Magical snowy day on the Central Fells

[Broggy1]

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A wonderful day off work for an alpine like walk in the Lake District .

The advantage of a Friday meant a quiet Grasmere first thing and I got the Helm Crag ridge completely to myself before venturing up to the Central ridge and the snowline.

Lovely and sunny but with some very deep snow on the main ridge making the going slow and tough but with the extensive, gin clear views more than compensating for this.

Seat Sandal from the top of the lion and the lamb rocks. It surprised me to realise it had been 7 years since I last climbed Helm Crag. I just find Grasmere a very busy place on a weekend but early on a Friday morning I had the place totally to myself.

The Howitzer - I'd been in Dartmoor earlier in the week and this was very reminiscent of many of the summits there.

Looking back at the Lion and the Lamb from the top of the Howitzer - easily scrambled today on dry, firm rock.

Howitzer again with the line of ascent in view

The ridge to Calf Crag from Helm Crag

Tarn Crag with Sergeant Man and High raise beyond from Gibson Knott

Helvellyn range from Calf Crag

Back along the ridge

The going got much tougher on the main Central ridge as I often waded through deep snow to Ullscarf.

Sometimes the snow was firm/frozen and could be walked on easily, other times (particularly near the summits) they were wind scoured but more often than not it was at least knee deep.

North Western fells

Skiddaw and Blencathra from Ullscarf. A lot of snow had been moved by the wind here.

Very happy!

Great Gable and Pillar

High Raise ahead

Somebody had broken a trail here but as it was frozen and the steps were deep it was actually harder to follow the trail. So I just broke another one and in turn made a bigger trail for anybody else following.

High Raise Trig looking over to Bowfell and the Scafells

Sergeant Man and Codale Head ahead - more hard work

Coniston range from Sergeant Man

Lovely white stuff

Alpine like Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn

Dropping below the snowline with Codale Tarn and Easdale Tarn in view

Belles Knott from below

Tarn Crag and Easdale Tarn - not surprisingly loads of people about now

[johnkaysleftleg]

Magic stuff Broggy, I was on Glaramara on Saturday in just about identical conditions hard work at times but fortunately for me a more solid broken trail. Love that shot of Pavey ark.

[trailmasher]

A damn fine show there Broggy with some great photos and report I was in that neck of the woods on the 15th but no snow like you had Well done on a great walk

[dav2930]

Great report and some cracking photies of all that fabulous sunshine and snow. Nice choice of walk too - I've always enjoyed the approach to High Raise etc. by Easedale.

Somebody had broken a trail here but as it was frozen and the steps were deep it was actually harder to follow the trail.

I know exactly what you mean. We were on Helvellyn and the Dodds the day after and it was the same there - deep footsteps frozen solid and unconsolidated stuff off piste, quite hard going either way in places. You did well to cover that distance under the circumstances.