Looking
through and reading fellow Tweeters pictures and blogs, I have decided to try
my hand at this 21st century digital age phenomenon..
So
here it goes: - It all started a long, long time ago, well yesterday to be
precise. Having viewed in awe the many fantastic photos on Twitter, I decided
to (in deep envy I suppose) try my hand at some fell top sunrise photos. With a
lieu day looming, my focus was on the upcoming weather conditions for the
Tuesday. Weather reports were very favourable; however those little guys in my
TV have not always been correct, therefore I was dubious on whether an attempt
at sunrise photos would pay off.
My
excitement drove me and I made plans on the Monday evening to go for it, deciding
my destination would be Helvellyn from Swirls. Due to commencing the climb in
the dark, this was a good safe option as this is a route I know well and I was
unsure how long my candle would remain alight….
Waking
to my alarm at 04:30, I was tempted to roll over and doze off again; however, I
excitedly leapt from my warm, yet slightly damp, pile of flattened cardboard
boxes and was greeted by an extreme chill within my hovel I call a flat. (Night
storage heaters are just, how should I put this… hmm, Fecking crap…) Anyway,
quickly preparing myself I jumped into the XJS, put the hood down and headed
North, well North-ish.. Arriving at the lay-by towards the Kings Head, I jumped
out of the van; well ok I sort of eased myself from the van, with my aging back
and knees I have to take it steady. I was immediately struck in awe at the
amount of stars that were visible, with also 2 shooting stars passing over in
quick succession; I knew this was going to be a great day.
In
the van I began to organise my pack, pulling out almost everything to ensure my
snow spikes were at the top. Due to it being very cold, I must admit, I had to
start with my jacket on. Setting off with my very bright rechargeable Cree hand
torch clutched in my gloved hand, I followed the path along the roadside to
Swirls. It was 06:00 now and I therefore
knew I should be up the top by 07:00 – 07:15 ,
with good time to witness the changing colours of the morning light.
A photo of the star saturated sky - bit hard to make out but if you look really really closely and squint you'll just about see - feck all.. stupid phone camera :)
Pitch
black as I headed up the path through the couple of gates and over the small
bridges, I stopped to once again view the star infested black sky. Scanning the
stars I began working out the constellations. However, trying to remember what
I had been taught as a young boy by my great uncle (Pat Moore!) was taxing, yet
I did begin to recall the sets of stars and their names. I could see the Little
Bear, the Big Dipper, the Humped Back Donkey, the Moles Belly Button, the
Ginger One Legged Tom and I could just make out Granny… My great uncle taught
me well.
All I can say is they must have bloody good eyesight..
As
the gradient of the path steepened, salty water began to excrete from my face –
therefore the time had come to remove my jacket – and there I was once again,
T-Shirt Hiker Man thing….. Stuffing the jacket in my pack and removing my hand
towel to assist in absorbing my sweating brow, I progressed upwards. Still dark
as night, I paused every couple hundred feet or so to catch my breath. Looking
down at the road I giggled to myself at about in total 9 vehicles that stopped.
They must have seen the light from my torch and were concerned someone was in
trouble – ha if only they could have seen me in my T-shirt too J
I kept my torch shining ahead so as not to alarm anyone and continued on now
seeing the outline of Browncove Crags.
Towards Lower Man and the sky is changing colour
The
crags were also where the snowline began and I could see that the steep rocky
path was in many places covered in hard ice. Stopping to put my snow spikes on,
I carefully wedged my torch between rocks, sat and thrust my hand deep into my
pack to pass my jacket I had stuffed in there earlier. “What the f-ing hell” I
said loudly as my thumb had sunk deep into the foil wrapped tomato, cucumber
and salmon spread sandwich I was going to eat on my way in the van. Wiping my
thumb and removing the sandwich from my pack I once again fumbled in my pack…
Arrrghhh fecking arrrrghhhh! No spikes, torch in hand and head almost stuffed
into my pack… I’d only left the fecking things in the van after repacking my
pack. Oh well, I thought to myself, onwards and upwards I would just have to
leave out the circular of Swirral and Striding Edges’.
Tastey sandwich, still with thumb print in it..
I
tentatively continued on and reaching the top of the crag the sky’s colour was
changing, there was a slight blueness emerging and further ahead the Moon’s crescent
had a blue-y purple-y backdrop and this is where the images began in earnest.
However as I hurried along I could see a mist looming and my heart sank. I
thought ‘oh nooo! this mist will block out the sunrise’. Pushing on there was a
slight gusty breeze with this mist and I could feel that the wind chill effect
was probably down to minus 10 now as my arms were stinging. As I reached the
summit my joy was audible “get in there” I murmured, as the mist was definitely
thinning and the colours in the sky were changing with every second.
I
began taking many many photos and waited around the summit for the sunrise
itself. A light aircraft buzzed by, and I can only imagine the look on their
faces of this weird bloke stud on top of Helvellyn at sunrise in freezing
temperatures in a T-shirt. As the sun broke the horizon, my delight must have
been very evident on my face, a 360degree colour fest and the photos were
building quickly.
I
continued to take photos and headed towards Dollywaggon Pike with smug
amazement and self satisfaction of what I was pursuing. After hundreds of
photos and close to Dollywaggon I decided to head back. I thought to myself,
should I drop down and through Wythburn, or head back over the tops. I decided
to drop down to the low path. However, close to High Crag the drop down is
quite steep and as I progressed downwards I found that the snow was actually
hardened ice; I just began to slide! The drop downwards was daunting and as I
slid I thought ‘I’m not going to be able to stop’, so should I throw myself
down, which would definitely hurt my aging body, or should I try and get my
boots to gain some grip. I therefore decided to just piss myself laughing as I
slid faster and faster downhill. Reaching some frosted topped ice, my boots
luckily gained some grip and I managed to slow and stop, but my laughter kept
going as I tried to traverse to a safer route.
Having
decided that was a route only to be taken with spikes on; I gained height and
returned via the high route, which in hindsight was the best choice as it was
in the sunshine with great views. Now passing many advancing walkers I returned
downhill and to my van taking some nice shots of the mist over Thirlmere to end
my photo shoot for the day.
Walking Tall & Proud!
