Full on Lakeland Weekend with Hazzer - Saturday

Well with mine and Gav's Bob Graham Round attempt now just 2 weeks away, this weekend was my last big blow out in the hills, so as to then leave me with 'some sensible time' to get my legs back into tip top Bob Graham condition. Hester was busy with customers visiting her printmaking studio all weekend - open studios - so I only had the one trusty sidekick (Harry) to join me.

For Saturday we had a big day before us, helping Stef French get round the 4th leg of her own Bob Graham Round. She would have already have trogged around the first 3 legs, at a guess something like 42 miles and circa 18,000 ft of ascent in the can, before me, Harry, Dave and Martyn joined Geoff (who was running support for legs 3 and 4) to support her to get from Wasdale to Honister.

First off though me and the boy had to get from Honister, where we were leaving the car, to Wasdale and our first mission of the day was to trot over there via Moses Trod. It was a really warm day and we carried out 2.5 litres of water to stash at Beck Head (the col between Kirk Fell and Great Gable), something we were all especially grateful for later on.

We got to Wasdale with plenty of time to spare so, as a second mission, me and Harry then "zipped" half way up Scafell and back following mine and Gav's planned route up there in 2 weeks time. It was fantastic to actually be able to see Scafell for a change as its been hidden by hill fog and rain the last few times I've been that way!

Then, when Stef arrived nicely on schedule, we just had to get back to Honister...... via Yewbarrow, Red Pike, Steeple, Pillar, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts!! A fantastic outing ensued and we delivered Stef to Honister leaving her with a good amount of breathing space to finish off her round (just 3 more peaks) within the 24 hours allowed. Brilliantly she made it, arriving at Keswick Moot Hall 23 hours and 35 minutes after she'd started.

Mine and Harry's route for the day

Looking towards Buttermere on our way to Honister

Wasdale ahoy!

Wasdale again from half way up Scafell

Harry just before we went down the scree descent back to Wasdale

Cooling off

Leaving Wasdale again, this time with Stef and the support crew

Wasdale Head below

Stef reaching the top of Yewbarrow

Leaving Yewbarrow behind with Scafell Pike and Scafell on the horizon beyond

Our ridge line route before us

Martyn leading the way

Harry marshalling the troops

I suspect Stef was well and truly fed up with touching peak cairns by this point

A glorious evening

Geoff, the small dot, coming up Green Gable

Herdies

Stef triumphant