Wasdale Wanderings

Looking back through my log of races, I noticed it had been 11 years since I had run the race arguably known as the toughest of all the Lakeland Fell Races Wasdale. It was very early on in this years race that I realised why I had left it so long!! This is a tough race in all sense of the word at 21.7 miles, not the longest Lakeland race, but with an advertised height gain of 8500' (actually over 9000) and the terrain it covers this is most people's summit.

Conditions this year were far better than first forecast and even got a little warm at times, but clear views after early mist on Illgill and Whinn Rigg made the race 'easier' if only from a navigation point of view. An easy start, running with Dennis Lucas of Rochdale with enough time to have a chat with legend Joss Naylor at his home in the valley before Setallan. After Setallan we were caught be a puffing and panting Roy Gardner, having missed the start to return for his dibber. Then Pillar and a skirt under Kirk Fell before the long slog up Great Gable. It got warm from here and water intake was premium, stopping to fill bladders and bottles alike. From Gable, Sprinkling Tarn and the long 'runnable' slog to Esk Hause, before the last climb at Sca Fell. Route finding from here can be tricky at best and many have gone astray in the final miles. Saturday was not that way with clear views over to Lingmell and the trod that leads to the final check on the nose before a lovely descent back to the finish in Wasdale Head.

I guess that this race is not within everyones compass, but certainly worth working upto before you hand up your Walshes