Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge 31st May 2014
By Peter McNulty
The Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge is sometimes thought of as an older persons’ Bob Graham and has become the benchmark challenge for the more mature hill runner. It was inaugurated by Joss in 1990 as a fundraising challenge for the over 50’s and involves climbing 30 tops ascending nearly 17000ft while crossing some 48 miles of mountain terrain. The challenge starts at Pooley Bridge Ullswater ending at Greendale Bridge Wasdale. Each age group must complete the challenge within a specific time between 12 -24 hours depending on the age and gender of the challenger.
KMC member John Cox completed the challenge in June 2010 assisted by amongst others, fellow members Dave Bish, Duncan Lee Scott Sadler and me.
May 2011, I am helped off the floor at Greendale in a cold hypothermic condition after my attempt ran out of time on the last few tops. The problem can be traced back to a few hours earlier when I made the fell runners’ rather than mountaineers’ decision do delay putting on all my wet weather gear in damp windy conditions.
Fast forward to 31 May 2014 and I am again standing on Pooley Bridge waiting to set off on the journey, this time in perfect conditions. At 5.00am I am away with 2 friends who are my hill support and we are soon ticking off the summits between Arthur’s Pike and High St. It was then towards Kirkstone Pass picking up 3 more tops on the way.
At the car park Sheila, my wife, is waiting for me with a hot drink along with the supporters for the relatively short section to Dunmail Raise. All goes smoothly with the climb up Red Screes, then on to Hart Crag, Fairfield, Seat Sandal followed by the long steep descent to the road where Sheila is again waiting with hot food and my next set of supporters.
The challenge really starts at Dunmail, I have been on the go for five-and-a-half hours and the big ascents are yet to come. I am lucky to have 3 experienced hill runners supporting the next section and they lead me up the steep climb of Steel Fell, the long boggy drag to High Raise then the descent before the gradual climb to Rossett Pike. Bowfell is taken via ramp lines and small tracks on its flank before joining the hordes on the summit. The ground is rocky now as Esk Pike and Great End are crossed before the steep descent to Sty Head.
It seems to be crowded here as Sheila, together with friends who walked up to offer encouragement, supporters and dogs who will accompany me on the final leg, mix with hill walkers. I am soon away on the grind up Great Gable which is followed by Kirkfell and then Pillar which is reached still inside my planned schedule. I now know that baring an accident I am going to get to Greendale within the 15 hour time limit and so can take things a bit more slowly. We continue along the ridge line over the tops to Haycock where the direction changes and we cross the Pots of Ashness up Seatallan and then Middlefell before dropping down to Greendale to be met by a handshake from Joss Naylor himself.
I always said that I wanted a day that would be enjoyed and remembered by me and my supporters. We had the Lake District at its best with perfect weather and spectacular views. New friendships were made and things could not have been better if I had written a script for the day.
