BB1012 : We'll Get Them In Singles, Stanley

Thursday 25th March 2010

August 1902.

The fifth test against Australia.

England need 263 to win but get off to a typically disappointing start.

At 48-5, Gilbert Jessop strides out to bring back hope with a maiden century but is then dismissed.

When Dick Lilley is out there is only one wicket left and fifteen runs still needed for victory.

Last man, Wilfred Rhodes, reaches the crease to join George Hirst who utters to him the immortal words:

"We'll get them in singles, Wilfred."

And they did, if you count twos as double singles!

George "Singles" Hirst

Change the date to March 2010, the sport to Wainwright bagging, the numbers to a target of 214 and only 32 left. Now change George to Don and Wilfred to Stanley.

"We'll get them in singles, Stanley."

That's the spirit of what happened today!

We had been developing a plan to rattle off the remaining Ws in big days and away nights. But weather forecasts and birthday parties intervened so it looked as if today might just be a local low level walk. However, when the forecast improved a little, it dawned on me that Hard Knott might not be in the clag and that we could knock off this isolated problem case.

Stan wanted an easy day anyway, having enthusiastically celebrated his son's birthday last night. Be gentle with me, he pleaded!

Harter Fell from Wrynose Pass

Hard Knott from nearing Cockley Beck

We parked at the top of Hardknott Pass, in the same place as on BB0924, but this time headed north up Hardknott Gill. Hard Knott itself was flirting with mist but by the time we reached the summit, the cloud had lifted a little.

Harter Fell from Hard Knott ascent

Hard Knott flirting with mist

It had only been a short climb but this was the first decision point. Back to the car, total walk 1.5 miles, 50 minutes, home for lunch or keep heading north to make a proper outing?

No contest.- north we went.

Or approximately north. I took a bearing on my gps and followed it for a while then put it away, after which we veered off to the left towards some rather steep ground.

Once corrected, we followed the nose of the hill down to Lingcove Beck and then down what is effectively upper Eskdale.

Comitibus: Hard Knott

Gait Crags with Scafells behind to the left

Lingcove Bridge is especially attractive. Lower down, the way the farmer has filled his tracks is not. Broken black tarmac is not exactly sympathetic to the surroundings. Hopefully it will grow over quickly.

Lingcove Bridge

Upper Eskdale

The black tracks

Reaching the road brought another decision point. Up the pass back to the car or onward to make a proper outing? No contest. We did turn briefly up the pass but quickly turned right over another pretty, little bridge, Jubilee Bridge, on a footpath marked to Dunnerdale.

Upper Eskdale with Harter Fell in mist

The Jubilee Bridge

Lunch view of Upper Eskdale and Hard Knott

This, we followed for some way whilst it was drizzling lightly. We were nearing another decision point, more troublesome this time.

To go over or round Harter Fell?

Thanks to BB0924, we didn't need it for our scores and it was shrouded in mist so we were inclined to go round. However, we decided to have lunch first.

Things were no better after lunch, so round we went. Of course, Sod's law operated and it now started to clear somewhat.

Had we made the wrong decision? We were slipping on stones, sliding off tree roots and slithering through bogs. Might it have actually been easier going on top? Maybe, but the summit was still in mist so we were not too despondent.

Slippy, slidy, slithery trail

Misty Harter Fell across the Armageddon field

Hard Knott and Wrynose Pass

We followed the same trail back to the car as we had done on BB0924. On a good day this would be a pleasant stroll apart from the Armageddon forestry clearance section. Today it was surprisingly hard work- an awful lot of effort for one quick single!

So, will we knock off the rest in singles? Definitely not. Fours and Sixes from now on. With the odd overthrow or other extras for good measure!

Don, 25th March 2010

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STATISTICS:

BB1012	25th March 2010
Distance in miles:	9.5
Height climbed in feet:	2,312
Wainwrights :	Hard Knott
Wainwright Countdown :	Don & Stan: 31 Bryan: 7
Comitibus:	Don, Stan

If you have Memory Map on your computer, you can follow our route in detail by downloading BB1012.

Steve G advises: "For those who like to look at your meanderings but use Tracklogs or other software then your logs can be converted using the freeware utility GPS Babel."

For the latest totals of the mileages, heights and Lakeland Fells Books Wainwrights see: Wainwrights.

If anyone wants to claim other peaks, please let me know and I will submit them to the adjudication committee!

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BOOT boys

This page describes an adventure of BOOTboys, a loose group of friends of mature years who enjoy defying the aging process by getting out into the hills as often as possible!

As most live in South Lakeland, it is no surprise that our focus is on the Lakeland fells and the Yorkshire Dales.

As for the name, BOOTboys, it does not primarily derive from an item of footwear but is in memory of Big Josie, the erstwhile landlady of the erstwhile Burnmoor Inn at Boot in Eskdale, who enlivened Saint Patrick's Day 1973 and other odd evenings many years ago!

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2010 Outings

BB1001 :
The Most Perfect
Winter Day
Thursday 7th January

BB1002 :
Snowcumabulating
Potter Fell
Thursday 14th January

BB1003 :
A Snowy Equipment Test
Thursday 21st January

BB1004 :
Leave It To The Professionals
Thursday 28th January

BB1005 :
That's A Lyth Record
Sunday 31st January

BB1006 :
Reasons To Be Cheerful
One, Two, Three
Thursday 11th February

BB1007 :
Can You See Clearly Now?
Thursday 18th February

BB1008 :
In Memory Of
Thomas Williamson
Thursday 25th February

BB1009 :
Almost a Mountaineer!
Wednessday 3rd March

BB1010 :
The Beginning Of The End
Thursday 11th March

BB1011 :
The Free Men on Tuesday
Tuesday 16th March

BB1012 :
We'll Get Them In Singles,
Stanley
Thursday 25th March

BB1013 :
The Fools on the Hill
Thursday 1st April

BSB2010 :
BOOTSKIboys in Zillertal
Saturday 30th January
to Saturday 6th February

Click on the photos for an enlargement or related large picture.

Wainwrights

To download a log of which Wainwrights have been done by which BOOTboy in the "modern" era, i.e. since the advent of BOOTboys click on Wainwrights.

If anyone wants to claim other peaks, please let me know and I will submit them to the adjudication committee!