No traffic problems on the way over, and the weather looks promising.  Cold winds predicted for higher up, but I can live with that.

Cor, this is steep.  What, we aren't out of the woods yet?

First sight of our objective, Dollywagon Pike.

A gentle stroll up Grisedale - a contrast to the climb ahead.  The nearest ridge is Eagle Crag, with Nethermost Cove behind; we are headed for the farther outcrop, the Tongue. At the bottom of the Tongue is the lump of  Spout Crag.  A shadowed gully, about 1/3 of the way up the Tongue, is the route we planned to take. 

We're going up there.  Ruthwaite Lodge can be seen at the bottom of the slope. From this close, the gully is less obvious, and we ended up going left immediately behind Spout Crag. This section was very steep and broken, and quite loose - not recommended. 

Second Breakfast outside Ruthwaite Lodge.  After the walk in we needed a rest and sustenance before we could deal with the serious height gain that comes next (see the map!)

It is very steep, and I am an unfit old codger.  Many photostops were necessary, for cooling off and regaining composure (and sometimes the ability to speak)

Photostops like this one, which shows how much further we have to climb

On the other hand, the views of  St. Sunday Crag and Fairfield were good

Click here to view a zoomable panorama (720KB)  using the Java applet PTViewer.

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Well, most of the time, but some fool always gets in the way.  St. Sunday Crag is a jinxed hill for our group - individually we've all climbed it, but whenever two or three are gathered together we get rain, hail, cloud, plagues of frogs or whatever and have to abort! 

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Nearly at the top.  The cold wind is now evident, strong enough to cause camera-shake but not to affect balance.  It's blowing up the valley, which should help....

Panorama, looking North.  High Crags, Nethermost Pike and the ridge above Eagle Crag are in front of Helvellyn and Striding Edge.  The pyramidal peak of Catstycam is peeking over the Edge. On the horizon we can see the Skiddaw and Grasmoor ranges.

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Panorama, looking South.  St. Sunday Crag and Fairfield dominate the view.

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Panorama, looking West.  The haze seemed to be worse looking towards the sun, but there is still a good view of Lakeland from the Coniston fells to Skiddaw. We had met nobody since leaving Glenridding, but on such a day the Helvellyn ridge was a popular outing for many, including some mountain bikers.  This could be seen as a downside of path improvement.

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Click here to view a 360° summit panorama (1.5MB) using the Java applet PTViewer.

Click here to view a 360° summit panorama (1.5MB) using the Java applet JSphere Lite

Click here to view a 360° summit panorama (190KB) using the Java applet Panaview

I originally misidentified this as Nethermost Cove, but now realise it is Ruthwaite Cove from near High Crag, since we can see Hard Tarn on the left. The lefthand ridge leads from Eagle Crag to Nethermost Pike and the righthand ridge is the Tongue.

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The Tongue from the lunch point on Nethermost Pike. Relatively secluded, and it was possible to sit out of the wind yet still have a good view. Ruthwaite Lodge can just be seen at the bottom, on the path to Grisedale Tarn.

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Striding Edge from the col above Nethermost Cove.  In the originals, the queues of ants on the rocky sections of the Edge can be seen. It was horribly busy, and ten or so people were waiting at each scrambling bottleneck for the less confident folk to get through. 

Click here to view a zoomable panorama (750KB)  using the Java applet PTViewer.

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Swirral Edge from the trig point on Helvellyn.  We didn't stop - it was very crowded.

 Click here to view a zoomable panorama (1MB)  using the Java applet PTViewer.

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Swirral Edge, Red Tarn and Striding Edge

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Catsycam with Place Fell and High Street behind.  The weather was doing its best for us.

Catstycam

Red Tarn and Helvellyn from Catstycam. Red Tarn was sparkling in the sun.

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Glenridding Beck and the old mine workings, where the Youth Hostel is now.

- and landscaped mine spoil heaps

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Place Fell in the background

Kates Gourmet Kitchen!

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission of Ordnance Survey, © Crown copyright.