Drove up to Glen Ridding from St Helens in mist and cloud. Cleared over the Kirstone. Started walk to 'the Hole in the Wall', via Lantys Tarn. Watched as cloud poured over the col between Fairfield and Dollywaggon Pike. Eventually a cloud level formed at 'the Hole in the Wall' height. Striding Edge in not too bad condition if the ridge top was used. The path looked bad in places. Banked up snow and ice on it for long stretches. Fortunately no wind to speak of so the ridge top was OK. Snow falling all the time but not much. The step down at the end of Striding Edge was, again OK, provide care was taken, bit of snow about on the holds but nothing too serious. The climb up onto Helvellyn itself was fine. Bits of snow about but most with holds kicked in. Snow not suitable for step kicking today when there weren't any holds on my direct route up so used an ice axe. Didn't stop on the summit, too cold and nothing to see. Made for Swirral. Found a layer of snow at the top that was really hard so backed off and put crampons on. Really easy after this. Used crampons all the way down the steep bit of Swirral. Passed a party of six going up without crampons and axes. An accident waiting to happen I think. Took in Catstycam. Never been on this summit before. Still no view. Dropped down to Red Tarn and then across to 'the Hole in the Wall'. Came out of cloud here. Wind was getting up and temperatures felt quite cold. Set off back to Glen Ridding, diverted to Birkhouse Moor, another new peak for me. Cloud descending further now. Eventually dropped out of it lower down and so back to the car park via the campsite.
Thanks to, I think Sandy Saunders, for his post about his trip and the comments about the top of Swirral. That was the only reason I took my crampons.
Ah well four hours of exercise with nothing to see. No photographs taken and another experience stored away.
Sounds like you had a good trip anyway Mike. Just one thing though.....call me picky if you want but.....
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Watched as cloud poured over the col between Fairfield and Dollywaggon Pike.
errrr......I don't think so mate.
Dave All Wainwrights completed 74 Walks......763 miles......approx 200,000' of ascent to complete. At Heysham looking across Morecambe Bay to the Cumbrian Fells
Watched as cloud poured over the col between Fairfield and Dollywaggon Pike.
errrr......I don't think so mate.
Might just be me but why not? I'm sure it's not a geographical thing as there is a col of sorts btwn the two with Grizedale Tarn in the middle of it. The only thing I can think of is a meteorological thing and you were in the area.
Sounds like it was a great day out Mike ...... though pity about the lack of view!
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Thanks to, I think Sandy Saunders, for his post about his trip and the comments about the top of Swirral. That was the only reason I took my crampons.
Glad to be off help. Did you read my earlier posting on 7 March about the guy who fell to his death from Striding Edge? Striding Edge is one to treat with caution at any time, more so under winter conditions.
Would have been nice to have seen some photos, but that's the luck of the draw in the UK mountains.
-- Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
'Mountains or Mole Hills ... summiting still brings the same excitement'
Yep, read your report. Can't think where the guy slipped unless it was the steep bit down at the end.
Have to say that Swirral was definitely the harder of the two ridges in yesterday's conditions. Is that because Striding Edge is horizontal rather than the non horizontal start to the top of Swirral.
In summer I would rate Striding the more difficult of the two.
Mike Mason "sandy saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:A_T4c.415$sg7.268@newsfe1-win...
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Sounds like it was a great day out Mike ...... though pity about the lack
of
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view!
Quoted message said:
Thanks to, I think Sandy Saunders, for his post about his trip and the comments about the top of Swirral. That was the only reason I took my crampons.
Glad to be off help. Did you read my earlier posting on 7 March about the guy who fell to his death from Striding Edge? Striding Edge is one to
treat
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with caution at any time, more so under winter conditions.
Would have been nice to have seen some photos, but that's the luck of the draw in the UK mountains.
-- Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
'Mountains or Mole Hills ... summiting still brings the same excitement'
Yep that's what I meant. It was quite weird watching it happen and then watching the area just blot out as cloud came in over the tops of Helvellyn, Dollywagon, Fairfield, etc.
Mike Mason
"]news:[email hidden]...
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Watched as cloud poured over the col between Fairfield and Dollywaggon Pike.
errrr......I don't think so mate.
Might just be me but why not? I'm sure it's not a geographical thing as there is a col of sorts btwn the two with Grizedale Tarn in the middle of it. The only thing I can think of is a meteorological thing and you were
Mike Mason <[email hidden]> wrote: [ excellent TR snipped ]
Many thanks for this, Mike. I myself never mind about the absence of a view under these sorts of conditions; it's just an adventure being on a hill at a time like that!
