Walkhighlands

Day two of our week in the Lakes saw Nicola still suffering with a bad cold, but trooper that she is, she insisted we make hay while the sun shone and went walking again. With some high winds and rain due later we had an early start from the A591 tick off the fells on the Greenburn round. It was a wonderful winter morning and it's hard to imagine a more picturesque setting than Grasmere and it's surrounding fells on such a day.
It was fairly busy heading up Helm Crag but you'd expect this for one of Lakeland's most climbed on such a beautiful morning. Big question was would any of us manage the Howitzer, Helm Crags true summit?

Glorious Morning by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Heading up Helm Crag by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Tarn Crag by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Hughie by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

We reached the remarkable craggy ridge and sat on the Lion's head for a bit, possibly ignoring the jutting rock further along. As we approached, Nicola's mind was quickly made up that she was having none of it but I thought I'd give it a crack as the rock was dry. As you can see from the photo below I managed to drag myself to the top and over come the negative thoughts of "so how do I now get down?" to descend safely. Grace had a brief go but quickly decided she just wasn't comfortable with it. I've always had the opinion that as AW himself didn't climb the Howitzer the the Top can be bagged without it in all good conscience. So still ticks allround, even for Hughie.

The Lion without the Lamb by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Grace on the Lion by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Me on the Howitzer by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Ahead to Gibson Knott by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Allthough Helm Crag is without doubt the highlight, the ridge continues in fine fashion with many attractive crags and fine views as you pass over Gibson Knott. By the time we were closing in on Calf Crag the weather was changing somewhat and getting quite a bit colder. Still now we'd come this far it seemed foolish not to complete the walk.

Looking Back to Helm Crag by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Looking Down Easedale by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Grace on Gibson Knott by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

...alone she slumped to her knees... by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Grace with a ball of white fluff by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

The route to the high point of the day from here is blighted by bog, and even though the tarns were still frozen the ground most certainly wasn't. So it was a chilly splodge to a bitterly cold Steel Fell summit, to our relief the rain held off, which was nice. For as long as we could stand the bitter wind the views were good the the Helvellyn ridge looking at times like a painting by Turner as the clouds and sunlight mingled together.

Frozen Tarn by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Crepuscular Rays by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Dead Pike by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

The Helvellyn range wreathed in mist by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

I've always thought the South East Ridge of Steel Fell looked nice and so to proved to be with some lovely easy walking on Green turf interspersed with the occasional crag. A fine day all round with the good/bad news that poor weather was due so we could have a rest.



The weather did eventually clear up on the Monday so I headed around to Wastwater for the sunset. Unfortunately I left it too late so missed the best of the light.

Last Kiss by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

As usual brilliant pics and report of a great circular walk with dry boots on the Gibson Knott ridge and wet ones on the Steel Fell walk in. And well done Hughie.

Nice walk, looks cold brrr..

Yet another one you've done that I need to do!

I've done Helm Crag but not the others yet.

Hughie is a veteran of the hills now

Nice round that one Anthony, like the pic of Wast Water too. Carol and I have just enjoyed 4 days in the lake district and were on the Fairfield Horseshoe ( Not all) trying to find a pair of binochulars I lost 3 weeks ago at the same time you were up Helm Crag.

Stayed at the lovely Daffodil Hotel in Grasmere Mon to Thurs. A great few days walking in the hills was had to

The usual stunning shots from a fine round JK, it images like these that remind me just how beautiful home is...and how far away it is too. That first shot of morning is just beautiful I can almost feel it

Ooh, nice - especially the first picture. That round's on my list for the spring - I'll heed your warning and try not to get too bogged down in bog

trailmasher wrote:As usual brilliant pics and report of a great circular walk with dry boots on the Gibson Knott ridge and wet ones on the Steel Fell walk in. And well done Hughie.

Thank you, the dry/wet boot thing just about sums this route up.

mike202 wrote:Nice walk, looks cold brrr..

Yet another one you've done that I need to do!

I've done Helm Crag but not the others yet.

Hughie is a veteran of the hills now

It was quite spring like until we got towards Calf Crag, blinking freezing on Steel Fell however! Hughie's Wainwright count is the same as mine so he's certainly a veteran.

L-Hiking wrote:Nice round that one Anthony, like the pic of Wast Water too. Carol and I have just enjoyed 4 days in the lake district and were on the Fairfield Horseshoe ( Not all) trying to find a pair of binochulars I lost 3 weeks ago at the same time you were up Helm Crag.

Stayed at the lovely Daffodil Hotel in Grasmere Mon to Thurs. A great few days walking in the hills was had to

Hi Geoff, good to here your out and about in the hills, I see you're really close with only 10 left now, me thinks you need a trip out west.

ChrisW wrote:The usual stunning shots from a fine round JK, it images like these that remind me just how beautiful home is...and how far away it is too. That first shot of morning is just beautiful I can almost feel it

Cheers Chris.

nigheandonn wrote:Ooh, nice - especially the first picture. That round's on my list for the spring - I'll heed your warning and try not to get too bogged down in bog

It's a fine walk with the worst of the bogs avoidable with care. I'd think twice if it's been really wet however.

Yes I am getting there slowly, I did start in 2002!!!

Just knocked off Green Crag and Harter Fell and two planned trips in June to climb those Western Fells.

You aint so far off yourself and have rattled them off very quickly.

Congrats on completing the Northern Fells pal

Getting down from the Howitzer is always fun.

[*]i

L-Hiking wrote:Yes I am getting there slowly, I did start in 2002!!!

Just knocked off Green Crag and Harter Fell and two planned trips in June to climb those Western Fells.

You aint so far off yourself and have rattled them off very quickly.

Congrats on completing the Northern Fells pal

Cheers Geoff

simon-b wrote:Getting down from the Howitzer is always fun.

That's one way of putting it

Lovely pictures as usual, don't think I would be brave enough to climb the howitzer! We attempted Helm Crag in October, got half way up and couldn't get Penny over a very narrow stile on the wall - very disappointing! Not sure if there was an alternative route or not. Heading down on Saturday and I keep changing my mind on what fells to attempt!

Sarah86 wrote:Lovely pictures as usual, don't think I would be brave enough to climb the howitzer! We attempted Helm Crag in October, got half way up and couldn't get Penny over a very narrow stile on the wall - very disappointing! Not sure if there was an alternative route or not. Heading down on Saturday and I keep changing my mind on what fells to attempt!

Shame about Penny and the stile because it's a lovely little top, I remember my last dog who was a collie cross was always difficult to get over stiles, I just about throw Hughie over! There is an alternative route detailed in the link below

http://www.davidhalllakedistrictwalks.co.uk/PAGES/FELLS/HELM_CRAG.html

Good luck with the weather for Saturday, it's a nice problem to have wondering just where to walk, now we're down to 30 left it's a bit more straightforward.

Wow only 30 to go, I am sure you will get through them fairly quickly. I think what confuses me is the Lake District has such variety and so many lovely walks. I think this will be our only visit this year so I am trying to squeeze a lot in but also trying to keep it simple as Penny is almost 12 now and wouldn't be up for 4 tough going days. Have got it narrowed down to Holme Fell, Darling Fell, Hallin Fell, either Middle Fell or Stickle Pike when we head in that direction, Great Crag from Watendlath, Brock Crags and Side Pike, we have already done Lingmoor Fell but I love the Langdale area. It also looks a nice walk to Grizedale Tarn and also want to fit in Cathedral Quarry as we took a wrong turn and missed it last time. Oh decisions!