Fairfield and then an afternoon ride - Sunday 2nd February 2014

Head over to Ambleside and unsure of plans; forecast was for cold and windy, but less windy than first suggested. The Horseshoe looks inviting, as it always does, and is often my default choice; so decision made, the Horseshoe it is.

It is windy, but on the way up it is from behind and helps. Above about 500m I enter the snow, slushy at first and then a crust, this makes for hard going as I constantly break through this.

But higher up it is more frozen and I put on microspikes which work well. The light conditions on the summit make for hard navigation, a little mist and white all around. There are some big drops and cornices so I take extra care.

Hart Crag is wild, the wind is full on and the snow conditions again make for tough going. Heading down is into the wind and a hail storm is unpleasant, came close to using my goggles.

But, all in all, good to be out.

So here's what the Felltop Assessors said about conditions on Helvellyn earlier today:

Fell Top Conditions on Sunday 2 February

Readings from Helvellyn summit at 13:30

Temperature minus 1.4°C Maximum wind speed 32.7mph Wind chill minus 11.2°C Average wind speed WSW 27.9mph

There has been an overnight thaw so there is now little snow on paths below 400m. Between 400m and 550m the snow is very wet and thawing. Above 550m the fells are covered with a substantial amount of snow. The depth of which varies enormously from a couple of centimeters on windblown aspects to 90cm in drifts on east through to north facing aspects. An average would be between 15 and 20cm at 900m. The snowpack is mainly soft often with a frozen crust making trudging through it laborious. The recent snow has not bonded to previous accumulations; this was especially noticeable on east through to north facing slopes where the top 3 - 5cm was windslab, making the snowpack unstable. Similarly large cornices exist above east to north facing slopes and gullies, so please keep well back from the edge.

Both Striding and Swirral Edges are now in winter condition covered by a substantial amount of mainly soft snow, so exposed routes such as these should only be tackled by those experienced in and equipped for full winter conditions.

Full winter clothing and footwear are essential for anyone venturing onto the fells. For those going above the snowline and attempting, or traversing, steep ground an ice axe and crampons are also essential as are good navigational skills. Deep snow obscuring features, combined with low cloud and high winds will make navigation challenging above the snowline.

Climbers: please note that the gullies are full of loose snow topped with unstable cornices so are not in condition.

Later in the day, I head out on my bike from Natland; around the Lyth Valley route, not been this way for months. A good ride and get back just as light fades.