It was foggy and extremely windy on the summit of Helvellyn. I kept moving but the rain soaked me through my jacket and trousers and I started to get cold. I thought I saw the turning down to Swirral Edge, but particularly given the visibility and weather it looked treacherous and I couldn't quite believe that it could be the route of descent. I carried on walking, leaning into the wind at about 30 degrees. After a few minutes I realised that I must have missed the turning, my map was drenched and close to being reduced to tatters. I was unsure whether to continue the long way over Helvellyn, but wasn't sure of the route. I was reasonably concerned at this point of getting lost and or suffering in some way from exposure to the elements - so I decided the safest thing to do was to return via the way I'd come. (I realised however that I couldn't have been too worried when I passed 2 other walkers and was too proud to discuss things with them!)
Luckily the weather cleared slightly on my return and I now saw the turning down to Swirral Edge more clearly - it stopped looking so treacherous and I saw some other people had just descended via that route. Bizarrely, as soon I dropped down over the edge, visibility improved further and the wind and rain reduced significantly. I clambered down and soon started to warm up . It also started to get quite busy. I'd not stopped for a break at all at this point, but still felt quite energetic (maybe it was the cheese and lime pickle sandwiches?), so I took in Catsye Cam and carried on over the top to make my descent,
My socks were sodden, but my descent was easy enough (inspired by being passed at high speed by some mountain bikers, frustrated by having to walk only shortly behind some yobbish lads who'd just descended, but despite their surroundings seemed to think it appropriate to be kicking lager cans down the street and into people's gardens!), and I was surprised at how quickly I arrived back at the car.
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