Helvellyn via Striding Edge - There are many
fine ways to climb Helvellyn however an ascent via Striding Edge is considered
to be by far the most spectacular of all. This narrow ridge has a reputation of
being scary and difficult. Although members will previously have encountered
similar individual obstacles during previous Club walks, such as a short
down-climb, or a scramble up over a boulder, here on Striding Edge these are all
put together with the delight (or terror) of standing on a narrow walkway with
valleys falling away to either side! Most of the difficulties may easily be
avoided by using bypass paths below the crest however they are on arguably more
exposed ground and each come with their own problems. One such bypass ends in a
loose and steep gully which is quite nasty. To reinforce the seriousness of
these ridges, near the start of Striding Edge is the Dixon memorial. A small but
conspicuous plaque reads “In memory of Robert Dixon of Rooking, Patterdale who
was killed on this spot on the
27th
day of November 1858 following the
Patterdale Foxhounds". Once safely across, at the far end of the ridge is the
memorial stone to painter Charles Gough which is worth pausing to read. At the
end of the ridge there is a short 7m descent which can be avoided by descending
to the left a short way to a mid-level path, and then down an easier gully to
the lower path. After climbing the last rocky tower there is a steep loose stony
path to the summit of Helvellyn.