Lake District

Ground conditions

Date: Monday 16 February. Location: Helvellyn summit at 11:35. Temperature: minus 0.7C, Maximum wind speed 31.6mph, Wind chill: minus 9.5C, Average wind speed: 19.8mph. Full report: Hard snow, poor visibility. Valley snow has largely cleared, though from occasional glimpses below the cloud base it appears that snow cover remains variable across the Lake District National Park, with more accumulations in the south and east of the region. With the cloud base sitting around 750m today, the final ascent onto higher summits demanded careful navigation, particularly in unfamiliar terrain. Paths and trods are frequently buried and absorbed into wider snowfields, with only intermittent path edges visible. From valley level, conditions can appear deceptively benign; cloud continues to shroud the summits, masking the full seriousness of winter conditions on the tops. Above 700m, soft and at times deep wind-drifted snow becomes more widespread. This gradually firms with height, becoming weight-bearing and eventually hard névé (snow ice) across the Helvellyn plateau. Snow cover is continuous, with only the immediate summit area partially scoured to rock and ice. All of this makes for delightful walking. On shallow-angled terrain, a stiff boot and confident step-kicking will suffice. However, micro-spikes significantly improve security and efficiency and are strongly advised. Although the summit air temperature was only -1°C at 950m, the consolidated snowpack will persist well below this level and is likely to harden further over the coming days. Striding Edge carries a good cover of snow and justifies the use of either crampons or micro-spikes, with an ice axe recommended for additional security. The upper section of Swirral Edge holds more snow than many anticipate - often catching people out after crossing Striding Edge, which is more exposed to wind scouring. Particular care is required when exiting the plateau in descent. A slip in current conditions could quickly develop into a long fall, potentially over 200m into rocks - a serious consequence concealed by poor visibility. The Edges are undeniably winter mountaineering terrain at present. Elsewhere, reports indicate that the east-facing gullies above Red Tarn (e.g. No.2 Gully) are now complete. However, finishing cornices are obviously steep and continue to develop after two days of westerly winds. Complete gully lines are also evident on Browncove Crags, with less significant cornice build-up until beyond Lower Man summit, where older slumped cornices overlook Water Crag and Brown Cove (East). Rime ice and verglas (black ice) are widespread on rock features above 850m. These are the most consistent and sustained winter conditions seen on the highest fells this season. Full winter clothing and equipment are essential. With improving visibility and falling temperatures forecast over the coming days, conditions on the tops are likely to become superb but they will remain serious. Plan carefully, equip properly, and enjoy the busy half term.