With snow on the ground in York and Rowntree Park pond frozen over, various folk were talking of winter conditions near and far.
The following party on the classic pinnacle shot
Peri was off to Scotland for some Munro bagging and down jacket testing, we thought we would risk our luck closer to home and try the Lake District. We all know how hit and miss it can be there, so decided to go equipped for all events. Kirk even packed his rockshoes! That way we could either walk or try to climb something.
Seven o'clock and Pete McDonald picked up Kirk and I, then Guido on route. Over the A66 and down to the ever popular Glenridding. Guido with his wealth of experience had predicted that Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag would be doable in any condition.
Grabbing a handy parking spot at the bottom of the walk in valley, we donned our boots and hats and skidded on up the valley.
Steep snow on the approach plod
The MWIS had predicted cold conditions and had proved to be spot on, the day had dawned clear and bright. The farm track was riddled with frozen puddles and would catch you out the moment you dropped your guard.
Eventually you leave the track at a small plantation and zig zag up the side of the hill to where you contour around to the bottom of Pinnacle Ridge. It can be hard to pick out, but we eventually located it and started kicking steps up some steep snow.
The snow was quite deep covered with a frozen crust. After the steep snow through some broken rocks we eventually found ourselves at the bottom of the ridge proper. I think this is regarded as the crux when done as a summer scramble and has a wall with a crack in and a corner on the right. As we were soloing at this point, I chose to bridge my way up the right-hand corner, which felt nice and secure. The next section was quite steep and offered 3 choices,
I tried left and got a bit stuck and had to reverse back. Pete tried the centre and got up, I resorted to the right-hand variant, which I think Guido and Kirk did too.
First man up-Jim on the crux
The next obstacle was the Pinnacle, I presume this gives the route its name and where all the photos get taken. No bother to climb, but looking down from the top is a different story. All I could see was a steep snow covered slab. However Pete Mac soon managed to descend it by hanging off his axe which he had hooked over the top edge. Pete located a few buried footholds and I managed to downclimb it without having to use the sling I had taken out of my pack.
We were then treated to watching Guido and Kirk and a following party of two navigate on and off it, while getting lots of good photos.
All that remained was an easier bit of scrambling and step kicking till we gained the final summit slope of St Sunday Crag.
We paused on top for a bite to eat and a drink and headed off in glorious sunshine and clear blue skies over Cofa Pike and up onto Fairfield.
Looking down the crux at the crowds behind us
Lots of people out on the ridges and the snow was deep and secure enough to not have to wear crampons. From Fairfield we descended to Grisedale Tarn, enjoying three sections of sliding down on our bums and using our axes as a brake.
From here we were faced with a long slog up Dollywagon Pike and then Helvellyn. It was here I found it really hard going, I had been suffering a cold all week and my lungs were starting to feel it.
I also developed a cramp in my upper right leg, so I downed a Power Gel.
The superb ridge to Cofa Pike & Fairfield
Vile is the only word I can describe, the taste was awful and the consistancy was something similar to what arrives in nappies.
I plodded on after the others and found the cramp wearing off as I crested Helvellyn. Thanks for waiting 10 minutes Guido, Pete and Kirk.
It was thought a better idea to descend Swirral Edge as it is shorter and a bit easier than Striding Edge and the sun was just touching the horizon treating us to a splendid sunset. We made good time and were walking out of the corrie with good light. However this soon faded and we spent a good part of the next hour slipping and sliding down the path.
Some spots were soft, other bits were hard water ice. We even saw one guy fall over wearing crampons!
A lone Skier descends into a Helvellyn sunset
The conditions were so bad we had to slip into the 'Traveller's Rest' pub where a few pints were downed and we recovered enough to walk back to the car.
All in all one of the best days out in a while, Thanks to Pete for driving, thanks to Guido for the route choice and I can't wait till we can get out again.
