It was after this walk that I decided upon completing all of the 214 Wainwrights. I’d like to say I remember the decision as one made after reading all the books and falling in love with them, however that would not be accurate. Over the years I’d made a few trips to the lakes so had already climbed a few of the peaks, thoroughly enjoying the experience but not getting hooked. This time Hilary and I had come up to Threkeld and were staying a a wonderful little cottage. One evening I’d had a walk up, but not too the top of Blencathra, remembered to me by Hilary as I’d gone “off piste” and successfully hunted the path with my new iphone!! How times have moved on even more since then. So the next day I followed one of the traditional routes up Blencathra via Halls Fell and then returned down Blease fell.
My photographic record is not great, at this stage I’d not really thought about a blog or record of Wainwright “bagging” and as you will observe later my rucksack on the peak is absent and this became my way of ticking off the list. However it was great stretch of the legs and one of those great days with a bit of lowish cloud blow threw providing scenic vistas rather than ruining the walk.
At the end of the walk and realising how much I enjoyed it, a negotiated permission from Hilary was gained to start a list – little did she know where that would lead, as I now hear the phrase “oh no do not give him more lists to start”!
