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Sheffield. 12 May 2010. 

I'm glad to be able to report that my thanksgiving celebration run from Pooley Bridge (Ullswater) to Greendale Bridge (Nether Wasdale) was completed on May 8-9. (Details of the challenge, undertaken in order to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, can be found in the text of my initial appeal which is still visible as an appendix below). I made the total traverse in some style (18 and a half  hours actually on my feet), visiting 17 Lakeland tops with about 17,000 feet of total ascent. A navigational error meant that I took 25 hours in total rather than the 24 that was my notional objective. Because of this I failed to qualify for the V65 category of the Joss Naylor Challenge, but I am sure that people who have already made a donation to MDC will not feel defrauded, and I hope that other potential sponsors will deem that it was a worthy effort and will make their donations on the basis of 'mission accomplished'. In fact I'm providing extra value for money, since my navigational blunder meant that I did 50 miles instead of the 48 for the official route!

Stage 1. Pooley Brige to Sprinkling Tarn (11h 40m). May 8.

The forecast for dry and clear but cold conditions proved to be accurate, and the anticipated north-easterly winds were also welcome as the traverse is basically NE-SW.  It was good to be greeted at the starting point in Pooley Bridge by MDC's local fundraising coordinator Sara Benson and her family, who had come all the way from Darlington just to encourage and give me a good send-off. Also there were my long-suffering partner Sue Buckle, Monica Shone who is the Muse of the JNC 'club' and Rainer Burchett from nearby Water Millock. Sue and Rainer ran some of the first leg with me, along the long, gradual ridge which rises to the summit of High Street. At Kirkstone Pass I was greeted, fed and watered by Sue, with Monica turning up just in time to see me off on the leg over Fairfield to the only other road-crossing on the entire route. After Dunmail Raise, between Grasmere and Keswick, there is not an inch of asphalt for the rest of the way. I was a bit down on schedule in reaching there and Sue was beginning to get anxious, not to say cross. She kindly attended to my needs after about 6 hours of running, however, and sent me on my solitary way for the next, and tougher six-hour stretch above Langdale towards Bowfell and then via Great End to the planned campsite at the lovely Sprinkling Tarn. My progress was smooth all the way, with stunning views of the fells, and I was glad to reach the tents before it got dark. Sterling work had been done by the support party in carrying tents, gear and provisions all the way up there and in getting things organised before I arrived. It was great to see my son Sam (Alfie's dad) and his friend Guy at the rendezvous. They had come up from Borrowdale (fitting in an ascent of Scafell Pike after dumping their bags) and Sue had also climbed up from there to the tarn on her own, carrying my rucksack as well as hers. The other two members of the party --Roy Small and Jeff Harrison-- had arrived from the Wasdale side: this was planned so that transport would be available at the finish to evacuate the two supporters, Jeff who carried three loaded rucksacks down from the campsite and Roy who had volunteered to come with me on the final leg.

After food and drink (including a fine red wine transported by Sue), with lights out at about 11pm, the four hours of respite and sleep were restorative and much enjoyed, even though temperatures overnight were well below freezing. Sue suffered most from the cold because she insisted that she should have the aluminium-foil sleeping bag instead of the light down one I'd intended for her. To camp at Sprinkling Tarn had always been an ambition of mine and it was a joy to achieve that in such circumstances and such company: just one of the many added-value delights of the expedition.

Stage 2. Sprinkling Tarn to Greendale Bridge (6h 50m). May 9.

After the 3.15 am reveille Roy and I were on our way by 4 o'clock. It was light well before we had completed the stiff climb up Great Gable. The hard work of traversing the next big 'lumps' of Kirk Fell and Pillar was compensated by the perfect conditions and the wonderful views on all sides. It seemed that it was going to be 'all downhill' over the final tops and that the 24-hour completion was going to be achieved, although without much time to spare. Having left Roy with the rucksacks in order to do the rather dull climb to the summit of Seatallan on my own, I made the errror which accounted for an extension of and a variation on the official route for the traverse. I stopped thinking and started to run fast downhill, with the result that I overshot the rendezvous with Roy and the easy path up to the final summit of Middle Fell. If I'd had the sense to keep a map in my hand and to keep my eyes on the surrounding landscape instead of on my feet, I would probably have sorted myself out and corrected the line without much difficulty. As it was, I went round the back of Middle Fell and then climbed to a top on the ridge beyond, aware by now of what had happened and aware also that I was out of time. This should have sickened me, but strangely it didn't. Instead, I had a good laugh at my own stupidity and then continued to enjoy my progress, via Bowderdale (where the great man Joss Naylor used to farm) and along the side of Wastwater to meet Jeff at the finish. Roy had a much more anxious time of it, waiting endlessly for me on the hillside and then, ironically, having to make an excursion to the summit of Seatallan, to ensure that I wasn't lying injured up there. His extra hour on the route would have been altogether more trying than my circumnavigation of Middle Fell, as was clear when he arrived at Greendale Bridge just 5 minutes after me.

Roy and Jeff kindly drove me to Wasdale Head, where I was to spend the night, before they embarked on the long drive back to Sheffield. An afternoon of rest and refreshment was followed by a meander on the Monday across to Borrowdale for one more night in the Lakes before my own bus-train journey home: a perfect way to wind down and reflect on the preceding days' events and delights. 

