Damp on Dollywaggon

  Just to prove that I do actually own a full set of waterproofs (and to test that they still work) I headed over to Dunmail Raise again to try and confirm the location of the elusive cascades in Raise Beck. There cant be many ocassions where poor weather has helped in my reference finding but after the recent rains I reckoned that the water flow down Raise Beck would be an advantage in locating the watefall that I looked for a few days ago. Conditions were excellent if you love waterfalls but pretty dire for walking.

Raise Beck in Full Flow

From the top of Raise Beck, and after locating the required photo, we headed up to Dollywaggon Pike and along to Helvellyn via Nethermost Pike. Low cloud and rain were the conditions of the day and the dogs really did enjoy themselves despite the looks in the photos! Unusual to be all alone on the summit of Helvellyn in September but considering the condition, not surprising. The full set of photos are now online: http://www.theteesdalegallery.co.uk/

Another change of plans

  The intentions were good, a day to tick off some references near to Helvellyn and also a good long walk out. Sadly, as happens the weather didnt play ball with low cloud litterally putting a dampener on things. As I left the Car Park at Swirls I was hopeful that the cloud cover would have lifted off Brown Cove Crags by the time I reached them. On route I had to visit the watefall in Helvellyn Gill (an awkward descent and re-ascent on steep, wet grassy slopes) and once that had been done we approached the crags as the rain came in. Huddling behind a rock for shelter I formed Plan B as I supped a hot drink. Plan B was put into action as I cant afford the time to wander across mist covered fells just for the sake of it.
 So a return to the car was called for from where I travelled to the Heaton Cooper Gallery in grasmere to pick up some art materials. By the time this was done there was a hint of clearing weather so we returned up to the summit of Dunmail Raise. From there we were able to take the second half of my original plan and ascend besides Raise Beck to then continue up to Seat Sandal.

Seat Sandal above Grasmere.

I have learnt over the past few years to be adaptable and today it payed off. Not every target was achieved but at least I had something to show for a poor start to the day. More photos and details of the day can de found on the website via the On Location Page http://www.theteesdalegallery.co.uk/