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Helm Wind descends with greatest force in the neighbourhood of 
the highest elevation of the Escarpment, being strongest along a 
zone extending a few miles on each side of Cross Fell, and 
gradually diminishing in force in proportion to the distance on 
either side from this centre. 
But that is not its only peculiarity. While a furious gale is 
rushing down the lower part of the Escarpment, repeated observa- 
tion has shewn that on the summit, as well as on its windward 
side, the gale gradually declines in force; so that while ‘the 
Helm is on” at Milburn, for example, there is hardly any wind at 
all at the back of Dun Fell, although that lies in what seafaring 
men call the wind’s eye in relation to that village. 
While the wind prevails a long spindle-shaped mass of cloud 
remains in apparent suspension at a variable distance above the 
line of highest ground on both sides of Cross Fell. It is probably 
the almost constant accompaniment of this covering, or helm, of 
visible moisture, that has gained for the wind its popular name. 
The word helm, of course, is an old English word for a covering, 
cap, or something that conceals the head. 
Let us regard the facts in another light. If we are travelling, 
say, from Alston towards Penrith when the conditions suitable for 
the development of the wind obtain, we might travel upwards to 
the summit ridge without noticing more than a moderate breeze 
setting westwards, up the slopes, or in the direction of the Escarp- 
ment. The cloud hanging above the line of highest ground would 
be present, but would probably attract but little attention in a 
district where mists are so commonly present. On descending 
the road, however, we should find at first a strong breeze setting 
in; and, as we advance towards the foot of the declivity this 
breeze would seem to rapidly increase in force, until it eventually 
takes on the character of a violent gale, whose greatest force is 
experienced near the zone where the mountain slopes merge into 
the undulating lowlands that range at their foot. After passing 
through Melmerby, it would be noticed that the gale gradually 
diminished in force; and at the distance of a mile or so in the 
direction of Penrith it appears to drop entirely, The wind, so far, 
