Through the night the rain was constant and occasionally torrential. Fortunately it had almost stopped by morning and as I packed the tent away I was treated to the sight of a wonderfully vivid rainbow, well half of one actually. There was still quite a bit of cloud swirling round as I headed directly up the hillside to the summit of High Raise. I took a quick picture of the summit trig point in the mist before heading for the descent to Greenup Edge.

Morning rainbow

Low White Stones

The cloud cleared a bit and the views started to open up. At the summit of the pass I rurned right to descend to Withburn. The map shows a path heading off down into the valley but there is no path other than the main one descending towards Grasmere. I followed it down to the head of the valley and picked the best route I could across the unbelievably wet and boggy ground. Eventually a sort of path appeared. It was so wet and muddy I can’t think of any way to describe it. Even lower down it didn't seem to improve. On the final approach to Steel End the valley widened into fields and the last stretch was a flat walk to Stockhow Bridge and the road.

It was so nice to be away from the horribly wet ground that the tarmac of the road was a comparative luxury to walk on. I had second thoughts when I reached the main A591 road and the very busy road with no verge and no footpath, just stone walls both sides. It wasn't too far to the Wythburn Church turn off but it was very uncomfortable walking towards huge vehicles approaching at speed.

Wyth Burn

Datestone on the A591

At the turn off I stopped to check the date stone of 1916 in the opposite wall. I'm sure it has gone un-noticed by most of the people passing this way. My main objective was now to recover the food depot I'd left last Sunday. I'd buried it under a pile of boulders in the dense woods. I found the spot easily and retrieved the sealed bag. The gas cylinder was obviously intact but the food bag had been nibbled through by some rodent. Fortunately the contents were intact.

I walked the short distance to the car park and ‘pay for meter’. I found it highly amusing that a sign 'Ticket Machine out of order Sorry for any inconvenience!' was fixed to the meter. It's not inconvenient for anyone wanting to park here. How can any organisation charge for a parking area with no facilities whatsoever? I had some rubbish but will have to carry it over Helvellyn because United Utilities can't be bothered to provide a rubbish bin, but they want your money to leave your car here. They don't even provide a bench to sit on. I found one next to Wythburn Church, probably financed by the church. There were now a few people about as I set off up the path towards Helvellyn.

Wythburn Church

Helvellyn summit shelter

The first section ascends through pine forest then into open ground with a well made stoned path. It was straightforward all the way up until I approached the junction with Nethermost Pike. Approaching was a woman and dog. I recognised her as Ruth from a trek I'd been on in 2001 in Northern India. As I approached I looked at her and smiled but she looked at me blankly, like a stranger. I wasn't sure if she didn't remember me or didn't want to. I decided to leave it and carry on.

Approaching the stone shelter of Helvellyn summit a man was coming down and asked me it if I'd come from Grasmere. He wanted to know the way there. I was appalled that he didn't seem to have a map and was asking the way. He was asking for trouble if you ask me. Many people were sitting huddled behind the shelter stones but I carried on to the summit trig point. I didn't stop but started to descend in the direction of Brownrigg Well, the highest spring in England. Within 10mins I was there. Since my last visit someone had built a small stone cairn.

Brownrigg Well

Pitch on Helvellyn by Brownrigg Well