9 fells in one weekend – only 23 now to go

This is the end of Gillercomb: the point at which Sour Milk Gill throws itself into Borrowdale below.

The weather was terrible, particuarly on Sunday, but although that caused some misery and chill, I still managed to walk about 19.8 miles over the weekend, bag 9 fells and take a substantial step toward completing this project on schedule (Jan 2013). The 9 fells comprised the High Stile and Great Gable ranges, and walk 60 was broken by a night at the atmospheric and highly convenient (for walkers) Black Sail youth hostel. As with all these two-day hikes, of which this was the third, I have broken it into two pages on here: Walk 60a (High Stile) and walk 60b (Great Gable). Enjoy.

As of today, then, I have bagged 191 of the 214 Wainwrights, thus have 23 to go. I have walked approximately 610.48 miles (passing the 600-mile point at about Red Pike, on Saturday) and have climbed approximately 178,538 feet.

Caldbeck Fells bagged

Criffell, the southernmost Scottish mountain, from High Pike. Best shot I could get that encapsulated High Pike’s magnificent view.

The Caldbeck Fells sit in the north-eastern corner of the district which, luckily for me, was about the only part of the region not draped in cloud and rain yesterday. Though this dismal summer continues, I nevertheless managed to bag 3 more fells yesterday. The highlight was the stupendous view from High Pike, one of the best I have seen on these walks.Read about it on the walk 59 page and the individual fell pages: Carrock Fell, High Pike and Knott.

As of today, then, I have bagged 182 of the 214 Wainwrights, thus have 32 to go. I have walked a total of 590.64 miles and ascended approximately 171,919 feet.

My next walk is booked in, I have a 2-day hike to do this coming weekend which will  – hopefully! – see me bag 9 fells, including Great Gable, the highest Wainwright I have yet to bag. Details published on Monday, if I make it…

After the deluge, a walk.

Building on the old rifle range, north of Great Mell Fell

Plans to go for a walk in June were scuppered again and again by awful weather, which I really don’t want to talk about. Today, I cracked, and went anyway: the weather was OK, nothing great, but at least not dreadful. The three fells bagged on walk 58 – Great Mell Fell, Little Mell Fell and Gowbarrow Fell – are all pretty minor: hence the name of the walk. There’s no rock to handle, no spectacular vistas, but it’s all pleasant enough.

As of today, then, I have bagged 179 of the 214 Wainwrights: thus have 35 to go. I have walked 575.79 miles and ascended approximately 169,137 feet (getting on for six times the height of Everest).