
Total Distance: 13.5km. Total Ascent: 1010m. Total Time: 5h30.
Staying at Bury Hostel next tot Helvellyn campsite, I supervised a circular route for an Exeter University canoe club paddling trip rest day. A group of 6 total circled down Glenridding beck and back up the Glenridding approach to striding edge. The group were of good physical fitness but had little mountain/scrambling experience. Due to Easter holidays the hillside was busy so we opted for a bold ridge top traverse along thr entire length of striding edge as conditions were still, clear and sunny with good vis over great langdale for the subsequent helvellyn summit. Due to high temperatures, I opted for a valley return to economise on the shade, with additional water coming in useful.
Learning Points:
- Negotiate team dynamics without being official allocated leader, but assuming a leadership role due to lack of experience in the rest of the group.
- Group of young adults, so important to challenge them safely. Continued group assessment allowed me to determine their ability on the go and adjust the difficulty of climb chosen.
- Using routes I already know allow confidence to give the map to another novice member and follow them, maintaining sound knowledge of current location without a map.
Area :
Eastern Fells
From the Kirkstone Pass to the M6.