The Howitzer, Helm Crag

I have had the pleasure of climbing Helm Crag on three separate occasions.  The first was circa 1983 when I went camping with a small group from School.  We were based in a farmers field on the lowers slopes of Seat Sandal, and had a fantastic view from across the valley.

The second walk we did that week took us up the quiet Greenburn Bottom valley between Steel Fell and the Gibson Knott ridge.  We ascended Calf Crag at the top of the valley before walking back via Gibson Knott.  The last fell we came that day was Helm Crag which stood at the end of the ridge that we had walked along.  I remember being impressed by the rock formations, although none of our party climbed the summit rocks often referred to as The Howitzer.

It wasn't until  2007 and then again in 2010 that I ascended Helm Crag alone, and went on to do the short scramble to the top of the Howitzer.  This sketch is taken from a photograph I took on the 2010 ascent.  It is viewing the Howitzer from the western flank, the side most people see when they arrive at the summit.

Sketch of The Howitzer, Helm Crag.

Tarn Crag and Sergeant Man from Grasmere

After a long drive up the M6 motorway, I eventually arrived in Grasmere at around 11 am. The sun was shinning as I sat outside a tea shop to have a drink and study the route I was going to take. I was still undecided at how I was going to get from Easedale Tarn to Tarn Crag as there didn't seem to be an obvious path.

After I finished my brew I set off up the narrow road towards Easedale. Just before taking the path to Easedale Tarn I stopped to take some photographs of Helm Crag which seemed to be towering up in front of me at that point.



I crossed the footbridge over a fast flowing stream under the shade of some trees. The path then opened up as I passed through farm fields before starting to climb beside Sourmilk Gill.



The path wound it way up throught the braken slopes over rocky sections, and at one point passed close to the waterfall with its foaming white water. I pressed on up to the tarn where I got a fantastic view of Tarn Crag.



I crossed the stream where it flowed out of the tarn and made my way up the slopes on the other side. It was hard going through the bracken, but I eventually got to the top of the ridge just before the final ascent to tarn crag.



I headed for the summit on the left to begin with. I remember reading in Wainwrights Central Fells that this offered a good view down to the tarn - which it did.



After taking the photo's of the summit cairn and view down to the Easedale Tarn, I made my way over to main summit where I sat down to have some lunch. The views from here were amazing. In one direction I was looking across Far Easedale, over the Gibbson Knott ridge between Helm Crag and Calf Crag. I could see Steel Fell behind, and the Helvellyn range behind that. The photograph that I took does not capture the full openess of the view which I found inspiring. In the other direction I was looking across Codale Tarn and over the ridge to Pavey Ark and the Langdale Pikes. Another great view to see.





There were also some great views of the Vale of Grasmere and Lake Windermere.



From Tarn Crag I head up towards Codale Head and then on to Sergeant Man.



This is the view from the summit of Sergeant Man looking towards Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle.




I could also see over towards Great Gable.



After stopping a while at Sergeant Man summit, I made my way down to Easedale Tarn on the direct path; then back to Grasmere.