Dave Rambles on and on...: Helvellyn 11th August 2012-08-15

Glenridding - early morning

As I was just about to start Striding Edge after a long climb from Glenridding I had a chat with a group of fellow walkers. I explained that I had taken a wrong turning at the start of my walk , but had done a U turn to get back on this route because I wanted to go up this way as it was the first time for me. One guy looked at me and said with complete understanding ….’yes – it has got to be done’. I agree - for me , this is definitely one of those walks that ‘has got to be done’

Red Tarn and Helvellyn

Arrived at Glenridding car park at 7.10. Misty , cool, and no other cars parked. Got myself kitted up and set up. The footpath signs from there are quite good but I made a wrong decision and headed up the Glenridding valley before realising I wasn’t climbing enough. After checking the map, I set of back the way I had come – already tired from yesterday and two miles on the clock…bugger.

On the edge

The long steady climb up the side of Birkhouse Moor in the hot morning sun was tiring and I kept stopping for a rest and water. As usual though the scenery was stunning. Eventually, I could see the top of Catstye Cam sticking up beyond the crest of the ridge I was heading for, and then finally I could see my target for the day – Helvellyn…with Striding Edge and Swirall Edge forming a giant amphitheatre, with Red Tarn in the middle.

After another steady climb past the ‘hole in the wall’ I reached the start of Striding Edge. There was already a lot of folk in front and behind me. I started with the premise that I would walk the ridge rather then the path just below the edge to the right (despite not being good with heights). So I set of and was fairly comfortable despite a few tricky bits. After about two thirds of the way across I was feeling really tired and a bit shaky so I dropped down to the path. However, the path doesn’t run the whole length so I eventually had to get back on top, and it was at that moment I had a bit of a panic and froze ….just for a few seconds…no choice really but to carry on. I soon got tom the bad step and probably because I am not very flexible I split my shorts on the way down which provided some much needed ventilation !! Just after that there is the final ‘hump’ of the edge , and not fancying that I spotted a path of sorts around it to the right. I think this was a bad decision because it dropped down and I was left with a really difficult scramble on loose ground to get back on the main path to the summit. The final climb to the summit is a steep tiring bit, but eventually I reached it. The top was fantastic – loads of folk around arriving from all the different routes to get there. There was a fellow there selling tea , coffee and bacon butties, to support his mountaineering expedition to Pakistan. Mountain bikers , families, young folk , old folk…..the British at play. I bought a cup of tea nad sat down for my lunch enjoying the splendid panorama in front of me.

Striding edge from Swirall Edge

After about half an hour I had to decide which descent I would take. Before the walk I had the grand idea of walking the ridge towards Fairfield and then dropping down to Patterdale via St Sunday Crag, but there was no way my battered body was going to take that. In the end I compromised and took the stroll along the ridge to Nethermost Pike to bag my final peak for the day. From there I headed back to Helvellyn to make my descent via Swirall Edge. The steep scramble down to the path was quite entertaining , but easier than Striding Edge. Once I got to the path the going was downhill all the way on the good path down to Glenridding. The day had got really hot by then so I took my time and stopped for plenty of rests. The scenery throughout was magnificent. A great day out which will stay in the memory for a long time.