Raise, Helvellyn and Striding Edge

As we set off from Legburthwaite towards Sticks Pass, the early morning cloud had completely burned away to reveal a wonderful summer's morning. It was crucial that conditions had cleared, because I would have had a hell of a job convincing Dave and Steve onto Striding Edge in anything less than favourable weather!

The initial half mile of climbing up Stanah Gill towards Sticks Pass is very steep, and Dave in particular made heavy weather of the start. Once he shook off his predictable early lethargy, however, we found our rhythm and climbed steadily into the quiet uplands. Soon Sticks Pass was in sight.

Once we reached the col at Sticks Pass, the punishing gradient eased. We walked on to Raise, where I had enjoyed marvellous panoramic vistas on my first visit. I was certainly not disappointed this time around—those same magnificent scenes were waiting for me.

The underrated summit of Raise provides one of the finest vantage points in the Eastern Fells, taking in expansive views towards Ullswater, Haweswater, and the rolling Pennine ridges on a clear day.

From Raise we continued south across White Side and up to Lower Man. The next destination was the summit plateau of Helvellyn itself, where we paused for a welcome break before facing the walk of faith along Striding Edge.

Steve was so excited at the prospect of his first crossing that he called his wife from the summit shelter to let her know he was ready for the challenge. As he spoke, a stray cloud whisked across the plateau and momentarily shielded the ridge from view! I breathed a huge sigh of relief when it lifted moments later to reveal the full crest basking in sunlit glory.

After pausing for breath and with collective determination, both Dave and Steve scrambled down from the summit edge to make their maiden crossing of Striding Edge. The ridge traverse was pure joy from start to finish.

Because my companions could clearly see each handhold and foothold ahead of them, they found it an exhilarating and straightforward undertaking. After all the good-humoured moaning during the morning's steep climb, they negotiated the crest without a wobble. Reaching Hole in the Wall, the thrill on their faces was palpable as we settled down for lunch.

The most direct line of descent from Hole in the Wall down towards Grisedale Beck lacks a clear path, so we followed a drystone wall down towards Patterdale Common—and oh, did Dave moan! It was a tough, steep scramble, parts of which we all spent sliding on our backsides.

Steve had cause to moan too: the punishing scree descent completely wrecked his trusty old walking boots, the soles finally peeling away. It was a poignant moment losing boots that had led the way over hundreds of trail miles together; I had spent years staring at their distinctive grey-soled tread ahead of me on footpaths across Britain!

The subsequent haul back up to Grisedale Tarn on tired legs was tough going. Arriving at the tarn and assessing our collective fatigue, the prospect of an additional six-mile trek along woodland tracks back to Legburthwaite after descending to Mill Bridge was voted down unanimously.

We agreed that catching the local bus from Mill Bridge along the A591 was the sensible choice. As luck would have it, the heavens opened just as we reached the shelter of the bus stop, and we enjoyed one of the sweetest, most satisfying bus journeys ever back to the car. A grand day out, unforgettable memories, and a fond farewell to Steve's old boots!