Bob Graham leg 3

Bright and sparky (yeah right) on Sunday morning I hopped out of bed at 2:50 am, scoffed down a swift breakfast and then whizzed over to the Lake District to support Stuart on his Bob Graham Round attempt. I was navigating the third leg between Dunmail Raise and Wasdale for him along with support from Kev, Ryan and Paul. Sure enough, at about 5:30 am, Stuart trotted down the steep side of Seat Sandel, the last peak of the second leg and perhaps 28 miles and 12,000 ish feet of ascent into his BGR attempt - just 38 miles and 14,000 feet to go then! 10 minutes later we were off up the steep side of Steel Fell and on our way to Wasdale with something like 16 miles and 15 peaks making up the leg.

This was my third Bob Graham navigational support run of the year, having helped Janson in May on leg 4, and Kev in June on leg 2. Both Janson and Kevin had successfully completed their BGR's so it was important to keep "my" run going and get Stuart safely and swiftly (relatively speaking) around leg 3 and in good time to make sure he can do the whole lot within the required 24 hours.

I have to say that the weather was perfect (but there again the weather is always "perfect" in the Lakes) and all in all we had a grand time scooting over Steel Fell, Calf Crag, Sergeant Man, High Raise, Thunacar Knott, Harrison Stickle, Pike O'Stickle, Rossett Pike, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Great End, Ill Crag, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike and Scafell before dropping down to Wasdale. Stuart was looking strong (most of the time) and picked up brilliantly towards the end of the leg. And fantastically went on the complete his round of 42 peaks and circa 66 miles in 23 hours and 27 minutes.  Brilliant stuff Stuart!

Climbing Steel Fell with Dunmail Raise far below

Running at dawn in the Lakes takes some beating

The team on the way towards Sergeant Man

Gorgeous eh?

Stuart having just bagged Sergeant Man

High Raise

Langdale from Harrison Stickle

Langdale from Pike O'Stickle

Deer running across Martcrag Moor

Langdale and the Stickles from the rake under Black Crags

Scafell to the left and Scafell Pike in middle (with Broad Crag and Ill Crag both also in view to the right)

Me on top of Bowfell still looking bright and sparky

Looking towards the main horseshoe ridgeline of leg 4 (Yewbarrow, Red Pike, Steeple,
Pillar, Kirk Fell and Great Gable) viewed from Great End

Stuart rock hopping to Ill Crag

Scafell Pike and Broad Crag from Ill Crag - fricking rocky or what?

Stuart and Kev boulder hopping off of Broad Crag

Paul and Ryan ascending Lord's Rake, the scree chute up Scafell

Two steps forward and three back at times!

Kev and Stuart coming up the same way

The West Wall Traverse - not far from the top of Scafell now

The descent from Scafell to Wasdale - chuffing fantastic!

Ze route