Today I led Roger up from Swirls car park to the summit of Helvellyn. We required the use of crampons just above Brown cove. The descent onto Swirral edge was the steepest I had ever seen it, with me demonstrating to Roger how to down climb backwards, how to place feet and also axe. He was totally comfortable doing this, and after the initial section we continued down the ridge, sticking to the crest in many places as conditions were pretty good. once at Red tarn, we headed up onto striding edge, crampons were off but needed putting back on once on the ridge, which we did prior to meeting the edge proper. The headwall onto the top of Helvellyn was steeply banked out with snow, giving Roger the chance to really feel as though he was winter climbing. I lent him my axe so he could feel the difference with having 2 when I was in a safe enough position to do so. Exellent weather, overcast but with views and just a small easterly breeze. We descended back down to swirls via the route we took up.
Today I led Roger up from Swirls car park to the summit of Helvellyn. We required the use of crampons just above Brown cove. The descent onto Swirral edge was the steepest I had ever seen it, with me demonstrating to Roger how to down climb backwards, how to place feet and also axe. He was totally comfortable doing this, and after the initial section we continued down the ridge, sticking to the crest in many places as conditions were pretty good. 
