Helvellyn, 1 December 2001

From the start of the path leading up from Glenridding. The rows of houses would have been built for workers in the lead mines in the 18th century. Now, they are probably weekend cottages for city folk.

Looking back towards Glenridding, with Ullswater coming into view beyond.

This was taken after we had been climbing for exactly one hour. At this height you can see the whole of Ullswater. There is still a patch of sun in the distance, but from here onwards it was a dull and overcast day.

First view of the summit of Helvellyn, just covered with cloud. To the left of it is the jagged skyline of Striding Edge. The conical hill on the right is Catstycam, which I have never climbed.

Nick and Simon about to set off along Striding Edge (which you can just see above their heads). The summit ridge of Helvellyn has a fringe of snow below it. The lake to the right of the picture is Red Tarn.

Groups of people picking their way along the Edge.

Looking back along the Edge. Real Men walk along the rocky crest of the ridge. For the rest of us, there are paths to the left and right (but they are on a steep slope, and can sometimes feel more exposed than the crest).

(No pictures from the summit of Helvellyn, which was very cold, windy and covered in cloud.)

This is taken from further south along the main ridge, near the summit of Dollywaggon Pike, and shows our return route down the valley of Grisedale Beck back to Ullswater in the distance. (The dark patches in the valley are conifer plantations.)

Grisedale Tarn, from the slopes of Dollywaggon Pike.

Waterfall in Grisedale Beck. It is too far away to look impressive in this picture. But there had been a lot of rain the previous night, and all the mountain streams were in torrent. The thin pale line to the left of the waterfall is one of dozens of little tributaries cascading down the hillside.

By this time it was very overcast and already starting to get dark, which accounts for the lack of colour in the picture.

This is a scan of a postcard that I bought, looking down on Striding Edge from near the summit of Helvellyn. It gives a much clearer impression of the Edge than my photos do.