The Greenburn Horseshoe....Grasmere

This walk is an old favourite, don't know why? It's not the longest, highest or has the best views. It is generally quiet...until you arrive at Helm Crag! Today with much of the circuit covered in fresh snow it was a cracking walk. Once more hopefully the photos do the day justice.

I only just managed to park beside the road near the Travellers Rest, taking the short cut across a barely frozen field towards Ghyll Foot and the bottom of the Southeast ridge of Steel Fell.

Its a grand walk up the ridge, pretty much direct to the top of the fell.
Across Dunmail Raise the Helvellyn range were looking splendid.

The other side of the ridge lies the quiet valley of Greenburn....it is rather wet mind!

This isn't quite the top of Steel Fel,l but IMHO it is the better viewpoint.
Helvellyn range beyond.

Rounding the head of Greenburn the ground is usually wet. Today it was in the main frozen, including almost all of this tarn. As far as I'm aware unnamed. 

The cairn on Calf Crag and the start of the return leg. Fairfield is seen to have a good covering of snow in the background.

Here the ridge is laid out before me, this image hides most of the up and downs involved mind!

Looking back along the ridge from Gibson Knott, not much snow from here onwards.

Still quite a few bumps and humps between here and Helm Crag.
Really clear views today though. 

The summit rocks of Helm Crag, here seen as "The Howitzer", sadly there was some ice on the climb to the top so I gave it a miss.
From here it was a quick jog down to Easedale and the road back to the car.

Just a few words about my footwear choice today. I wore these New Balance Goretex lined trail shoes with Inov8 mini gaitors and for some of the way Kahtoola Microspikes.
This combination worked well (as usual) my feet remaining dry throughout. The microspikes work at their best with trailshoes IMHO as more of the spikes grab due to the very flexible soles....less well on boots I find. Anyway thats my twopennyworth!