High Crag (Helvellyn) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids High Crag |
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|---|---|
High Crag seen from Dollywaggon Pike,
with Nethermost Pike beyond |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 884 m (2,900 ft) |
| Prominence | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Parent peak | Nethermost Pike |
| Listing | Birkett |
| Geography | |
 High Crag
Location in Lake District
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| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Eastern Fells |
| OS grid | NY343136 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 90, Explorer OL5/OL4 |
High Crag is a small mountain, also called a "fell," located in the eastern part of the Lake District in England. It's part of the Helvellyn mountain range. High Crag sits on a ridge south of bigger mountains like Helvellyn and Nethermost Pike. It rises steeply above an area called Ruthwaite Cove and is a popular spot for rock climbers.
Contents
About High Crag's Shape
High Crag is a rocky peak that stands over 100 meters (about 330 feet) tall. It rises sharply from the top of Ruthwaite Cove. It's considered a smaller peak on the southern ridge of Nethermost Pike. This spot is about 350 meters (1,150 feet) north of the low point between Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike.
At the very top of High Crag, there's a pile of stones called a cairn. This cairn marks the summit, which is 884 meters (2,900 feet) high. From the summit, the land gently slopes downwards to the west. This western slope joins with the side of Nethermost Pike.
Paths and Climbing Routes
If you enjoy walking, you can reach the top of High Crag by taking a short detour from the main path along the ridge. There are small trails that lead to and from the summit cairn. However, these paths are not as well-used as the main ridge path, which passes only 60 meters (about 200 feet) away from the cairn.
For people who like rock climbing, High Crag offers a challenge. There are two deep channels, called gullies, and a rocky section, called a buttress, that climbers use to go up the steep eastern side of High Crag.
What You See from the Top
The top of High Crag is quite flat and has a cairn (stone pile) that you can see from nearby mountain tops.
From the summit, you get an amazing view, almost like a bird's-eye view, looking down into Ruthwaite Cove. This cove is surrounded by the eastern ridges of Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike. You can also see a tiny lake, called Hard Tarn, in the cove. Beyond that, your view stretches down Grisedale valley all the way to Ullswater lake and Place Fell. In the far distance, you can even see the Pennine Hills.
High Crag's Rocks and History
High Crag is made entirely of a type of rock called lapilli-tuff. This rock belongs to something called the Helvellyn Tuff Formation. This formation is part of a larger group of rocks known as the Borrowdale Volcanic Group.
These rocks were formed a very long time ago, about 450 million years ago, during a period called the Ordovician Period. Back then, there was a lot of volcanic activity on the edge of an ancient continent. The Helvellyn Tuff Formation was created by a huge, explosive volcanic eruption. This eruption produced a fast-moving cloud of very hot gas and rock, called a pyroclastic flow. The small pieces of semi-melted lava within this flow, called lapilli, were flattened by the weight of all the material that piled up on top of them.
Images for kids
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Looking down into Ruthwaite Cove from High Crag
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Summit cairn on High Crag, with Helvellyn seen beyond
