Wednesday 18th February, 2004

Helvellyn via Brown Crag

Warning:  This route includes two scrambles.

Helvellyn Gill Grade 2

Brown Crag Grade 3

Start Point: NY 316 168

End Point:  NY 316 168

Distance:   6.4miles / 10.26km

Max Height: 3118feet / 945m

Height Ascended: 3,406feet / 1038m

Estimated Time:  3hrs 40 mins

Weather: 0 to -4°C in shade.  A glorious day with a sharp frost.  Snow at altitude/  Rock on Brown Crag was frosty with rime.  Some verglas in Helvellyn Gill made it somewhat hazardous.

The start of the day in Helvellyn Gill - Here's hoping I don't get wet on a cold day!

The gill was a joy, well away from the main tourist thoroughfare which was today busy with walkers keen to get above the snow line and enjoy the tops.

Moving up the gill to below Brown Crag

Lower Man and Brown Crag from above the gill.

Below the crag with the route traced in red on the other view.

Whiteside from Brown Crag

At one point the route appears to reach an impasse.  I was shocked on seeing a huge rock wall, which today was slippery with ice.  The route soon revealed itself here.

Into the snow.  The scramble soon became a whole new experience, although I soon realised I was following some footprints up the rocks in the snow.

The exposure just isn't apparent in this view towards Swirls.  You may just make out a ledge running up the middle of the photograph.  The route follows this then turns left sharply to gain new heights.

A view from the steepest section. 

 I just had to take this photograph. I hope my face doesn't scare you.   I'm holding on with my left hand and taking the photograph with the outstretched arm of my right!!  Could you imagine the epitaph when they found the camera if I had had fallen!!  It doesn't look much, but there's quite a fall behind me - don't tell Guy Newbold of the MRT what I've been doing, or my mum!!

On gaining the summit ridge this magnificent spectacle appeared here captured in my wide angle lens.

Back on the tourist route

Click on this thumbnail for a south westerly panorama.

Towards Catstycam and Swirral Edge

Red Tarn as I came near Helvellyn's escarpment cornice.

'The' classic view of Striding Edge

St. Sunday Crag  from Striding Edge

On the edge -  The wild angle lens captures the ground at my feet and the view along the crest.

The Dixon Memorial 1858.  As mentioned earlier, it has had such a poor paint job.  The red line highlights the location of Pinnacle Ridge on St.Sunday Crag climbed yesterday.

Looking along Striding Edge to Helvellyn

Winter sunlight glistens to make this such a gorgeous prospect today

The gentle water and thin ice of Red Tarn

Red Tarn from the start of Swirral Edge ascent

On Swirral Edge - far more iced than Striding Edge today.

Looking down towards Red Tarn with Helvellyn summit on the right.

Continuing my ascent of Swirral or has many like to call it - Squirrel Edge.  I have never seen a squirrel there!!

Once over Lower Man I descended towards White Side before turning westwards and returned under Brown Crag.  I descended the north flank of Helvellyn Gill.

Skiddaw's bulk, bathes in the late afternoon sun.

Thirlmere from the flanks of the gill.

Eagle Crag from the descent.  The end to another perfect day.

On the way home (via Keswick and Matterdale) I called at St. Patrick's to leave flowers on Doris Adhya's grave.  She loved the hills and with Jugal her husband they can now keep an eye on Helvellyn together.

Peter M. Burgess, 2004

'fellrunning'