A Fantastic Day Out
We arrived at Pooley Bridge in good order, all present and
correct. The first drama of the day was that my flask for Ian and Crispin
turned out to have emptied itself into my spare kit bag. We went for a
lightweight start with just one head torch between us and a near full moon. We
used the Lakeside path through the new campsite which was in full flow. The
route through Parkfoot was good. Half way up the wall our one head torch packed
up so the moonlight was helpful and it was just coming light.
The first leg was awesome with sunrise and packs of red deer.
The summits came easily, we were eating and drinking well and enjoying
fantastic stories and laughs.
There was a great reception at Kirkstone with lots of old
friends. I enjoyed porridge and tea, lots of tea. Mark Chip was ready to take
up the reins and Mike was giving helpful advice. Up we went on the path up Red Screes. Our lines were good
following Ian Hodgson relay race lines. The run down Fairfield went very well
with Mark picking out grassy lines to make it smooth. Up Seat Sandal was the
first rough stuff with Richard bringing us off the top and Mark leading us
down, the dead bracken making it easy.
Again the reception at Dunmail was amazing. I drank tea, ate
lots and had Pam’s memorable egg butties, which went down a treat.
Mark and Jim were ready and waiting and off up the hill we
went saying hello to John and Jo on the way. The lines round Calf Crag was fine
and the trudge up to High Raise seemed lengthy. A few struggles with food and
tiredness began to creep in, but the crack pulled me through and by Bowfell I
was feeling good. Mark started plying me with haribos and food which helped
tremendously. The boulders and rough stuff suited me and I knew we were picking
up time.
The ascent and descent of Great End was special as I knew
exactly where I wanted to go. At Sty Head we picked up Sam and said goodbye to
Jim who’d led us on the first part of the leg providing a sterling job with the
lines.
We flew up Gable and were really getting into the flow.
Coming off was fun and the scree runs worked well. On Kirk Fell Sean caught us
up and provided a further injection of camaraderie. He’d worked hard to catch
us.
Red Gully was an adventure as usual, and as always a
treacherous place. And Pillar went well.
The crack was fantastic and we all regaled stories and
anecdotes from days gone by. The scree run off Haycock was fabulous. Mark and
Sean totally blasted it down. We made short work of the routes over Seatallen
and on to Middle Fell. Nick met us near the top. I could feel my legs were
fading and we rolled down to Greendale Bridge in great order.
We recounted memories of Wynn, Steve and Joss and regrouped
with Ian eventually, after dispatching the team in different directions to find
cars, food, places to stay etc.
I would like to extend special tanks to everyone who
supported my run. It was a most memorable day, largely due to the enthusiastic
spirit and fun we had. My chosen charity is MND in memory of Wynn and Steve who
got me hooked on this.
Thank you all.
Chris Reade.
Support
Depart – Ian Roberts, Carolyn Reade, Mike Patten – Depart
Time 5am 12.4.2025.
Leg 1 Pooley Bridge to Kirkstone – Crispin Halsall
Kirkstone Support – Pam Farmer, Ian Roberts, Mike Johnson
Leg 2 Kirkstone to Dunmail – Mark Chippendale, Crispin
Halsall
Dunmail Support – Pam Farmer, Ian Roberts and others
Leg 3 Dunmail to Sty Head – Jim Turner, Mark Irving.
Leg 4 Sty Head to Greendale – Sam Harrison, Sean Bolland,
Mark Irving.
Finish – Ian Roberts, Nick Hewitt, Carolyn Reade.
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