Magical snowy day on the Central Fells
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:24 pmA 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
with some great photos and report 
Well done on a great walk 