24/08/2024
Day 1 - Fairfield Helvellyn Traverse
The weather is glorious. Rydal Hall Camp Site is waking up. Have an extensive breakfast, then pack my backpack for two days of wild camping.
The Traverse runs over a long mountain range with 13 peaks from south to north. Distance 25 kilometres and 1,800 metres in altitude.
I don't leave early, because wild camping is officially not allowed, so I don't want to stop and set up camp until around dinner time.
From Nab Scar (1st mountain) the view over Rydal Water and Windemere, England's longest lake, is magnificent.
The mountains here are relatively low. The Lake District consists of rugged terrain, sharp mountain ridges, grassland and the landscape sometimes feels compact and then very wide. A beautiful combination.
After Heron Pike and Great Rigg I pause at the top of Fairfield (873 m). After a steep descent I fill and filter three litres of water at Grisedale Tarn, because my wild camping spot has not yet been determined and water on the mountain ridge is scarce.
Via a steep climb to Dollywagon Pike and on to Munro Helvellyn (950 m). I look at the scrambling passages of Striding Edge and Swirral Edge that lead to the Red Tarn lake two hundred and fifty meters lower. Down there I see my camp spot!
Arriving at the mountain lake I look for a suitable spot. Then set up the tarp and heat up noodles. Then swim with trail running shoes and all. They are immediately clean and I have grip on the slippery stones.
Then chill in the sun, left Striding Edge, right Swirral Edge and Helvellyn in the middle, wow!
In the evening I eat with Jim and his two daughters, who are also wild camping. After dinner we go for a hike at sunset via Helvellyn, what a way to end this day. Sleep well!
