Fri 22 Apr 2016
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| Gibson Knott and Helm Crag |
Up not too early and the weather was cold, but plenty of Sun. Picked up Alex and off we went to Grasmere. We managed to park at Mill Bridge, because there were so few cars anywhere on account of the road closure at Thirlmere. However, there were double decker buses running, but by what route I can't say!
Asleep most of the journey, Alex wakened up and immediately I could see the affinity he had with the fells and the lovely black lambs the size of a sock! He was entranced by a deep pool in Green Burn and started making plans for how he, Owen, and Joe could stay at a cottage for a week and get out on the fells every day! If only he could find a way of paying for it all! And I doubt if the other two would enjoy the fells.
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| Path to Helm Crag |
We reached the ridge between Gibson Knott and Calf Crag and decided to try for the latter to have three summits under foot; but the distance seemed a little daunting and it was already midday. So we turned back and reached Gibson Knott quite soon, where there is a now a decent-sized cairn, but not where AW says is the summit. Chris Jesty is silent on the location of the top, even though he uses a GPS device.
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| The true summit discernible - The Howitzer |
Reaching the steep stepped slope to Helm Crag Alex was up like a mountain goat, eager to get to the top of the summit rock in order to beat AW! We watched a chap reach a perch near the top, but not the exact summit, and he had to come down gingerly. Alex tried further left, but soon realised the right-hand route was easier.
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| Nearly at the top! |
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| Retreat the better part of valour! |
However, he didn't try to make the later traverse further left, and I was glad for safety's sake he'd not insisted on it. I hope he will manage it some day.
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| The Lion and Lamb rocks |
We went over to the southern rocks, known as the Lion and the Lamb, and he easily gained the top.
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| On the Lion |
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| Grasmere from Helm Crag |
Then, after a rest in the warm sun, we set off down and made our way round by the YHA back to the car. It had been a wonderful day, seeing him so happy in the outdoors, and planning even more, persuading his friends to join him.
