Climbing 3,000ft every day...just to check the weather forecast

When I got a phone call from BBC Breakfast asking if I fancied covering a story that included a hike up Helvellyn - the third highest peak in the Lake District - the opportunity sounded too good to miss. When I saw the forecast for deteriorating weather that day, the prospect was a little less appealing.

Showing me the ropes were the Lake District National Park's fell top assessors Zac Poulton, Paddy Cave and Jim Evans. Mountain safety is the main purpose of their role. They assess and feed back conditions on the mountains to help guide those planning to scale the park's peaks.

However, what intrigued me as a meteorologist and ex-weather observer were the various weather readings they take at the top and what they use them for.

Before I could witness the readings being taken though, I had to hike over 3,000ft (950m) to the top of the mountain.

Even as we set off into the thick drizzle you could already see the stunning landscape disappear into the lowering gloomy grey clouds.

Preparation for the conditions is key to any venture into the mountains, especially in winter. Zac, who has made more than 250 ascents over eight years, explained to me there are three crucial things you should ask yourself:

A lack of preparation can affect both your safety and that of the mountain rescue teams that might get called out to help you.

According to the 2024 Annual Report from England and Wales Mountain Rescue the "last three years have seen the numbers [of rescues] shift exponentially".

Human error, weather and inexperience were the key factors in call outs in 2023.

As the wind continued to pick up, the temperature dropped and snow began to fall, Paddy told me that conditions on the mountains here in the UK can often be far more uncomfortable than those in the Himalayas.

As we began the most treacherous part of our climb along Swirral Edge I saw and felt that discomfort first hand. Not only did fog surround us and the wind whip up as I scrambled along a narrow line of jagged rocks, massive drops either side of me, but rime ice was beginning to form on the small clumps of grass between the rocks.

By the time we reached the summit, we were coated in a layer of ice as the wind gusted and the temperature dropped below freezing. The view was non-existent due to the cloud and fog enveloping us, but that is not what we were here for.

Paddy held aloft the equipment that would ultimately record the weather for us, including wind speed, direction, air temperature and the "feels like" temperature. The last figure confirmed what the exposed parts of our faces felt.

After a quick chat with another group who had made it to the summit, it was time to head back downhill to Glenridding.

As I began to thaw out, I reflected on what had been a thoroughly enjoyable climb in the safe hands of the highly knowledgeable and entertaining fell assessors team.

For me, a long warm bath beckoned, but for Zac, Jim and Paddy it was a quick trip home to normal family duties. Paddy would be heading back up Helvellyn the following morning, and he will be on Christmas Day too.

"Are you looking forward to being on duty on Christmas Day?" I asked him. A broad smile accompanied his enthusiastic reply. He was clearly keen on being on the top of the mountain with "lots of other people, hopefully enjoying a snowy Christmas, and perhaps a mince pie thrown in".

As working Christmas goes, its not a bad "office" to be stuck in.