So that is the story of an epic Lakeland outing which, despite the surreal final episode, goes down in my memory as one of the most enjoyable and satisfying I've been privileged to participate in. It was plannned with a minimum of fuss, 'on the back of an envelope', and executed with efficiency and even simple elegance. The mission would have been literally impossible without the efforts of the minimal but extremely competent crew who supported me throughout. My sincerest thanks go to all those mentioned in the paragraphs above, and also to John Armistead with whom I spent a very pleasant couple of days in Patterdale beforehand and who delivered me safely to the Sun Inn at Pooley Bridge on the eve of the event.

The other first-line object of the exercise was, of course, to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. I'm happy to report that before I set off last Saturday my appeal had already nearly hit the announced £1,000 target. That was thanks to the heart-warming generosity and good faith of all who donated in advance and sent messages of solidarity and encouragement. Many, many thanks to all of them. Now I plan to promote a second wave of contributions on the strength of the completed run, taking to well over £1,000 the collective contribution to the invaluable work of MDC.

 

APPENDIX

[This is the last posting I made before embarking on the run. As well as details of the Joss Naylor Challenge and final up-date on our own arangements, it includes the initial appeal letter explaining why I was linking the run to the cause of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.]

 

(A note before you read any further:  I'm aware that many people will prefer, perfectly reasonably, not to donate until they have confirmation that the challenge has been completed. I shall be up-dating this page periodically before early May, with information about preparation, organisation, schedule, etc. [FINAL UP-DATE POSTED 5/5/10: see below.] The page will stay open for a few weeks beyond the planned date for the event, after which I hope to be able to announce that it has been successful. So please watch this space...)

On May 8-9 of this year I plan to attempt the Joss Naylor Challenge in the V65 category, allowing me 24 hours in which the complete the 48-mile traverse from Pooley Bridge (Ullswater) to Greendale Bridge (Nether Wasdale) involving 30 Lakeland tops with 17,000 feet of ascent. If successful, this will mean that I will have completed the JNC in all the age categories: V50/55 (inside 12 hours) and V60 (inside 18 hours). As well making a personal thanksgiving celebration of 35 years of fell running, I have very good reasons for linking this endeavour to fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

In April 2009 my grandson Alfie at the age of 4 was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Put simply this means that his genetic make-up prevents his body from producing the stuff needed by the muscles to repair and rebuild themselves. Progressive muscular degeneration means that the condition has a catastrophic impact on the quantity and quality of life that can be enjoyed by those who suffer with it.

There is no cure, but the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (MDC) works tirelessly to promote research into treating the condition. The MDC also provides a precious lifeline of information, guidance and solidarity for all families that have to learn to deal with MD. The support and care that my son Sam, wife Rachael and his family have received so far has been invaluable; they would not have had this help without the specialist services sponsored by MDC and the efforts of the campaign to co-ordinate and fund work on the medical front.

Supporting the work of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is one small thing that Alfie's family can do immediately to fight the frustration of not being able to make things better for all who are affected by the cruel disease. This is why I am targeting my appeal to benefit MDC, in line with the established fund-raising component of the Joss Naylor Challenge.

Any donations in support of this worthy cause will be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance.

FINAL UP-DATE 5/5/2010

With just three days to go before JNCday, the plans are now more or less finalised. It isn't going to be the great travelling circus that I originally envisaged, but I should have sufficient support at the two early road crosssings (Kirkstone Pass and Dunmail Raise) and experienced company for most of the route. Most importantly the weather forecasts for Saturday and Sunday are not discouraging. I should have a moderate north-easterly wind at my tail virtually all the time, a distinct advantage. It's going to be cold (very cold on the high ground and overnight) and mostly cloudy with some showers expected. I'll be happy enough if the conditions do turn out to be like this on the day.

The logistics and rough schedule of the Pooley Bridge-Greendale Bridge traverse are also more or less as originally planned, although I'm now aiming to set off from Pooley Bridge at 9.45 am instead of 10 o'clock. I hope to be at Kirkstone for about 1.15 pm. I expect to be making a brief stop at Dunmail Raise, to be on my way again before 4 o'clock. I'd estimated taking six hours for the tough leg from Dunmail --via High Raise, Bowfell and Great End-- to reach Sprinkling Tarn around 9.30 pm, just before dark. If the conditions are not particularly clement, though, and if I've got enough running in my legs I'll be trying to clip half an hour off this in order to have a bit more tent-based rest, recovery and even recreation at the camp. The planned pre-dawn (4 am) start for the last leg over Great Gable, Kirk Fell, Pillar, Haycock, Seat Alan and Middle will allow me just under six hours to reach the finish. (Most people signed up for the high-level party will be coming up from Borrowdale except Roy Small, booked in to accompany me for the whole of the last section, having driven round to Wasdale and having approached the camp from that side.) However things unfold on the day, I still plan to use every available minute of the 24 hours allowed for the V65 'pipe and slippers' category of the Joss Naylor Challenge. I'm truly grateful to the stalwart band of supporters who have generously volunteered to support me on the ground in this endeavour, and I'm determined not to let them down.

I expect to be back in Sheffield by May 12 after when I hope to be able to post a report on this web-site about a successful completion, giving some account of experiences along the route. Needless to say, this will be associated with another push on the fund-raising efforts for the noble cause of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

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