East Ridge Nethermost Pike +

[Broggy1]

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Brilliant weather for a day off and a trip to the Lakes with wall to wall sunshine and gin clear skies....if pretty windy in parts.

I've recently been revisiting some Lakeland Fells and trying different routes than I have previously done and in turn have been having some cracking days so thought I'd share this one.

This route up via Nethermost Cove and the East Ridge is a splendid way on to the Helvellyn range but probably not likely to register to those who have yet to do Striding Edge and Swirral Edge etc.

Heading in to Grisedale - both Dollywaggon and Nethermost Pike look much different when approached directly from this valley.

Nethermost Pike with the East Ridge in view

Eagle Crag ahead. I ascended to the right of this up steep, pathless slopes and then a semi scramble up a gully. Hard work and I believe a better route is to stay either on the other side of Nethermostcove Beck (where there is a path I hear) or via Ruthwaite Cove and Hard Tarn.

The East Ridge proper is in view now

Final tower on the East Ridge. I picked up a decent path here so imagine there is one all the way on one of the two routes I mentioned earlier.

Hard Tarn and Dollywaggon Pike - perhaps a better option to gain this ridge?

The ridge narrows at the top and does - briefly - resemble Striding Edge although unlike the more famous ridge (which was busy even on a Monday) there was nobody on this one.

Helvellyn from Nethermost Pike. I wasn't planning on going there today but it's such an easy wander from here it seemed silly not to.

Helvellyn Summit

Lakeland

St Sunday Crag from Dollywaggon Pike

Grisedale Tarn and my ascent route up Fairfeld in view.

Seat Sandal over the tarn

St Sunday Crag from Fairfield. It's a tough regain of height from Grisedale Tarn to do the high level return but certainly worth it (although the low level return through Grisedale is of course great as well).

Looking back at Cofa Pike

Helvellyn range from St Sunday Crag. It was really windy up here now.

Birks summit with Place Fell ahead

Ullswater from Arnison Crag

This route throws you out literally in a beer garden. So on a day like today it would have been really rude not to.

[simon-b]

An excellent route, Broggy. Nethermost Pike's east ridge is a great way up. I don't think there's much wrong with your initial approach - like you say, there are alternatives like Hard Tarn. But it's probably hard work whichever way you choose, although well worth it when you reach the ridge. And that feeling of success comes just as soon as you leave the arete and emerge on Nethermost's summit plateau!

[ChrisW]

There's some graft in that route Broggy, good effort mate Some beautiful shots throughout and better still you're not surrounded by folks either