Summary & Summits

Walk Blog

The day started bright, sunny and summery, with excellent visibility providing majestic views particularly to the west and north. As the day progressed cloud increased with strong gusty winds on the higher summits, and a consequent drop in temperatures, so feeling more like winter. Just at the end it came on to rain heavily. We were with Uncle Eric, and this was to be a good day for him, bagging all the summits, especially Helvellyn. I was very excited as two of my four remaining Wainwrights would be ticked off. We set off from Stanah, just at the start of the road to St Johns in the Vale. Walked up the lane, climbing the ladderstile, then through the gate to cross the bridge over the water conduit and finally another gate to open fell. Sticks Pass was ahead, our return route. We went right along the wall on the path signed to Swirls. Crossed Fisherplace Gill, which was flowing quite fast after recent rain. Then to the point where the path comes up from Thirlspot. Consulting the map and Wainwright Book 1, we backtracked a short way to find the path climbing up, and after crossing the gill, took a right fork to climb steeply through the bracken. This finally gave way to grassy terrain as the path wound on towards the bulk of Brown Crag our first objective. Skirting left we gained most of the height, then struck right to quickly reach its summit - a rocky outcrop. Another Birkett ticked off and the last in the Helvellyn Group. Walked on climbing towards White Side, but took the path right to walk along the slopes to round the mountain above Helvellyn Gill with the dramatic Browncove Crags across the valley. A steepish pull finally brought us to the col on the ridge. Here right it was a fairly short steep ascent to Helvellyn Lower Man (Birkett catch-up Little Eric and I). Then just a short stroll to Helvellyn itself. Not surprisingly it was busy, but we took our opportunity to bag the cairn for a short while for our picture. That was three tops done but still two to go. Returning we took the opportunity to inspect the steep descent that is Swirral Edge, before returning over Lower Man and down to the col. Ahead was the steady 200ft of ascent to White Side with its cairn and lowish shelter. This was used for lunch, but it was now quite cold so it was only a brief stop - suddenly it was like winter. Ahead was Raise reached after 250ft ascent from the depression, its top adorned with a beautifully constructed cairn. A work of art! I was eager to sit with my pals for my picture, as it was my 212th Wainwright and the last in Book 1. Descending we could see clearly ahead the cross roads at the Sticks Pass. Our route was left on the grassy track with some steeper eroded sections. Finally we were amongst the bracken again, the path led to the signpost where we taken the path to Swirls. By now it was starting to rain, but we were the car and safely inside before it turned heavy. Another super day.

Allen.

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