30th Year Celebrations

It was one week ago yesterday that we went up Helvellyn via Raise Beck, Dollywagon and Nethermost Pike onto the summit for our photo shoot before descending down over Whiteside and arriving at the bus stop opposite the Kings Head pub at Thirlspot. I know some of you wanted to come along but could not get away from work so these photos are for you.

Well I had better start showing you some of the photos, but those amongst you who are sharp eyed will have noticed that KR is now on Facebook where if you take a look, you will see the official photo shoot taken by Tom our photographer enlisted for the day. The following photos were taken by Pete and are perhaps more random.....

First up we have the view after we had left Grisedale Tarn and started to go up the stone pathway towards the top of Dollywagon. But who is this chap making his sporty way up the steps; hands in pockets tells you he is super fit........

Carlisle United Football Club hiker

If you take a close look at all the photos posted here and on Facebook you might discover who this mystery Carlisle player is..............mmm

Next, a photo taken on the top of Dollywagon of a hiker who came all the way from Wales to celebrate and join us for our very special day, but a Welsh accent? hmm

Some more of our walkers enjoying the wonderful views and generally standing around and having a rest after that climb up from Grisedale Tarn. We did not hang around for too long though as the wind was cold and more than one person began to wish they had brought along a spare pair of gloves, luckily for them I had 3 pairs with me as I have been caught out in the past with cold fingers on a summer's day.

The view back towards Dollywagon from the ridge leading to Nethermost

Pete and Bella on the summit of Helvellyn

Of course we finally arrived at the summit and had a bite before taking yet more photos. The cold wind was still with us but the sun did pop out as you can see by the shadows.

Posing for the photographer

On the summit I was glad of those warm gloves.

We enjoyed some Elderflower cordial before we set off back down the ridge where we were due to meet up with Alison who had been delayed all morning. She was important because she was carrying up the celebratory carrot cake and lemon drizzle cake which was our thanks to our loyal customers.

Alison turned up just before we reached the summit of Whiteside and we all enjoyed our cake before descending down to the bus stop. I think the bus driver was not too amused at seeing 20 people waiting for his packed bus though..........

If you want to see more photos of this memorable day, go and click on the new facebook button.

Helvellyn 18th February

Pete took this shot from near the top of Raise Gill, looking over Dunmail Raise to Steel Fell when he and Bella were on the way up to Grisedale Tarn last Thursday. From there they climbed the zig-zag path up to Dollywagon Pike; there's still a lot of snow on the hills and it was really hard going. It misted in just beyond the tarn, and with visibility reduced to a few yards, they struggled to follow the path. It cleared a little once and Pete got a glimpse of Nethermost Pike ahead so he knew they were going in the right direction. The mist thickened as the pair walked over Nethermost Pike and they saw practically nothing until they heard voices ahead and saw the shelter on top of Helvellyn emerging from the murk. And there were people... lots of them, who'd come up from Wythburn and Swirls. The intrepid duo dropped off Helvellyn by the main tourist path to Swirls though this was practically obliterated by the snow; Pete's Kahtoola mini-crampons really came into their own on the steep sections of what was a rapid descent and they had time for coffee at the King's Head while they waited for the 3 o'clock bus back to Keswick.

Here's Bella in her warm jacket, on the descent from Helvellyn, just below Brown Cove Crags.

Its been a while but.....our Broadband limit ran out

The trouble with Broadband is that you have an upload limit set by how much you can be made to pay each month by your provider and ours is a small limit.  So post about 10 piccies and update the blog say 3 times in a month and that uses it up very fast, because of course you also need to collect emails and use the internet.....Well the upshot is that sometimes we can't post even if we want to because we don't have the broad band capacity. So now its into October we can post again and I want to thank you for your patience because I know some of you faithfully follow this blog and look most days for new stuff and of course there wasn't any. I hope you will forgive us when these glitches occur, and speaking of trials and tribulations....

What an October it looks like being too if today was anything to go by. Gales, heavy showers, sun peeped through a couple of times and then back to lashing rain again...Luckily for our leaders, no one had a walk today because it would have been difficult seeing, walking and enjoying anything above 1000 feet.

But the sun does shine and I have some piccies from Cathy Colam to prove it. First up though you must meet her new doggie... This is a lovely photo of our new canine team member called Skye...He is pictured on Causey Pike and Cathy says this is his first walk up a proper mountain.

Next up she sent a photo of a group of you on top of Dollywagon Pike on 13th September when you walked over Helvellyn as well. I do not have a list of names but you know who you are... I see kira though..and I think I have walked with the man on the extreme right, he has a terrier too I think. Send me a comment if you can and let me know if my memory serves me right.

Now we have one last piccie today and this was the same walk showing a superb vista including Blencathra and Skiddaw taken from the Whiteside descent.

Pete and I are off to Braemar tomorrow for a sortie on a Munro or 2 or maybe more!  So until we are back, enjoy the hills and if you want to send comments or photos they will all be welcome. Cathy and David will be taking the next few walks out from the Moot Hall.