I headed up to The Lakes, just myself and Lester, specifically to Keswick where I intended to tackle the great Skiddaw. The much maligned Skiddaw in fact......I'd seen comments by Wainwright baggers along the lines of "it's just a big slog", "a long boring trek" but having never done this fell, I decided to give it a try anyway. In fact, despite the disparaging comments from others, it is in The Best of Wainwright guide, so it was about time to find out for myself just what this old beast had to offer!
A beast it certainly is! At over 3000ft, it is the 3rd highest fell in England behind Scafell and Helvellyn and with snow probable above 2500ft, it would take a bit of effort to summit.
I parked near the swimming pool in Keswick and then we made our way across the footbridge over the A66 and into Latrigg woods. The path is good here and the rise is steady and a nice warm up for the legs and what's to come. For the Wainwright devotees, there is the chance to also bag Latrigg Fell oln this walk as the path skirts its western shoulder. The path continues to rise out of the woods and to the Gale Road car park where it takes a sharp 'left' turn.
There is a moving memorial here to 3 shepherds of Lonscale, all of the same family, The Hawells, the epitaph is beautiful, I won't spoil it, go see for yourselves!
The path starts to steepen now and the terrain a little more rugged and open to the elements. It never gets really steep though, just enough to let your thighs know they are working!
Lonscale Fell and Sale How are just to the right of this path and can also be bagged for Wainwrighters with just a short detour, the path skirting their western shoulders.
It is at this point that first 'false' summits home into view. Little Man, at 865m is no small feat in and of itself, but on reaching its summit, it can be a little disheartening to the unsuspecting, upon realising Skiddaw summit is still some way off!
It is however in sight from here and this sight serves to push you forward, up the steeper ground and onto the final ridge across to the summit proper. We hit snow just above Little Man and I was hoping to use my new crampons and axe for the first time but alas the snow was a little too soft and boots were more than adequate.
So, my verdict, are the Wainwright devotees correct or is there something they are missing? Well, as Wainwright himself said, Skiddaw is never a climb at any point, just a big walk. He also stated that the route is perfect in poor visibility and even at night as the paths are so well defined and, well, safe. So yes, if it's excitement you are after, then there are plenty of other options to go at up here. But, if it's a good walk, decent exercise on a big fell, with fantastic views across Derwent Water to Causey Pike and the Derwent Fells and Eastwards towards Blencathra, then do not overlook this fell, you'll be missing out!
In terms of my own personal achievement, I was really happy with the day. Yes I took my time (about 6 hours up and down) and plenty of folk passed me on their way up. I had to stop and get my breath a few times up the steeper sections, but only for a few seconds at a time.......walk 50 yards, stop for a few seconds, walk 50 yards etc but the thing is, I made it, I got up it!
Since I started this thing back in September, this was my first real mountain, 3000ft plus. This was 10 miles of strenuous walking and there is no way I'd have made it to the top back then! So I'm definitely happy with my progress when I look at it objectively. Yes of course I'd like to be able to march non stop to the summit. Yes I'd like to be able to do 12/16 mile rounds camp overnight and do the same next day, but I can't, not yet anyway. I have learnt that I need more hill work in my day to day training. Steady inclines and flat walking I can go all day but it's the anaerobic bursts on the steeper sections which really tear my thighs and glutes apart! So training wise, I'll be looking at incorporating more hill work from now on.........and looking forward to a return to Skiddaw in the summer to track my progress!
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