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Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Helvellyn

Helvellyn


Postby yokehead » Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:02 pm

Wainwrights included on this walk: Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike

Hewitts included on this walk: Helvellyn

Date walked: 19/12/2017

Time taken: 5

Distance: 10.8 km

Ascent: 830m

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Mark fancied this route up Helvellyn having had a good outing on it in the past, in snow and ice. No such luck for us today though, just a bit of snow left and clag for most of the day. A good jaunt anyway.


helvellyn.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


We parked at Swirls and went anti-clockwise, so a 3.5km walk south through the woods before heading uphill over Birk Side to Nethermost Pike, making the short detour from the footpath to the summit cairn. Some snow about but all soft so no problem at all and although we had the Mantas on, crampons and axe stayed in the sack.

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wet and claggy in the forest

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heading up to Birk Side

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lonesome (dead) pine and Thirlmere - is the clag lifting?

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no, the usual clag on Nethermost Pike

Down slightly then a gentle ascent to the summit shelter cross, passing the memorial to the aircraft that landed here nearly 100 years ago. Very poor visibility here.

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memorial to the aircraft landing

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shelter just visible ahead

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nearly there

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a short stop for a faff

Onward along the tourist route across Lower Man and no point in having a look at Browncove Crags since we wouldn't have been able to see if we could have snatched any snow climbing. Very unlikely anyway.

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heading down

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looking back, near Browncove Crags

Below the cloud and at least we got a view down to Thirlmere again and mist in the valley below. Interesting to note that there seemed to be a fair amount of snow remaining in the area to the east of Ullscarf, perhaps an illusion though.

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Thirlmere again

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best view of the day
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yokehead
 
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