If you’re one of the Wainwright fanatics who took part in last year’s Great Lakeland Challenge, you can now read the story of the event.
The challenge, set up by the Wainwright Society to mark the 50th anniversary of the Grumpy Old Man’s first illustrated Lakeland fell guide, was to get people up all 214 Wainrights – the fell tops which have a chapter in his books – plus the extra 56 in his Outlying Fells tome, making 270 in total.
The challenge took place during one week in May 2005 and each registered blagger was asked to produce an account and pics of their escapade. Chris Bonington chose to climb his local High Pike as part of the event. Lord Bragg, formerly know to his mates as Melvyn, took part as did the Wainwright Society chairman Eric Robson, who had to put up with the GOM’s incessant chatter (ie hilarious monosyllabic ripostes or just grunts) while making the original TV series following some of his walks.
Five baggers failed to make their summits, so there are 265 accounts to read in the society’s new publication The Great Lakeland Challenge. The print run is limited to 500 and many of these have been snapped up by members of the society, so if you want to get your hands on one, catch the details at the Wainwright Society’s website, before it’s too late.