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Helvellyn Edges in Early Snows

Helvellyn Edges in Early Snows


Postby dav2930 » Sun Nov 26, 2017 7:37 pm

Wainwrights included on this walk: Birkhouse Moor, Catstyecam, Helvellyn

Hewitts included on this walk: Catstyecam, Helvellyn

Date walked: 25/11/2017

Time taken: 6

Distance: 12.2 km

Ascent: 971m

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Unexpected, significant snow-cover on the fells led to a last minute decision to do the Striding-Swirral circuit. Would normally have left this for later in the winter, but no guarantee nowadays of proper winter conditions in the Lakes, so Karl and me grabbed this early opportunity.


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As it turned out, and as we ought to have expected, the snow was very powdery, so a bit unsatisfactory from a mountaineering point of view. But a grand day out all the same.

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Rattlebeck Bridge and The Nab


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Spindrift blowing off St Sunday Crag


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Ullswater from the top of Mires Beck


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High Street range from top of Mires Beck


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Helvellyn and Catstycam from shoulder of Birkhouse Moor


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Striding Edge and Helvellyn


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Dollywaggon Pike and Fairfield


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St Sunday Crag across Grisedale


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Birkhouse Moor and Place Fell from start of Striding Edge


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Half way along Striding Edge looking towards Helvellyn


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Looking back to High Spying How


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The chimney descent from the end of Striding Edge


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Across Nethermost Cove


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The final slopes up Helvellyn


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Red Tarn and Catstycam.


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Striding Edge from higher up Helvellyn


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Sun shining on Coniston Water, from shelter near Helvellyn Summit.


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People near Gough's Memorial


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Descending Swirral Edge, heading for Catstycam.


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Looking back up Swirral Edge.


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View from Catstycam looking down the Glenridding Beck to Ullswater.


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Keppel Cove, Whiteside and Raise.


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Swirral Edge and Helvellyn from Catstycam.


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Red Tarn and Striding Edge from Catstycam.


Got back to car by 3.10pm so time for tea and toasted teacakes in the fleshpots of Glenridding. Thought we'd rough it at the Inn by the Lake for a change. £7.20 each :wtf: Fellbites next time! :lol:
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dav2930
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Re: Helvellyn Edges in Early Snows

Postby martin.h » Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:12 pm

Crikey! how things change in a week. Cracking photo's, I like the 6th one showing Striding Edge with Helvellyn disappearing in the cloud, very atmospheric.
Cheers.
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martin.h
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Re: Helvellyn Edges in Early Snows

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Mon Nov 27, 2017 2:43 pm

Stunning views of a great circuit!

Tim
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Re: Helvellyn Edges in Early Snows

Postby trailmasher » Mon Nov 27, 2017 5:55 pm

A great trip out in the snow and some fine winter shots there dav :clap: :clap: a very fine double ridge walk indeed. Glad you posted :)
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Re: Helvellyn Edges in Early Snows

Postby dav2930 » Mon Nov 27, 2017 6:54 pm

martin.h wrote:Crikey! how things change in a week. Cracking photo's, I like the 6th one showing Striding Edge with Helvellyn disappearing in the cloud, very atmospheric.
Cheers.

Thanks Martin. Yes, it was quite a surprise to see the fells covered in snow on the Friday morning; fortunately it lasted into the weekend. There's something to be said for a bit of atmospheric clag I suppose! :lol:

HalfManHalfTitanium wrote:Stunning views of a great circuit!

Tim

Thanks Tim! Definitely my favourite winter circuit in the Lakes :D

trailmasher wrote:A great trip out in the snow and some fine winter shots there dav :clap: :clap: a very fine double ridge walk indeed. Glad you posted :)

Thanks very much TM! :D
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Re: Helvellyn Edges in Early Snows

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Mon Nov 27, 2017 8:53 pm

Some great pics there Dav, I considered a trip to Lakeland on Sunday but opted for a potter around the Yorkshire Moors given my lack of fitness. That said it was bloody freezing at 400m so I'm not sure how I'd have found it on higher ground.
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Re: Helvellyn Edges in Early Snows

Postby dav2930 » Mon Nov 27, 2017 11:51 pm

johnkaysleftleg wrote:Some great pics there Dav, I considered a trip to Lakeland on Sunday but opted for a potter around the Yorkshire Moors given my lack of fitness. That said it was bloody freezing at 400m so I'm not sure how I'd have found it on higher ground.

Thanks JK :D It was probably colder on that eastern side than it was in the Lakes. It was quite cold in the strong wind on top of Helvellyn though - I was glad I had my winter layers on!
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dav2930
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Location: Cumbria

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