Lake District Fell Running Day 1

Panoramic view from the summit of Helvellyn

After an early start to drive to Glenridding we got underway with our first day of this trip at around 9.30am. The day was glorious, blue skies, sunshine and little wind. Ideal you'd think, but with a 30km (maybe longer) route planned it wasn't. While sunshine is preferable over showers the need to carry extra water is essential, and although we could have ditched some of our overnight gear from our rucksacks we were out for a two-day trip to a practice for future long multi-day runs. I reckon my rucksack weighed in at around 5kg.

Our route took us from YHA Helvellyn up to Striding Edge, Helvellyn (949m), Nethermost Pike (891m), High Crag (884m), Dollywaggon Pike (858m), Seat Sandal (736m), down to Dunmail Raise then steeply up to Steel Fell (553m), back down to the main road just north of Grasmere, then up Little Tongue to Hause Gap, then up to Fairfield (873m). From there we descended down Deepdale Hause and up to St Sunday Crag (841m), on to Birks (622m) then steeply down Thornhow End before the final ascent back into Glenridding to the hostel.

I'd reckoned on about a 6-6.5 hour day - we ended up being out about 7.5hrs, covering about 31km and more importantly did 2500+m of ascent. And that's the kicker....the ascent. We knew it would be a long run/walk, but the ascent just really slows you down. The Lakes mountains are steep....and not only did we climb up that amount but the descents are what really get your legs turning to jelly!! A combination of the hot sunny day, carrying a rucksack which I'm not used to, the distance and the ups and downs, made for a very tired pair of runners (who walked a fair bit!) arriving at the YHA for lots of water, a few beers and a decent amount of food to refuel. Enjoy the photos (there's a fair few of Striding Edge, mainly because that's the bit I was most concerned about and am most proud of):

Running along Glenridding with Helvellyn straight ahead
Red Tarn is just over the small raise ahead of me

Our start of Striding Edge

On Striding Edge

Striding Edge scrambling

Tim leading me on Striding Edge

Nearing the top of Striding Edge

A slightly airy section which I hardly noticed!!

The final section up to the top of Helvellyn

Looking back where we've just come along, Striding Edge

Helvellyn summit, 949m

Tim starting the very steep descent off Seat Sandle, looking across
to the even steeper ascent up Steel Fell from Dunmail Raise

Looking down Little Tongue - we've just come up that valley

Grisedale Tarn from the climb up to Fairfield

and looking up the climb to Fairfield

View of St Sunday Crag from Fairfield

The end of day 1....YHA Helvellyn

So we had a splendid day....very long, very hot, very tiring, but splendid and super. We learnt lots which will help us refine our kit, planning and plans for future trips too. I'm super chuffed with how I felt on Striding Edge, though to be honest, I think the hype some people give it is a little exaggerated. Yes it's a bit airy in a couple of places, and yes in wet or horrible conditions I wouldn't want to be up there, but there weren't any points I didn't feel unsafe. Tim's a super guide on stuff like that so having him there is very reassuring. In my head the nerves are gradually lessening. You never know, I might start to enjoy this scrambling lark!