UKC

Anyone been up in the last couple of days?

I have a very tight window from work and planning to head up between school drop off and pick up. 
I will be solo so keen to hear about conditions on the ridge itself if anyone has been up recently.

If there's a decent accumulation of tracked snow along the ridge i'll head up. If it's wind blown and rimey/bare i'll probs make another plan given that I'm on my own.

Footnote: Blencathra is my home hill. I have been on the ridge many times both in summer and winter. I have all the winter kit I need to be safe!

Any info much appreciated!

Fell top assessors went up yesterday:

https://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/home

Despite a single set of tracks heading in this morning to Scales Tarn and Sharp edge the going was tough in places where the snow had drifted, and easy where scoured, in all not bad though. Once up to Sharp edge itself the crest was in winter condition with rime ice and frost casing the rocks and just a little snow as the wind had it well scoured. Foot placements and hand holds required some finding on the slabby sections which are tricky as the snow is hiding the features but not sufficient to take crampon points or axe.

Higher up there are small cornices to be aware of forming on edges and those big deposits of windblown snow are still showing all the signs of an avalanche threat, some significant naturally occurring fracture lines present on steeper slopes. One thing to note is that the cold temperatures have kept the snow dry and now that the wind has changed there is a redistribution of snow taking place on different aspects, wind transported snow was feeding constantly off the summit plateau and building a new threat now through all east facing aspects (Tarn Crags) and likely this will continue for some time as its set to stay cold.

Ah amazing. Thank you!
Didn't realise the FTA's went up anywhere but Helvellyn. That's very convenient.
Conditions seem complex and I might make a different plan, or just avoid the ridge.

I bet those guys are having a great few days.

very sad news from a couple of days back..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1el5yn261go

Yeh I'd heard about this. Sad news indeed.

I passed over Sharp Edge and up the rocky slabs to the summit plateau less than half an hour before that happened  - no one else on the ridge at the time.  I took photos of the parties on the ridge just before disappearing over the top.  Now I'm haunted by the thought that someone in that photo must have fallen.  Terrible and tragic.  It was such a beautiful day and nice conditions to move over the frosted and icy rock with microspikes it almost brings  feeling of guilt when something so horrible happened minutes later.

RIP

Very sad. And very difficult to square away if you were just minutes ahead.

Obviously we know no more details of the incident than those related to the press, but yes it's an incredibly tragic accident. I knew someone who fell from Striding Edge in perfect summer conditions, very experienced and suitably equipped, but their partner said that one minute they were there the next they weren't.

However I know if it was me I would want the community to recognise these incidents as accidents. Learn from them with regards correct equipment and training, but continue my legacy by cherishing the opportunity to do such activities.