At6pm we were off up Helvellyn as the afternoon wears on .. the cloud was down and it was getting dusk as we started Striding Edge.
As we began our ascent to the main ridge at the end it became apparent we would need crampons to cope with the ice. Luckily I had put ours in at the last minute, just in case.
Bryon took the lead with Alan and Lynn struggling without crampons. Trevor and Bryon banged in step while Sue and I were ready to catch any trips.
10:30pm and we were on the top ... the wind became really fierce... this would be so different to last year. making the summit we headed for the wind shelters and put up our tents .. our wild country was held up by rocks on the snow valences, Bryon's and Alan's hurricanes held up by ice axes on place of pegs.
The wind was so fierce we all just crashed into our bags and fell asleep, after a frosty beer or two and several whiskeys
