81 – 83 Graystones, Broom Fell and Lord’s Seat – Wear and Tear

The bag I carry the wheel in was never designed to be taken up mountains. It is not waterproof and the padding it came with was not deep enough to protect my back from the hardness of the wooden structure of the wheel.  So in the early days I created a cocoon-like layer of upholstery foam to cushion my torso and the wheel. I also bought a waterproof rucksack cover for the times when I might be caught out in a shower – with the intention not to walk out in driving rain. Both have been invaluable.

The padding is going strong and only showing minor signs of scuffing and compression.  It will probably see me up  another 70 Wainwrights before it needs renewing.

The more significant wear and tear has been to the zip on the front pocket.  It is not the stitching between the zip and the fabric of the bag that has parted company, but the teeth of the zip from the tape it is sewn onto.  I fear this will be a very delicate operation to stitch between each tooth, but possible.

So here’s to my bag and wheel (which has had a good dose of oil) and to the battle scars it has accumulated together with a heck of a lot of mud, Oh and a little redecoration in the freezing wind on Graystones!

79 80 Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell

The views from the top of Bleaberry Fell were spectacular. It is always a surprise when you are treated to a 360 panorama from a small and insignificant mountain.

I had spent the first part of the day with friends at the Spinning and Weaving Guild, sharing the work we had spun woven knitted and felted for the annual “challenge” entitled Seaside.  A wonderful summery feel for a cold wintery day.  As well as sharing handicraft skills, we share life stories, tragedies, joys and a lot of stories about grandchildren.  The guild is made up, mostly of women, and mostly of a certain age.  At the moment and for a rare time in my life my hobby has not rendered me the youngest in the group, but only just (by age and dint of years I have been attending), consequently I am surrounded by a warm group of life experience and incomparable spinning weaving and dyeing experience.  I came away inspired and energised and certainly did not “need” a walk to get away from life.  Meeting with a group of homely, creative types comes also with delights such as great baking and left over Christmas Ferror Rocher to eat up.

This is probably why I bounded up Walla Crag with the good luck fairy on my shoulder to discover my pack had been open and my phone and purse were hanging out by a thread.  I had started out at 14:15 quite an early start for a guild day but pushed up the day’s agenda due to it still being January and very much in winter.

As I found the top of Walla Crag I was reminded that it was one of the first mountains in the Lake District my husband had taken me up.  After which he bought me a book of how to use a map and compass (along the the Essex Girl Joke Book)

I had found the top and the couple who came and talked to me commented that they could never tire of the view.  The opposite side of the classic chocolate box scene I had enjoyed from Barrow. We chatted about loving living here and as an employee of George Fisher in Keswick a large outdoor gear retailer they suggested their marketing department may be interested in hearing about my challenge.

On departing the top I discovered the good fairy had not reminded me to check my compass was in the map case but alas I was without it.  Despite my previous assertion that one should never venture into the mountains without map AND COMPASS visibility was good to the point I could see a motorway sized footpath to the top so decided I was sage to proceed.

Looking back I could not believe the height gained, at power walking speed.  I was pushing hard for light was fading.  I had reached the top at the same time as sun-down last week, so despite time being tight I spun long enough for my hands to feel cold but also to enjoy the burning sky as the sun set behind the Buttermere fells covered in snow.  My phone camera was useless. Truly and totally, no camera could do justice to the 20 minutes of sun-down splendour I witnessed.

Racing against the twighlight I made a beeline for the wall surrounding the top of Walla crag, phoned Mark to confirm I had not walked off a cliff, and made it to the car just as my night sight failed. 3 hrs – the time of a good marathon (or half for me).

Low Fell is a small mountain overlooking the Kirkstile Inn on Loweswater – the clue is in the name as they say It’s not too big.  As you may have gathered from previous posts Mark is recovering from Pneumonia and is struggling to walk for very far and certainly not up hill.  However, every week we have a go and try and stretch out the distance and elevation so this time Low Fell at 423m and number 200 on the Wainwright list seemed like an achievable target, especially as anything above this height was dusted in snow.

We reminisced about how we had, possibly in a moment of madness, driven the Mosser Road when we first moved in 20 years ago.  Now very much “Not suitable for Motor vehicles”rutted with water damage.

Arriving at the first fence on open countryside Mark beat a retreat to read a book in the warmth of his car and wait for me in Thackthwaite. If I put a shift on I thought I might be able to nab Fellbarrow as well, but the splendour of the reddening sky on the summit of Low Fell the wonders of modern technology told me that I had less than 40 minutes until sunset so it lived to fight another day and tea was an hour earlier than expected.

