Reflections on a first Wainwright round

Standing on Green Crag I looked across Eskdale to Slight Side and the Scafell Massif. For once I felt that my planning would actually work out. September had seen stable high pressure sitting over us making the weather fair, warm, and dry, if a little hazy, but we could forgive that. It meant we'd got a lot of walks completed. Jessie and I were out at least every other day. A pretty good achievement for us. It would however mean that I would be tied to my desk for a while afterwards getting everything written up.

I looked down and Jessie was looking over to Slight Side too. I wondered if she knew. It's uncanny the way she knows where we're going, invariably she'll pick the path to our intended destination. Maybe I give out subliminal messages to her, although I've long suspected she picks the path that smells like it's had more people travel along it.

So there we stood on Green Crag lost in doggy and human thoughts for a few moments. What struck me was that old cliché: without embarking on visiting all the Wainwright fells I wouldn't have been to all the interesting places I had. All the varied experiences and the surprises along the way. Like standing here, I really enjoyed the walk over rough moorland to this little crag. The paths were easily lost amongst tussocky grass, but the autumn sun had some warmth still and the ground was mostly dry. And we could see where we were going.

The following day there was just the two of us on the summit of Slight Side. It didn't feel as much of a completion as I thought it might be. It just felt like any other summit. "Okay, this is nice, so what's the next thing". I took many photos of Scafell, and anything else I could see in the haze. Then we headed back. On the excellent Terrace Route overlooking Eskdale we stopped to sit on a rock to chill out. Watching the cars and occasional van grinding up Hardknott Pass from Brotherikeld. Jessie sat beside me, and we shared the last of my lunch. It was a wonderful few moments together. Then she jumped off to find some shade and a snooze. She deserved it.

My first Wainwright I think was Yewbarrow with a bunch of friends when we did the Mosedale Horseshoe. That was some introduction to the fells! I also got into wildcamping and spent a night near Crinkle Crags, and the Old Man of Coniston a few times. That's something I've missed recently. I've had to be focused on the Wainwrights so the idea of spending a night out, which would use up a couple of days of good weather, just couldn't be contemplated. It also turns out Jessie doesn't like my small one-man tent. So I think there is some training required, and maybe a different shelter, something with more room.

I've heard of people hanging up their boots, metaphorically, when they've completed a round of the Wainwrights, or the Munros, or whatever tick list was their motivation. Once the last tick has been achieved, champagne or a wee dram imbibed on the summit. It's all over. I don't understand that.

As Churchill famously said: "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning". I have lots of ideas for new walks to old favourites. Some of our early walks I'd like to revisit to improve them. Also I'd like to wonder over the Wainwright Outlying Fells. I'm also looking forward to visiting new areas. So I don't think I'm going to be idle for a while yet.

Oh yes. I have a confession to make. I still haven't done Striding Edge or Sharp Edge! I keep meaning to, but energy and good weather meant I had other things to do. I haven't got any more excuses! Well except perhaps leaving them until the summer eh!

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