Quiet day on the Helvellyn Ridge

Wanting to keep our momentum with walking, we hatched the plan of walking the whole length of Helvellyn (12+ miles measured with a shoe lace), before the dreaded rain returns tomorrow.

J and R heading up from Grisedale Tarn

A few folk around on top, including a tent selling hot drinks and snacks!

We walked South to North, starting from near Grisedale Tarn, and finishing near Keswick/Threlkeld.  I'd expected it to be a quiet walk once we got past the main top of Helvellyn (I realise its a bank holiday weekend). Well clearly that wasn't quite the case. It was heaving on top, and amazing to see the constant line of 'ant' sized people on Striding Edge (Rob got great pics of this).

Close up of Striding Edge from the Nethermost Pike area (good zoom and pic Rob)

Huw is/has just been working on the Cuillin Ridge, Isle of Skye, wonder if that ridge was this busy!?!

Other surprises included seeing the Helvellyn ski tow, the tent on top selling teas, coffee's and chocolate (industrious youth trying to raise money to fund a climbing trip to the Greater Ranges - they needed £21k, not sure if they quite reached that goal!), and really the day was dominated by the 'Threlkeld to Helvellyn and back Fell Race' that we felt bound up in as runners 'buzzed' us from both directions as we walked ever Northwards. So in the end one of the busiest walks I've ever been on - but satisfying all the same.

Is this an arable field? No its the Northern end of the Helvellyn Ridge. 3 wanderers stride out.

Near the end of our walk the last 2 fell runners try to take positions from Rob, Janet and Abs