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Gearing up for Striding Edge with the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team for company at the Hole in the Wall. The world and his dog (literally), seemed to be out today after weeks of poor weather. (Ok for you guide types that can get out during the week!). |
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It was a bit murky at first on the ridge, sadly, but it started to improve as we got past the small chimney, downclimb and then up onto Helvellyn. |
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The snow on the ridge was mostly good. There was a little softer stuff as we made our way up through the baby cornice onto the summit of Helvellyn. |
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As the sun came through, we could the masses behind us on Striding Edge. |
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Jon going through his first (small) cornice! |
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The reward was stunning 360 degree views like this of Ullswater. |
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And this looking across the plateau over to Dollywagon Pike. |
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Willy and Jon, and loads of others, at the almost buried summit shelter on Helvellyn. Having spoken to a few folk, we got the impression that the snow in the gullies wasn't all that good yet, and there were some big-ish cornices. So we opted not to climb any. However, later we did see teams going up, all unroped, so maybe it was okay, or they were lucky? |
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Willy and Jon, carefully descending a snowy Swirral Edge. We did see folks with just those little spike things you get for icey paths, some with no crampons (foolhardy or skillful?), and a few with trainers. |
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A very alpine looking Swirral Edge. |
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Some big cornices on the northern side of Swirral Edge overlooking Brown Cove. |
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Spindrift making for a very atmospheric descent of Swirral Edge. |
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Looking back at Helvellyn summmit and Swirral Edge from the path up to Catseye Cam. |
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Looking down from Catseye Cam onto a frozen Red Tarn and Striding Edge. |
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People silhouetted on Striding Edge against the late afternoon sun. |
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For a little extra sport, as we didn't do any actual climbing, we crossed back over to Striding Edge, via Red Tarn, and headed for some slightly steeper ground below the ridge. |
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This gave Jon (and us) a brief chance to go up through some easy mixed ground onto the ridge. |
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Willy, waiting for Jon to top out on the ridge. |
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A last chance for photos back at the Hole in the Wall, before descending back into Patterdale. |
HD Video of our day, with some top tunes from The Black Keys !
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