Saturday - Kentmere Horseshoe and Beyond

Becoming a bit of a habit, it's 8.30am, it's the Lake District, it's FSS, NLN and YJ it must be another recce. This time the three of us fetched up in Kentmere, a gem of a morning, clear skies, sunshine fells as far as you can see and then some - perfect? Maybe a little warm, perhaps. We slap on the heavy duty sunscreen, load up on the liquid refreshment (that's water Ed) and set off.

Not a soul about as we make our way up and over Shipman Knotts and climb the ridge to Kentmere Pike and finally Harter Fell before turning east to drop all the way down to Haweswater and 'the lost village' of Mardale. Along the valley floor past the crowded car park and a welcome opportunity to refill water bottles before the relentless climb all the way back up to Kidsty Pike. FSS and YJ now going strong but I'm beginning to feel the effects of the heat. The plan is to drop all the way down again to Hayeswater to get another big climb in over Rampsgill Head and Gray Crag - which is what the boys do. I decide to keep the height gained and trot along High Street to the summit cairn before heading out to Thornthwaite Crag where we will reconvene. A perfect plan, except that unbelievably within ten minutes of going our separate ways, the clouds roll in, the sky darkens, the temperature drops significantly and by the time I get to Thornthwaite the rain is on. No problem except that FSS is carrying my waterproofs which it seemed so unlikely that I would need. I hunker down, put on an extra layer and a windshirt and grab something to eat. Before long we are reunited and full waterproofs are pulled on.

The rain stops as suddenly as it started and the temperature rises again - off with the waterproofs, as we clamber over Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke. Not wanting the fun to stop, FSS suggests extending our day by heading over to Sour Howes and Sallows, making a total of 10 additional Wainright summits for our third round (12 for FSS and YJ). A grand day out and YJ still had enough left in the tank to get a sprint finish in back to the church at Kentmere.

21.6 miles and 6,788 feeet of ascent (a bit less for NLN!)

YJ still having technical problems so no internet acces - passes on message - he's looking forward to running from Lower Barn Saturday 17th May, meeting at 8.30 as usual. Final Saturday run before the big one the following week, although knowing our man it won't be his last outing before his Traverse.

Mat - thought we might have heard about your mid-week adventures in Lakeland

NLN