Despite Spring being just around the corner the Lakeland fells are in full Winter condition non more so than Helvellyn and its neighbours. Snow had fallen Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, affecting the midlands before spreading north east and west causing travel disruptions that caused Rod to pull out of today's walk after the snow gates were dropped along the A66 at Bowes Moor.

David and I kept an eye on the roads, which by Friday lunchtime for the north west at least looked like they were returning to normal, which gave us our green light for the walk. It was another day when the forecasters got it wrong, forecasting a bright morning before more snow would arrive by evening, but at least the cloud remained high and it stayed dry for us.

Catstye Cam from Glenridding is a route I've returned to a few times now, it's a walk I always reserve for winter where you get to experience Helvellyn and its edges in their prime.

It was here we were stopped by a couple walking their dog who asked us for some advice: "Excuse me, we're thinking of climbing High Street later from Mardale; do you think it'll be ok on a day like today?" "It would" we replied, "but if you were thinking of setting off from Mardale now is the time you should be doing it; you'll struggle to park gone 09:00am plus I wouldn't recommend it anyway as the road through the valley wouldn't have been gritted. Best if you go from Hartsop via Hayeswater Gill plus it's only down the road."

The couple politely thanked us before we crossed the A592, where David reminded me, "Blimey, we could have parked on the narrow road facing the car park; you can park here between October and March free of charge" I could have bloody kicked myself for forgetting, but I was in a work Teams meeting whilst trying to organise the walk between emails and I'd totally forgot about the free parking.

Glimpses of blue sky appeared between the grey only for it to cloud over again, but the mildness of the afternoon remained. With Greenside Road reached pace quickened whilst taking in the views of Birkhouse Moor and, further along, Glenridding. Above the road lost in the woodland properties old and new overlooked Ullswater and Place Fell, views you could only dream of owning.  We crossed the A592 and dropped down onto the shore path just as we had this morning; its few ascents pulled on the calf muscles before a glorious view of Stybarrow Crag emerged overlooking Ullswater. Surprisingly, there were still places to park as I passed a young girl who was getting ready to take her kayak onto Ullswater. The ice had thawed in the warmth of the afternoon, leaving David and I planning future walks, noting that today might have been the last snow day until next winter arrives.