Lakes 17th Feb - Who needs the Alps with weather like this?

Towards Helvellyn

If you could bottle a few good days then….Sunday the 17^th of Feb and Monday 18^th were absolutely stunning. With it being half term, we took a chance of taking a couple of days off in the Lakes.

Sunday 17th Feb

Arriving early Sunday morning had a quick bit of scoff in Ambleside then headed up towards Helvellyn. The Wythburn car park allows pretty quick access to the fell. After a play in the short gullies of Comb Crags.

Helvellyn from Dollywaggon



Towards Faifield & Sunday

We soon hit the summit path then headed south towards Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon. Plenty of snow on the eastern flanks though not much on Striding Edge, a few cold nights had provided a load bearing crust of snow and ice.

We dropped towards Grisedale Tarn then the path down Dunmail. Not a big walk but enough time to take in the breathtaking Alpine conditions and snap a few pics. The view towards Langdale and the Bowfell showed there was plenty of snow left, so head that way tomorrow.

 

Monday 18^th Feb

After a clear night, we were keen to get as high again as quick as possible setting off from Langdale we took the path up towards Gimmer and Loft Crag. Still a good amount of snow above 600m, we found a few continuous ramps of snow leading up to Harrison Sickle. After a few detours we plodded off toward Pavey Ark. Easy Gully was sparse, but the main path East up from Stickle Tarn was still chocked with snow.


Pike O Stickle & Bowfell from Harrison



Stickle Tarn Harrison & Pavey Ark

 

Stickle Tarn from below Pavey Ark 

Overall conditions, in spite of quite high temperatures in the sun, the recent overnight frosts have hardened the snow higher up to allow quite firm ground. Whereas a few days before the weekend feet were sinking into some deep drifts you could definitely kick steps last Sunday & Monday, by all accounts Tuesday held good as well. If your lucky it might hold through the week.