Two days earlier I had spotted a weather window on Tuesday, trouble was as I was working but after a bit of persuasion I managed to convince my boss to allow me to take the day off. By now it was late Monday afternoon and with the narrowest of margins I emailed David asking did he fancy joining me on a hike up Helvellyn tomorrow. David replied shortly afterwards saying that he'd booked Tuesday and Wednesday off anyway and that he'd love to join me. That night over a quick phone call we confirmed the route where by we'd leave one car at Stanah and the other at Swirls and walk the Helvellyn ridge as far as Sticks Pass before heading north east to include Whitestones and Hart Side completing the route with a double back on Stybarrow Dodd.

We had arranged to meet at Stanah at 7:15am and shortly before I arrived I'd spotted two head torches below Browncove Crags but due to the angle I couldn't see the cloud besieging Helvellyn's summit but I would soon. I arrived at Stanah around 7:00am and listened to my Audible book 'The way of the hermit' by Ken Smith which had been recommended to me by David and all I can say is, I can't stop listening to it to the point when getting stuck in traffic no longer stresses me out. Anyway, I swapped my gear (looks sheepishly as I type this) into David's car before we proceeded to drive to the layby at Swirls during which time David couldn't get a word in edgeways because all I could talk about was the book he'd recommended. Minutes later we'd parked up and we could still see the two head torches which by now were shouldering Browncove Crags set against scuttling cloud.

Dawn hadn't arrived and we began our kit up lacing boots up whilst I went on and on about the book before I stopped and blurted out the F-word, repeating it three of four more times "I've left my f-in jacket in my car David, I'm so sorry mate, no worries Paul, we're still early and semi-kitted up we drove back to Stanah, retrieved my jacket and drove back to Swirls, again. I couldn't have apologised enough. There was at least half a dozen cars parked up but we left the layby alone, passed through the pay and display car park, crossed Helvellyn Gill before beginning the long ascent on Browncove Crags.

Deep in conversation we joined the stone staircase from where we noticed the pink hue of the clouds scuttling over Helvellyn's summit joined by a drop in temperature both agreeing it would be a few hours yet until sunlight reached this side of the mountain. We persevered, zigzagging the steep staircase until we passed through the wide section of broken wall with Browncove Crags summit 1,100ft ahead.

By now the sun had rose high enough to cast first light on the fells west of Thirlmere illuminating the hill side in a rich glow before sunrise 'proper' took over. Those first few moments after sunrise will always be my favourite time of day.

With more height gained we could feel the plummeting temperature continue to drop and over the wind I heard David say he'd be stopping soon to add another layer agreeing I'd be adding a hat at the same time. We continued and before reaching 'crampon rock' we stopped whilst David fought against the wind to add a windproof jacket as I eased my beanie followed by long sips of freezing cold Summer fruits through my bite valve. I could literally feel its icy content slither down my throat and drop into my stomach.

By now David had won his fight with the wind and we were both ready to leave but had spotted two girls in descent so we held off and let them pass. Both were in full conversation chatting away like they were stood at a nightclub bar oblivious to the windchill David and I were feeling. The girls passed with a 'thanks' advising them that there was plenty of snow at the summit.

We crested the summit of Browncove Crags and immediately felt another drop in temperature which saw me pull up my neck gaitor to cover my chin and the tips of my ears, brain freeze was not far away! Ground conditions changed at Browncove Crags encountering fresh hail lying on frozen snow so solid it was a job to kick through.

We were passed by three of four walkers in descent who we assumed were the walkers we'd seen wearing head torches from Swirls earlier passing with smiles and overall friendly folk. The summit trig point soon came into view as did a young couple who by the looks of it would arrive at the trig exactly the same time as me and David.

I'm no fan of writing about what I'm about to write but what happened next was just woeful. On spying myself and David the girl quickened her pace making sure she'd arrive before us, no problem, we're two grown gents let the young girl have her summit time but what proceeded next was an act of pure selfishness whereby the girl took out her mobile and began to video herself all the while these two awkward looking buggers were stood directly behind her "I'm sure she knows we're right behind I thought" but the camera and commentary kept rolling, by now even her boyfriend didn't know where to look either. David and I rolled our eyes and left making our way towards the summit cairn from where we took in the cloud dramatics over Striding Edge and Nethermost Cove.

Whilst David and I were taking in the view over Striding Edge we turned around to see the girl standing at the edge of the bare rock in the lower right of this photo arms out gesturing to her boyfriend to take more pictures unaware she was stood within a foot of the snow cornice and before we had the chance to blink she ran back to her boyfriend coming within feet of the cornice.

As I grow older I've come to realise the reason why I still love walking the Lakeland fells are completely different to a minority of the new generations who visit.

Our pathless descent soon ended as we crossed the single track for Stybarrow Dodd and linked up with Sticks Pass continuing our descent agreeing that we'd have a quick bite to eat once we reached the familiar sheepfold below. It was approaching midday and views just kept getting clearer hence my picture postcard remark. The frozen ground gave way once we left the snow patches behind sometimes having to skirt around the boggier sections of the pass whilst others which were still in shade remained frozen. We soon reached the sheepfold where we de-shouldered our packs for a bite to eat in almost silence as we took in the views towards High Rigg, Skiddaw and the distant Lord's Seat fells, it seemed such a shame to have to end the walk in what could only be described as perfect conditions but all good things must come to an end so we re-shouldered packs and continued our descent passing a young farmer with his four dogs who was herding sheep from higher up the pass.

The sound of traffic travelling on the A591 below crept into earshot interrupted by the clanging of gates from Stybeck Farm below. We reached the bottom of the pass and looked back to see the young farmer returning this time with a herd of sheep who scurried in numbers down one side of Stanah Gill. We passed the wooden sign post for Sticks Pass which a year ago had the word 'fairy pool' inscribed into its post but someone has attempted to sand the lettering away, good on em. We crossed a steady flowing, sun glistened leat before arriving at Stanah my car visible through the bare trees which surround the parking spaces. It felt like the end of September rather than mid November such the warmth from the midday sun we'd both have delayered to single layers had the car not been so close. We crossed the B5322 and I unlocked my car my feet feeling the miles, as we kitted down we spilled into the car and drove south back to Swirls and whilst I tried to block the sun from my eyes David laughed 'how many times have we drove down here today' cheeky bugger.