Lake District July 1978

Thirty years ago this week we set off on an adventure. The following is the plan and route map prepared at the time. Using modern technology I have re-created the route on Google Maps. Doubleclick the map for more details.
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Of course maps and guides were vital to our adventure - and google maps was not around then. Vital instead (and still vital) were the Wainwright Pictorial Guides. These were a set of seven wonderful books which had every route up and down every hill in the Lake District. Each book is a work of art as each was all handwritten, with wonderful drawings and sketches. Doing the Wainwrights is a project for many serious walkers. There are over 200 and many walkers set themselves the task of climbing each. I haven't done a count foe a long time but I seem to remember that I was somewhere between 40 and 50 - so still a long way to go! Alfred Wainwight dies in 1991 but his name is now forever linked with the Lake District. There is a Wainwright Society, with a website which is worth a visit.

I am going to publish the original diary over the next 12 days.

It was actually 10 days of walking and climbing and the progress can be summarised below:

As you can see we almost climbed Mount Everest in 10 days!

The date of the revisit has been settled as the last week-end in August. We will base ourselves in the quieter Eskdale side of the Lakes. There are nine signed up right now - not quite the full house - but if it is successful (which I am sure it will be), then a more suitable time with longer notice will be arranged for June or early July next year.