Report on Stuart Williams’ Bob Graham Round

Sunday 29^th to Monday 30^th August 2010

 

Blencathra

 

Some research on sunrise and sunset times had suggested a 2.30 a.m. start would allow my intended 22 hour clockwise attempt to benefit from some pre-dawn light on the descent from Blencathra (above) with similar light likely for the descent off Great Gable, so it was then that Chris Lloyd and Steve Waterhouse joined me in a chilly Keswick Main Street for the off. Five minutes to go and a solitary figure ran towards us, Richard Davies, who was pacing leg 3, had jogged down from Lattrig to accompany us back up to the car-park, before he got some sleep to be ready for his later involvement – a great start to the camaraderie of my BG attempt.

 

(0230) The Skiddaw  (pictured) climb began OK and Richard duly bade us good luck as intended, and off up Jenkin Hill we went – straight into very strong gusts from a stiff north westerly, rain and as we climbed further horizontal sleet – this was meant to be August! We spread out on Skiddaw Summit to find the trig point then picked our way in the mist down and over the fence to Hare Crag and a wet trod up Gt Calva, our mood lightened by the bizarrely placed ‘men at work’ signs marking repairs to the trod. Second summit achieved ok and up on time then the eastern fence line providing a good handrail down in the dark. The Caldew was forded at only calf height and our trudge up Mungrisedale was labourious as normal. We pressed on and as predicted benefitted from the light for the ‘parachute descent’ of Blencathra in a good twenty-four minutes, picking time up and finishing the leg pretty much on schedule. Steve arrived after a slight detour and my wife Jackie's hot tea and porridge warmed us, ready for journeys home and my leg 2. (0614)

 

(0629) Russ Mabbett, Mick Cottam and John Wright led the way up Clough Head with threatening rain in the air and the wind not abating. Summit reached in good time and off across the Dodds. John struggled to hear as I shouted summit times out, the wind was so fierce but we benefitted from its direction in the main and picked up time with it on our shoulders. A BG group from London emerged ahead as we reached Lower Man, having passed through Threlkeld an hour ahead of us, and we offered encouragement and provisions as they kept on going. Not sure how they finished up, but it would have been difficult as they had had a midnight start and were already somewhat down. The Helvellyn ridge was now brighter and the clouds were lifting to reveal Fairfield ahead. Feeling ok so far we sensed the end of leg 2 was achievable on time. We’d chosen the route to the rear of Grisedale Tarn, which proved effective and an uneventful up and back of Fairfield with a similar climb of Seat Sandal was followed by waves from a figure on its summit. Ali Welsh had climbed up to meet us and with fresh legs he led us down the shoulder of the final Summit to our support and more sustenance (1010). Jackie had been joined by Nick Hume who kept an eye on the resting time with Tony and Liz Airnes also now on board and ready with Liz’s massage table  (pictured) for a quick liven up of the legs – wondered what drivers on the A591 must have thought, but I didn’t care by then.

 

(1025) Richard (fresh from his earlier warm up) was joined by Chris Shaw and Steve "Slateman" Broadbent as we climbed Steel Fell and checked off the next four peaks before starting around the Langdale Horseshoe. My brother Peter, out on a walk with a mate, had shouted encouragement from High Raise and promised to see us later as they walked on to Keswick. Now started feeling a bit grim with lack of sleep catching up I think – the wind was in our face as we walked some of Martcrag Moor (which we would usually run) and Richard’s insistence I ate paid off with a stronger climb to Rossett Pike and up the Buttress to Bowfell. He also rewarded each peak with a Jelly Baby, which I never realised would taste so good! Chris forged ahead route finding Esk Pike and Great End and on across the rocks of Ill and Broad Crag. Scafell Pike  (pictured) was like Piccadilly Circus but apart from acknowledging another shout from Pete – who was still on his long walk north – we didn’t hang around. Down to Mickledore and Lord’s Rake/West Wall Traverse, stunning in the sunshine, led to a quieter Scafell Summit before down the screes to Brackenclose and a well earned rest (1600).

 

(1619) Ali Welsh and Phil Leybourne now took up pacing the ‘nagging leg’ and I needed it on occasion. Yewbarrow followed by Red Pike is tough, with two stiff climbs following each other, and it didn’t disappoint. Due to incessant mist I’d never seen Steeple on my recces and the reason for its apt name became obvious as we approached. Out and back along its ridge and then we picked up good trods around the Black Crags and Pillar sections. I started with knee pain on the descents and sickness and lethargy were now constantly there. Kirk Fell and Great Gable  (pictured) are monsters when you’re tired and it took Ali and Phil’s encouragement to get me up them. The light was fading but we managed to find the ‘Wasdale’ descent off Gable before the run down towards Honister, which felt better, save for my attempt to direct us off Grey Knotts, which I’d not reccied in the dark before, costing us a few minutes of thrutching through long marshy grass. Honister and hot soup were a welcome diversion (2112).

 

(2125) Leg 5 was a delight – the wind had dropped – and Gary Johnston with a rejuvenated Chris Lloyd forged up Dale Head to lead off. Good route finding took us through Hindscarth and Robinson and even the tricks to miss the rock steps on the descent were found. We reached the road and the awaiting change to road shoes, provided by Nick and Jackie, in good time and then with our BWFAC vests now on set off for Keswick at a lick. Apart from some more walks on the steeper stuff we turned in to the town centre with the knowledge that we would break the twenty-two hour mark. To our surprise shouts and cheers rang out as we saw the finish line banner for the ‘Adidas Adventure Race’ ahead, we duly ‘borrowed’ it and ‘broke the tape’ climbing the Moot Hall Steps to finish in 21hr 46 mins – fantastic! (0016)

 

All in all it was a great day out on the fells with good people and awesome scenery – a must for any one who feels up to it. Probably the hardest event I’ve ever done, but worth every minute.

 

Stuart Williams September 2010