All The Gear But No Idea: Helm Crag

Helm Crag 18-01-2015

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Route: Grasmere, Easedale Road, Lanerigg, White Crag, High Raven Crag, Helm Crag, New Bridge, Easedale Road

Date: 18/01/2015
From: Grasmere

Parking: Roadside parking
Start Point: Grasmere
Region: Central Fells

Route length: 4.4 miles (7 km)
Time taken: 02:03
Average speed: 2.1 mph
Ascent: 407m
Descent: 417m

Wainwrights on this walk: Helm Crag (405m)

Additional summits: None

Other points of interest: None

A relatively short one this but a prime example of just how seriously anyone should take winter walking in the Lake District - even on the so-called smaller fells.

A prolonged and fairly heavy snowfall on the morning we awoke necessitated a change of plans and, after a glance at the latest forecast (which had changed considerably), we set our sights on the more modest target of Helm Crag and Gibson Knott, or so we thought.

Kitted up for the cold we left Grasmere along the main route towards Helm Crag, Easedale Road. Once the clouds had lifted the fells were looking resplendent with the winter coating though it was obvious, even on the lower elevations, that a brisk wind was whipping the snow off the ridges into a swirling white cloud.

Tarn Crag dominates Easedale

Tarn Crag and Gibson Knott

The lane leading to Brimmer Head Farm with Helm Crag in the background

The lane crosses Goody Bridge and onto the lane leading to Brimmer Head Farm. Dating from 1574, it is reputed to be the oldest building in Grasmere and is protected by its Grade I listed status. At the entrance to Brimmer Head Farm, the path turns and begins its stepped climb up the slopes of Helm Crag.

The bridleway leading to the footings of Helm Crag

A stepped path climbs the southern slopes

Lower Easedale with Silver How beyond

Looking back along the path towards Heron Pike

Tarn Crag and Easedale

We plodded up the path to White Crag which provides a fine overlook of lower Easedale and marked the beginning of any serious snow. This was around 250m after the snow that fell in the morning. The forecast was ringing true though and the early cloud had lifted off all but the highest summits - Fairfield was still looking rather bleak.

The path climbing the hillside

Sara climbs up towards High Raven Crag

Snow-capped fells of Seat Sandal, Fairfield, Stone Arthur, Great Rigg and Heron Pike

We forged on, noting the spindrift being lifted off Gibson Knott, climbing up alongside Raven High Crag and into the icy breath of the northerly wind. The outcrops and crags of Helm Crag offered the slightest bit of shelter until we reached the famous outcrop that forms The Lion when seen from valley level.

Blea Rigg and Slapestone Edge with the Langdale Pikes behind

High Raven Crag with Seat Sandal beyond

The view across the top of Helm Crag - the summit is a prominent rock sticking out of the ground

Still largely sheltered by the rocks, we proceeded to the summit proper, a prominent outcrop known as The Howitzer. We had passed a few people who had turned back from this point and it was easy to see why. While the wind didn't particularly hinder progress, it was enough to raise a stinging cloud of spindrift which could only safely be overcome by a pair of goggles of some foolhardiness, of which we had neither. This was to be as far as we got today, even The Howitzer itself didn't look an appetising climb.

Sara in the spindrift on Helm Crag

Steel Fell

Gibson Knott

Gibson Knott, Greenburn and Steel Fell

Dunmail Raise

More spindrift on the summit

The famous outcrop that forms The Lion

Sara on the summit

A brief lull allowed me to get some nice pictures of Gibson Knott and Sara being hammered by the spindrift before we retraced our steps back to the shelter beneath High Raven Crag. This did allow me to practice the ice axe arrest technique I was taught last year and, thankfully, I haven't fully forgotten it.

Looking out over Grasmere

Tarn Crag

Seat Sandal and Fairfield

Practicing with the ice axe

Still practicing with the ice axe....

We followed the same ascent route back to the valley floor and decided that what we really needed now was a hot drink, so we retired to Grasmere to do just that. So, there it is, possibly one of the shorter posts I'll ever write but we certainly learned some valuable lessons in the relative safety of the lower fells of the Lake District. I'll be off to the shops now to get a pair of goggles - a small piece of kit that can make a huge difference.