The night sky was clear again but at sunrise patchy mist kept blowing around. I set off just after 8am and headed NE following the contour as best as I could through the sharp boulders. After a while the going eased as I reached grass. Swinging round to le left I started to climb steeply up the ridge until I came across the main ascent path. I was now on the east ridge of Nethermost Pike, which is one of the best and least known paths in Cumbria.

East ridge Nethermost Pike.

From Nethermost Pike.

The climb is technically easy and gives some great views of Striding Edge if the weather is clear. The sun was now up above the mist banks and all around was illuminated by a watery and chilly light. Once again haze was everywhere.

As I reached the final short sharp rocky ridge I thought I'd investigate an easier way to the left. It turned out to by-pass the ridge completely and brought me out on to the start of the summit plateau without any balancing acts on the ridge. It was pleasant walking on the soft grassy summit and I had the whole place to myself. The summit of Helvellyn was in cloud but I could just see the stone wind shelter and one person standing on its top.

Looking across Striding Edge.

Camp by Brownrigg Well

Instead of taking the main path I took the minor one towards the Striding Edge junction and the Memorial to Charles Gough who died here in 1805. It has much better views than the main path, especially down along Striding Edge. I reached the stone shelter and the man I'd seen earlier prancing about on the top was still there. I said good morning but he looked at me and said nothing. I continued to the summit cairn in the mist then set off in the direction of Brownrigg Well. The visibility was bad and I headed to where I thought it was. After a bit of wandering round I found it and pitched my tent on the same spot as my last visit.