fool you....it's not that steep


12 Back along.JPG
Looking back along the edge


13 Oh my.JPG
Conditions were even better as we reached the plateau


15 Heaven.JPG
Must be like this in heaven


16 Over Dolly.JPG
Looking over towards Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon


17 Catsycam.JPG
Catstyecam and beyond


18 SEfrom summit.JPG
Striding Edge from the summit - now slowly being engulfed too


19 clouds.JPG
Just magical


20 H Plateau.JPG
The summit plateau - not many people about here and warm in the sun


21 Pike.JPG
Only the real highest tops were sticking out today - here's Scafell Pike


22 Swirral.JPG
Swirral Edge to Catstyecam


23 On C Summt.JPG
Anton and Will on Catstyecam


24 On C summit.JPG
Andy, Rob and Dan on Catstyecam - it's rare for us all to get together for a walk so even better to get the weather we did


25 back to Helvellyn.JPG
Looking back at Helvellyn


26 Last look befor dropping out.JPG
One last look at heaven before we drop back into the fog
Last edited by Broggy1 on Sat Jan 01, 2022 12:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Broggy1
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1172
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Sub 2000:8   Hewitts:274
Wainwrights:214   Islands:1
Joined: Jul 22, 2013

Re: Magical morning on Helvellyn

Postby dav2930 » Fri Dec 24, 2021 2:53 pm

What amazing conditions for a family trip round the classic Helvellyn circuit! The best inversions are the ones where only the highest tops peep above the mist. On the preceding Saturday I was on the fells above Buttermere and the whole of the Irish Sea seemed covered by a blanket of white mist, but it was very low lying and only managed to creep so far up the western valleys. I like to make a point of doing the Helvellyn circuit at least once every winter when there's a good covering of snow.

Great report and photos.
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dav2930
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Re: Magical morning on Helvellyn

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:12 pm

Title doesn't disappoint, sensational conditions. :clap:
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Location: County Durham

Re: Magical morning on Helvellyn

Postby Alteknacker » Mon Jan 17, 2022 11:46 pm

The title says it all: brilliant :clap: :clap: :clap:
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Re: Magical morning on Helvellyn

Postby Broggy1 » Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:51 pm

Thanks you all for your comments - it is certainly a day I will remember forever.
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Broggy1
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Posts: 1172
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Wainwrights:214   Islands:1
Joined: Jul 22, 2013

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