Martins BG

Sunday 3rd June 2012

Martin started his attempt at 7pm on the Saturday night. I was originally down to do leg 4 with DW but plans change as they usually do and he switched to leg 1. The new schedule showed at least 4 pacers for leg 4 plus me, I wondered if I would really be needed. Then things changed again and Martin had a problem with leg 3. So I offered to change. The disadvantage being that this would mean I had to be at Dunmail ready by 3am. Assuming he was not up on time. Fortunately Martin was carrying a tracker and I was able to see where he was and judge his arrival time. This still meant getting up at 1-30am and not much sleep.

I arrive at Dumail and soon after the support team appear. We watch the skyline for head torches, nothing. It looks like they will be late. Not surprising considering the clagged in windy weather. June in the Lakes! James the other pacer arrives, we introduce ourselves and get Martins kit, food and water sorted. Then the lights appear above us. Martin arrives and the support attend to his needs. We are 35 mins down on the schedule. The man with the stopwatch says time to go and we are soon heading up Steel Fell as the first light of day is welcomed. By the top torches are off.

The pace feels good but we lose time on the 22 hour schedule. Martin is not feeling too good at this point and we have to make a pit stop after Calf Crag. Then it is up into the mist at Sergeant Man. We never really come out of it again until the final descent from Sca Fell. The Langdales pass well and although more time is lost it is not much and Martin is still moving strongly. I am quietly confident that at this pace we will be OK. James does a great job of keeping him fed and motivated.

After another pit stop before Rossett Pike we climb well up Bowfell but we lose the trod and go a little high, visibility is really bad but I know if we keep going we will pop out onto the area between Hanging Knotts and the summit. Sure enough we do. At the top it is quite cold. Martin has some rice pudding and a gel. This takes a few more minutes sitting down, it is hard to eat rice pudding with a spoon whilst running.

The food has the desired effect to the point James and myself struggle to keep up climbing Esk Pike. A little worrying with so far still to go. But then another brief pause for Martin to take some Paracetamol. His knee is giving problems. I think more so than he is letting on. Continuing to move well Great End passes and we are soon at Ill Crag. Martin leaves has poles at the bottom of the scramble so we have to return to pick them up. Now Martin has a different line back to the path but we head too far north and have to double back. Not a problem but a couple of minutes gone.

Broad crag goes no problem but then on the descent to Broad Crag col James trips whilst saying good day to passing walkers resulting in cuts to hand and knee. After a minute to calm himself it is apparent he is quite shaken. Worried he will slow us up he urges us to continue and he will head down at his own pace to Wasdale Head. We press on but after Scafell Pike we head a little too far west. Realising this quickly we are soon heading to Mickledore. But not before it is my turn to trip. I land heavily and am a little winded and bruise my hand. No time to dwell, need to press on to give Martin the best chance.

The guys at Broad Stand have the rope ready. We apologise for being late. Martin goes first then me. When I get to the ledge Martin has continued and is out of site. I rush up being mindful of the consequences of a fall. At the top I am shattered and can see nothing. I think all I can do is go to the summit hopefully catching Martin on his way down. However before I get my breath back he appears from my left unsure of the route. Soon on the path it is only a few minutes to the top and thankfully my last summit of the day.

As we descend we finally come out of the mist and the view is terrific. I get ahead to take some photos. The fells to the west and north are clearing. Red Pike, Kirk Fell and Gable almost cloud free. This is a big boost for Martin. We are well above Yewbarrow and I think how small it looks in comparison but keep this to myself. It won't look that way to Martin in half an hour or so.

A check of the watch and I am confident we will only lose 20 minutes or so to schedule on the leg. Not bad considering the stops etc. Martins knee trouble returns and the descent is slow but steady and we are down in good time. Much to my relief. He leaves Wasdale an hour down on the original 22 hour schedule. I feel sure he can get around.

Once home I track his progress and he is clearly going strongly. Sure enough he completes in 22.41. A good time. He must have been strong on the last two legs. No doubt helped by the great support team and pacers. Well Done!

Jubitastic!

Russell