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Sunday 19 August 2012

214!

Yesterday was a very special day for a friend of mine - she was completing her Wainwright round by climbing her final two Wainwrights, Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks, therefore completing all the 214 fells Alfred Wainwright climbed and featured in his pictorial guides.  It was an early start - 5.15 alarm call then in the car to drive to the Lake District to meet Shirley and some other walking friends at Buttermere and it certainly was a day to remember!

Haystacks - a watercolour I painted for Shirley as a memento of her special day


The weather at the beginning of the day when we all set off was grim to say the least!

On the summit of Fleetwith Pike - it rained all the way up - no view!
photo taken by Shirley

Walmscale Beck swollen so it was boots and socks off to wade across - a first for me!!
photo taken by Shirley

On the summit of Haystacks - and a new member of the Wainwright completion club!!!

While celebrating on the summit the clouds cleared and we enjoyed sunshine and blue skies for the rest of the day !

The route up Fleetwith Pike which we climbed in the pouring rain earlier!

Haystacks looking gorgeous

A great end to the day!!
Climbing all 214 Wainwrights is some challenge to take on especially when you live a fair way from the Lake District but it's something I quite fancy doing in the future - at the moment I'm just happy to be in the mountains, but there is always something special about climbing something you've not done before and I'm keeping note of any new Wainwright fells that I do - and if I ever find I'm within reach of that momentous 214 then I might just go for it!   after yesterday I'm up to 63 so I've got a long way to go yet !

16 comments:

  1. Your watercolor is absolutely beautiful, Sharon....and your photos are wonderful..thank you for sharing! You all look like your having so much fun!! It makes me want to hike!!!

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    1. it was great fun - even wading across a very cold river and then having to put socks and boots back onto wet feet - and if it inspires you to hike I'd be thrilled - anyone can do it - I only started 4 years ago

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  2. I love the light and reflection in your painting - your photos are amazing! So beautiful!

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    1. thank you Heather - I can't take credit for the photos though as I didn't take any of these!

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  3. So glad the weather cleared up - it would have made for a very grey and wet painting if it hadn't! Your painting is lovely.

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    1. It was magical to see the view appear and the sun coming out after all that rain, you never know what the weather is going to throw at you in the hills!

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  4. Fabulous day and what an achievement for your friend!!! I know you will be doing that some day, can feel it in my bones!!

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  5. Congratulations to your friend and to all of you for doing that climb! I'm so awed by your courage and ambition to undertake those challenges. I'd like to know how those experiences carry over into the rest of your life. Being able to climb a mountain and hike across rivers probably makes one better able to deal with every day challenges with greater ease and confidence, I would think. The photos and the painting are wonderful! I can't imagine even being in a place so gorgeous. You captured the essence of the day very well with your artwork.

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    1. Katherine I only started hill walking 4 years ago when I was in my late thirties and you soon build up the fitness for it - I never used to do any exercise and was extremely unfit. I used to go on my own and that in itself gives you confidence and I learned a lot about myself - you can completely forget any problems in life when you are out there in such beautiful scenery. if I can do it anyone can and it's from doing the walking that I got the urge to start painting so I've now got 2 huge passions in my life which I didn't do before!

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  6. Great to see you have a blog Sharon! Didn't we have a fun day? Many more to come. To anyone else who is reading this...most are capable of doing the mountains, a reasonable level of fitness will get you up there...you just have to put one foot after the other and keep on going. (A fair bit of common sense and the correct gear needed too!)

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    1. Hey Jeanette! good advice there, whatever happened to your blog, you need to get back to it! It started off so well!

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  7. I always enjoy your posts, Sharon as much as your art!
    Congratulations to your friend and to you all!! The thing about the crossing over without shoes in cold water (it seems cold, anyway), very courageous... I think I couldn't-my respects to all of you.
    Your painting is absolutely beautiful and one can sense your good spirit about that day.
    Warm regards.

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    1. There was a great atmosphere to the day and having to cross the river - well it was a case of going for it or walking a very long way back and not continuing the rest of the walk! It was actually ok, pretty cold but ok and everyone was helping each other across - complete strangers were standing in the freezing river helping everyone across so they wouldnt slip - it was quite something!

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  8. That's the way to complete the set. End up where the great man's ashes were spread. It's just a shame the viewing from Fleetwith was poor, for me it's one of the best views in the Lakes, down Buttermere to Crummock Water. Well done team on your day and even more well done on your painting.

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    1. I know Mick and I fully intend to climb Fleetwith again and Haystacks as I didn't get to really see Innonimate Tarn through the clag or get to have a proper wander around the summit.

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