When you start an unusual and lengthy challenge it is always good to go into it with an open mind.  I have found that however much you plan you will be very surprised by the unexpected opportunities that open themselves up to you. This is one I really did not see coming……

With Mark recovering from Pneumonia we thought a New Year’s Day stroll up Castle Crag (the smallest Wainwright) might be possible. We parked up in Rosthwaite and talked about Prince Charles enjoying staying at Yew Tree Farm, and Julia Bradbury buying pasties from the Flock Inn.  We reminisced about fell running days and the route of the Borrowdale fell race and how the times posted by the fastest fell runners were almost incomprehensible.  We split for a few hundred yards as Mark and Bheinn crossed the stream on the stepping stones.  I have always had trouble co-ordinating crossing flowing water and it wasn’t until I keeled over after completing the 1 mile Great north swim I was diagnosed with Vertigo, which seems to be the reason why I can’t make my feet go forward when the ground/water beneath me in s travelling at 90 degrees, so avoided becoming stranded in the middle of the river by taking the easy path enjoying the best views of the pack horse bridge where I met up with Bheinn.  Mark was already walking at a snail’s pace so it was no surprise that 1/2 way up the climb he stopped on a rock in favour of photographing the view above reaching the top.  As you leave the grassy part of the hill and cross the wall to the summit, rocky climb a path has been landscaped into the slate slag heap left from the the mining past of the area.  We fell into step with a very chatty man, who told us about the standing slates that look like grave stones and the uphill fell race that is won in just under 12 minutes.  I think you could put a 0 on that time for our walk.

The views are truly stunning from the top.  In both directions you can see the beauty of the lower landscape overshadowed by the high mountains  of the Borrowdale valley to the South and Skiddaw to the North.

When I started the spinning challenge I assumed I would  meet people on the tops of the fells but generally people are sitting, contemplating or eating and resting on the summit.  Most of my conversations have been with people on the route up or down, and this time was no exception.  We ran into (literally) some old fell running friends who now run an adventure centre in Keswick.  Lou had been the British and English Fell running Champion in the days when we competed but now runs for fun and exercise and organises events for other up and coming runners.  The Advetnure centre is called Kong Adventure and they have a Gorilla mascot who attends the events and has been known to take part in some alternative activities during the races.  They wondered if the Gorilla might be allowed to take the spinning wheel to the next fell race and the Spinning wheel agreed to oblige.  A fell running, spinning Gorilla, now I did not see that coming……

In August I had intended to tick off Hen Comb on a walk out from home to Melbreak on the “Another Wainwright Day”, but bad weather had cut the walk short.

Again the weather was not the best, but that was to be expected on 31 December 2019 it was blustery and cold, low cloud but this time no driving rain. I walked from home and about 500m onto open fell I met a couple ahead of me who were walking in my direction, but had stopped to admire the view.  They explained they had walked from Loweswater the previous day but realised they were running out of time so had headed back without finishing the walk.  The day after they were finishing the last part of the walk in reverse up from Ennerdale, determined not to leave the walk incomplete.  I was in admiration and shook Nick’s hand hoping that some of his determination to finish would rub off on me.

The summit of Hen Comb was cold and very windy, but I found a sheltered spot just off the top and spun in peace.  However when I packed away, the wind-chill was freezing and my soaked hands were numb. Visibility was about 5m and with hands cold as ice it was the first occasion on this round that I have had to use the compass in anger. I now carry a second pair of gloves, learning that the times you will need to use your fine dexterity will always be in the toughest conditions, and those are mostly when it is coldest.

Not deterred by the cold, especially when there is a wager at stake I also had to message Mark to update on my position.  The deal had been whoever made it to the Kirkstile pub first had the right to a 2nd pint and therefore would not be driving home.  I took great delight in informing Mark I was on my way down an hour ahead of schedule, at speed, to enjoy my first pint while I waited for him to arrive.  Despite the number of mountain days being less than average in December I was delighted to feel less unfit than I had expected, and was well down my first pint when the transport arrived.

December came with its usual chaos of organising Christmas but in our family there was an added complication as Mark contracted Pneumonia, so most of December remained “Wainwrightless”. Finally my first outing with Mountain Bagging, came about on the 27th December.  Mountain Bagging is the walking group I have been looking for all my life. It is friendly inclusive and very enthusiastic for climbing the fells, but up until today I have not found a weekend that fitted in with my plans to join them on a walk.  With Mark out of action and Bheinn in action on the “Switch” enjoying his Christmas presents I took an opportunity to meet and walk with these “facebook walking friends” I already seemed to know so much about who might start to think I was a phantom walker if I did not put in an appearance.

