Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Helvellyn via Striding Edge

Date : 2nd June 2010
Start/End : Patterdale
Wainwrights : Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, White Side, Raise.
Distance : 12.6 Miles
Height Gained : 4210 feet



The route : clockwise from Patterdale

This walk is essentially the typical route up Helvellyn from Patterdale and via Striding Edge. The typical return is then via Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam (that route is described here) but today I wanted to extend the walk further and so from Helvellyn, continued northwards and returned via Sticks Pass. 

The walk starts along the single track road in the lower Grisedale valley before bearing off right to ascend the southern flanks of Birkhouse Moor.



The road from Patterdale down the Grisedale valley

The path ahead climbing up to Birkhouse Moor

Looking up the Grisedale valley to Dollywaggon (left, pointy summit) and Nethermost Pikes

Grisedale valley with St Sunday Crag left

Looking back to Patterdale

Catstye Cam and Swirral Edge from the Hole-in-the-wall

 Anticipating the usual traffic on Striding Edge I had left at first light and thankfully reaped the benefits by having the whole glorious arĂȘte to myself.

Red Tarn

Striding Edge looking formidable

Helvellyn momentarily out of cloud

Red Tarn and Catstye Cam

The start of the Striding Edge arĂȘte

The Robert Dixon memorial 1858

Looking back

The Gough memorial 1980 - Helvellyn

 When I got to the summit of Helvellyn it was under cloud but the forecast was for this to lift and so I headed leisurely down to Nethermost and Dollywaggon Pikes to have some lunch and watch others hikers slowly picking their way across the now crowded Striding Edge.


Striding Edge southern face

Striding Edge from near Nethermost Pike

How many people on there now ?!

 As forecast the cloud lifted from Helvellyn about an hour later and so I headed on back to enjoy the now clear views.  


Helvellyn summit


Looking over Catstye Cam towards Ullswater

Looking over Swirral Edge towards Raise, and the onwards path

 From Helvellyn it's easy going on a good path over Helvellyn Lower Man, White Side and then Raise before the terrain dips a little to the col at Sticks Pass. Here, I headed back down to Ullswater and Patterdale.


Catstye Cam & Keppel Cove from Helvellyn Lower Man

Helvellyn from its 'Lower Man'

Thirlmere from Helvellyn Lower Man

The northwards path to White Side

Raise summit

The panorama back southwards from Raise

Sticks Pass from Raise

Looking along Sticks Pass to Sheffield Pike

Glenridding