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Who's the cutest?

Ryan Lynch – Welcome to the World

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Wow, the last four days have been a blur… This is going to be a long story, I recommend getting a celebratory drink first.

Who's the cutest?

Who's the cutest?

The excitement started on Saturday evening at 23:10 but I’ll return to that later. Earlier in the day we had been in to Maternity Ward at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven. Penny was on the monitor for about forty minutes and Ryan’s heart rate was around 140, with some increases, this was all healthy. Now ten days overdue, induction was booked for Monday morning, when in actual fact Penny and Ryan would be getting ready for returning home! Continue reading →

Dale Head

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On Saturday Penny, Ryan and I went for a walk up Dale Head from Honnister. It was a beautiful day and Ryan was interested by what he could see and stayed awake for the whole of the ascent. On the top we took a few photos and had a snack, Ryan ate some yoghurt and seemed happy to be up a mountain. On the way down we passed plenty of people who had not made such an early start, it felt good to have had our exercise before lunchtime.
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Penny and Lauren

Middle Fell

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Scafell reflected in Wastwater

Scafell reflected in Wastwater

With a very good forecast for Saturday Lauren, Penny and I made a plan to head up Middle Fell. The pager had other ideas and just before we were ready to leave I was called out to attend a collapsed man on Dent. However, the RAF were quick to pick him up and after a short delay we were heading to Wasdale now with Bob as well.

Penny and Lauren

Penny and Lauren


I am sure Lauren deserved it!

I am sure Lauren deserved it!


It was a beautifully still day with snow from around 400m. The south facing slopes of Middle Fell were not frozen and we steadily headed up the ridge towards the summit. Bob wasn’t chatting as much as the rest of us and mananged to get ahead. Meanwhile Ryan took the opportunity to catch up on some sleep on my back. The views up the valley towards Scafell and Scafell Pike were excellent and with low temperatures forcast for the whole week the snow should be well-consolidated by next weekend.

Bob, Lauren, Ryan and me on the summit of Middle Fell with Scafell and Scafell Pike behind

Bob, Lauren, Ryan and me on the summit of Middle Fell with Scafell and Scafell Pike behind

Ryan woke up briefly on the summit for a photo and then snored gently on the descent. There was a slight difference in opinion on the best route down, Lauren wanted to complete the circuit and descend via Greendale Tarn and Bob wanted to retrace our route of assent. Penny and I had the deciding vote and went with Bob, not wanting to push it with Ryan and making sure we had time for a pint at the Horse and Groom.

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Lauren and mark near the top of Easy Gully

Snowy Scafell

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The plan was formulated midweek, allow Thursday’s rain to saturate the new snow and then hope that the cooler weather on Thursday and Friday night would freeze it hard enough for climbing on Saturday morning. Whilst things did not go exactly according to plan they were close enough to make it a worthwhile trip.

The steep section of Red Gill, not in condition

The steep section of Red Gill, not in condition

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A New Ryan Photo Gallery

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Isn't he cute?

Illgill Head with Penny, Ryan and Kristen

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As we were setting off, Wastwater in the background

As we were setting off, Wastwater in the background

Wasdale Head with Kirkfell and Great Gable behind

Wasdale Head with Kirkfell and Great Gable behind

Kristen is visiting for a few days and with a good forecast we made a plan to head to Wasdale. The idea was to walk up to Burnmoor tarn and then see how Ryan was doing before deciding whether to climb Illgill Head. As it turned out the weather was excellent and Ryan was well wrapped up in his bear suit so we carried on up towards the summit. This is a very good grassy path, that is never too steep, but keeps climbing all the way to the top. The visibility was very good with views in all directions particularly up the valley to Kirk Fell (is it two words?) and Great Gable. We had a stop for lunch in a sheltered patch of heather overlooking Yewbarrow before reaching the top. It was windy but not too cold and with the wind behind us on the way down I turned Ryan round to face out. How many 12 week-old babies get that view of Wasdale?

The team on the summit of Illgill Head with Scafell in the backround

The team on the summit of Illgill Head with Scafell in the backround

Isn't he cute?

Isn't he cute?

Whilst only a minute from the car my pager went off for an injured person on Broad Crag. So I quickly headed up Scafell Pike but thankfully an RAF Helicopter arrived on scene before I reached Hollowstones.
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Whinlatter Top

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Penny and Ryan on the Summit

Penny and Ryan on the Summit

It dawned bright on Penny’s birthday and so we decided to return to Whinlatter but this time to leave the buggy behind and to collect another Wainwright. Whinlatter top is a pleasant and reasonably gentle walk up from the pass. Most of the height is gained on forest tracks which bring you to the open moorland ridge to the summit. Continue reading →