Typically I was always at the back preceded by many children excited by their Christmas holidays.  I tried my first every geocaching experience and love the idea of always having something in your pocket to leave for somebody to discover on every walk. I met people from all over the north of England who love the fells, and want to share their experiences.

The climb up Aira Force was reminiscent of being in the Alps and the falls were stunning in their winter spate.

One of the children celebrated their 100th Wainwright at the top, but I was a bit puffed out and wrestling the wheel out of the bag to enjoy the celebration.  With frozen fingers the pace around to the viewpoint above Ullswater was a chance to warm up and test my downhill speed.

And the best reason to out with Mountain Bagging, Cider in the Royal Hotel Dockwray afterwards of course!

A cautionary tale.  When the road closed sign is out on a mountain pass route. It probably means the road is closed.

Icy, cold winter ascent, despite clear visibility and use of the compass we became disorientated on the way down and had to back track twice.

September and October felt rather quiet.  School was back but The Wild Wool Barn and Workshop was still in Summer mode with many visitors and guests taking much of my time.  But despite my mountaineering not feeling frenetic the tally increased by another 13.

Raise (Helvellyn) and White Side

I had forgotten what a masterful ridge the Helvellyn to Clough Head straight is.  The undulating top stretches for miles and attracts all types of outdoor enthusiasts including skiiers, mountain bikers, Bob Grahamers, Fell runners and “spinning walkers”.  The aim had been to do more but my energy levels dropped as we ascended to the ridge, probably at the thought of the packet of emergency Quinoa having been used to stabilise the wheel on rocky ground, or maybe it was just the thought of the Quinoa instead of a bar of Galaxy!

Whin Rigg

Is a steep climb out of Western Wasdale and is always accompanied by the feeling of lethargy as it is the one you do when you can’t be bothered to drive to the central lakes and just want an easy (not so!) walk.  Back to the Shepherds Arms in Ennerdale for roast dinner as the Screes and Strands were variously fully booked or did not serve food.

Longlands Fell, Meal Fell and Great Cockup

A day of rare couples freedom.  Bheinn was on Scout camp so we headed to our old stomping ground of the Northern Fells.  The wind was so fierce we could barely speak so it was a very quiet day and the wool spun upwards.

Knott Rigg and Ard Crags

A full family day and always an easy climb but again autumn winds made for a very fast retreat to The Bridge Inn Buttermere for late lunch – yum.

Outerside and Barrow

When I had completed the big round of Buttermere tops in the Summer I had left these 2 so was looking forward to clearing them up. Walking  the easy path from Newlands with the flank of Barrow  on our right hand side we waved at brave canyoneerers, in the river below.  I would not be brave enough but Bheinn and Mark would have liked to try.  A rainbow seen from Barrow over the chocolate box view of Derwentwater I always thought was a fake made for a perfect day not spoilt by the fact that  The Swinside Inn was closed due to winter opening times so I was unable to use my Lake District “£s” so we revisited an old haunt, the Coldeale Inn.  We are starting to become experts in the pubs that serve food all day, an absolute must for walkers who traipse off the fells at all hours of the day.

Haystacks

I had planned a long walk back from Wasdale to Ennerdale home, but as we left the valley I noticed that the tops were covered in snow. As the wheel is heavy and does not contain much space for lots of bulky winter gear I decided that a long winter traverse was not going to be sensible.  Even more sensible would have been to check the weather forecast before departing. Will I ever learn?

So caution being the better part of valor Mark drove me to Butermere and I planned a longer but lower level route along the Ennerdale fells from East to West, but Haystacks was more of a climb than I expected and the squally weather including sleet and snow forced me down the Ennerdale Valley floor and a 7 mile walk and talking to the Ennerale Ultra runners. This brought back memories of hundreds of hours of training runs in the valley in the days when I joined the ultra runners in their passion to push their bodies further than they expected.  Now I think I enjoy taking my time, walking within my limits and seeing the views.

Loughrigg 71 – 1/3 of the Wainwrights Complete

I was accompanied by and old school friend whose struggle with dodgy knees made this a great feat, and I am sure endurance of pain on the way down.  I never used to think that milestones such as a 1/4 a 1/3 or half-way were worth any celebration but this time I feel chuffed and proud. I am amazed that I am already 1/3 of the way after only 6 months and had not put a finish time on the challenge but am starting to think I might be able to make it by the end of summer 2020.