Helvellyn Reports Back Now
Good timing as fell top reports and winter arrive together - snow, ice, fog, gales...
Posted: 2 December 2008
by Jon
The Weatherline Fell Top
Assessors' reports are back for winter and right in the
nick of time too, with the latest assessment from high on Helvellyn reporting
ice on paths at all levels...
Our heroes ;-)
Craig Palmer and Jon Bennett climb Helvellyn every day over
the winter
season to bring you
first-hand conditions feedback.
And that's not all - the report from Monday starts off with a bleak
list: 'Snow. Ice. Hill fog. Gales. High wind-chill.' Not only
that but on popular paths, the light covering of powder snow above 400
metres, has compacted into a thin layer of hard snow or ice. And then
there are verglassed rocks to contend with.
The report recommends full winter clothing and an ice axe, plus
crampons for those attempting 'steeper routes', temperatures on the
summit yesterday were -3C with windchill making things feel more like
-10C.
As we told you earlier
this week, the two fell top assessors will be
climbing the mountain every day between now and the spring - they work
alternate seven-day shifts - to take some of the guesswork out of
judging conditions.
It really is an excellent and invaluable service for anyone heading out
in the Lakes and you can find the latest report online at www.lake-district.gov.uk/weatherline
or by calling 0870 055
0575
Discuss this story
|
