Name of walk	Helvellyn, a Quick Up and Down.
Date of walk	2006-02-10

I took advantage of the good weather and a day off and decided to have a quick, lone walk up Helvellyn. I had been up in August but had forgotten my camera, but not yesterday.

Good reflections on Thirlmere.

I started the ascent from Wythburn on the side of Thirlmere. The weather was warm and sunny, but there was a lot of ice on the path and all the waterfalls were frozen.

It took an hour and a half to reach the top, but before that you get the first view of Striding Edge.

Tourists on the cairn! It was cold at the top, hence the snow. I had lunch in the shelter which I shared with 4 young folk. I only saw three other people on my way up. There were more on the summit as they had come up by various other routes.

Red Tarn is frozen, Ullswater in the distance and snow in the foreground.

Striding Edge.

I next took a stroll to Lower Man where you could see the far end of Thirlmere, Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance and beyond that the Solway Firth and Scotland. Blencathra is the big mountain on the right. Another one that I climbed without a camera!

The view towards White Side.

Swirral Edge to Catstycam on the right.

Swirral Edge complete with climbers.

The way back. Coniston Old Man and Coniston Water peaking through at the back right.