|
The online diary
started life as a blog of my strange 'other life' with the dog. I
wanted to record some of the experiences that I had as a first-time dog
owner. To access the archive, click on the appropriate month.
The most recent articles are listed
separately.
You are most
welcome to send comments about any of the articles. Record your
comments via the Contact Me page.
214 UP!
Sun 23 Aug 2009
I reached the
end of a long and winding road this summer; a personal challenge I set
myself to complete some years ago. The task was to stand on the summits of
the 214 Lakeland fells described by Alfred Wainwright in his seven Pictorial
Guides. The journey began in May 1997 with an ascent of Walla Crag and
ended earlier this month on the summit of Blencathra, my 214th
fell.
In the early
days I had no thoughts of climbing all the fells. In fact, the day after
the Walla Crag ascent I tackled Helvellyn using the Striding Edge route. It
was an exciting, if rather scary ascent, but having struggled to the top, I
proceeded to walk right past the summit of Nethermost Pike! Another ten
years would pass before that fell was ‘bagged’.
No, I only
decided to climb the Wainwrights after I retired in 2004, having, at that
time, only bagged about forty fells. With retirement came the freedom to
spend a bit of time on my own in the Lakes, and I began to plan my walks
more systematically.
My plans were
stalled in 2006 with the arrival of
Beattie, and I could not do so much that first year that we had her.
But I had already decided that Beattie could walk the fells as well and that
meant revisiting fells I had climbed previously. Not that I minded that in
the least. In three seasons of walking, Beattie has already climbed 172
Wainwrights and I am hoping to be able to report that she has completed in
2010. (Watch this space!)
Although I had
climbed most of the fells alone, the final ascent was to be a party
expedition. I had mentioned the probability of completing to a number of
people, and before long a group had been assembled to join me on the last
fell ascent. My chosen route was to be Hall’s Fell, which Wainwright
declared to be ‘positively the finest way to any mountain-top in the
district’ Blencathra p. 17. Sadly, Beattie was not able to accompany
me as this line of ascent involves some exposed scrambling and I could not
be climbing and holding on to a lead. Regretfully, the decision was made
that A should take Beattie up
the gentler route of Scales Fell.
I have to
admit that I completely concur with AW’s opinion of the climb. It was two
and a half hours of sheer exhilaration topped off with the deep satisfaction
of having stood on all 214 summits in the Lake District. Not only that, but
the welcome I had from Beattie was wonderful, as she was so excited when she
saw me she licked me all over my face!!
What next?
Well, Beattie has 42 fells to climb and then there are The Outlying Fells.
AW describes routes up just over one hundred fells in his book The
Outlying Fells of Lakeland. That should keep me active for a wee while
yet.
I think I have
more than enough to challenge me in my Sixties! Back
To post a comment click
here
Comment from
sablonneuse
Well done to
you and Beattie - not to mention 'A'. Looks like you have a very
active retirement planned for the next few years.
Thanks, Sandy. Yes, I have plenty to keep me busy for the
foreseeable future!! derek
Comment from Tracey Lilly
Well done, Derek. Even I felt emotional for you reading about it.
Thank you, Tracey. It was quite an emotional occasion! derek
Comment from
JaT
Well done on
reaching 214 Derek, quite an achievement.
Thanks very much. derek
Comment from
Lindsay and Paddy
A great day on the
fells Derek, glad to have been a part of it. Lindsay
Glad you could make it,
Lindsay. I would never have made it up those rocks at Scaley
Beck without the helping hand! derek
Return to top
Photographs taken with a Fuji MX-2900
Zoom or a Canon EOS 20D
Copyright © 2009 Derek Cockell All Rights
Reserved |
