Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I set off on this solo wildcamp thinking it would just be another awesome outdoors adventure, which it was, but halfway through something terrible happened which was a frightening reminder of just how badly things can go wrong out in the fells! Parking up at Honister Slate mine, it was a glorious day, 23 Celsius and climbing, the sun was beating down and barely a cloud in the sky. Starting off slowly to warm the legs up on the initial steep first incline, I quickly find myself at a good altitude and in the middle of nowhere, just the way I like it, with amazing mountain views, what a way to start the day! And within 45 minutes I'm tapping my first Wainwright summit of the day, Grey Knotts, and not 10 minutes later, number 2 of the day Brandreth is in the bag, I'm off to a flyer! After this I take a bit of a detour for summit number 3, down a very steep rocky decline and a good hike sees Base brown conquered, this one is out on it's own, but well worth the visit, it offers fantastic views over mountains, valleys and farmland, after a snack and some water I head back up the steep climb to summit number 4, Green Gable, the legs are starting to fade a little now, I pause briefly to admire the awesome views and recover a little, before heading to windy gap, and this is where things take a frightening turn! The GNAAS helicopter swooped in to land, and as this happened a lot of very upset walkers told me that a gentleman had taken a huge fall from Great Gable and was very badly hurt! On the steep ascent to Great Gable I watched the rescue unfold, unbelievable work from the helicopter crew and mountain rescue, assessing an access route to the casualty and getting him safely to hospital and the treatment he needed. A moment of realisation that definitely brought a lump to my throat! With this in mind I continue to summit Great Gable, which was a massive WOW moment for me, having planned this summit so many times, and had to cancel due to bad weather. The views from here are nothing short of spectacular, especially over Wastwater, where I could also see the final summit of the day, Kirk fell. I make my way to the descent, and what lay before me was the steepest decent I've ever attempted, but it was very rocky and covered in scree! With the events that had just unfolded I exercised extreme caution, lots of little slips and trips slowed me down massively, and at the bottom I'm absolutely knackered, and my legs are pumped, but no time to hang about though, Kirk fell lays before me, and guess what.... steep rocky ascent π€£ halfway up I need to take a minute as my legs are shot, but I push on and Wainwright number 100, done and boshed it mate πͺπͺπͺ unbelievable views from here, and a fantastic location to pitch the tent too, with lovely flat grass, but I need to get back to Green Gable, luck is on my side as I can see a shortcut around Great Gable and up to windy gap, which I take. On reaching Green Gable I was very tired and took 10 minutes rest to enjoy a 0% lager, then pitched the Durston X-mid 2 pro, enjoyed my evening meal, all just in time to enjoy one of the best sunsets I've ever seen, it's not often I'm lost for words π€£ Time to hit the hay. A reasonable night's sleep sees me wake and enjoy a morning coffee with breakfast, before packing up and walking back to the car, enjoying the most wonderful sunrise on the way.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the casualty and his family, as I mentioned in the video all YouTube earnings from this episode will be donated to the GNAAS, and should you wish to donate directly here's a link to their website...
Great North Air Ambulance Service | Charity funded, world-class critical care https://share.google/N7cKpllobj2I3SMTY
Here's a link to my merchandise store, and it seems only right that any sales over the next fortnight also get donated to the GNAAS...
A Cumbrian Lad Outdoors Merch | Cardz Unique https://share.google/m9wh98k7IhUyu8hpu
Although a thoroughly enjoyable trip out, full of highs, it was an awful reminder that things can go wrong in a heartbeat π’
If you would like to follow this route, heres a link to the Garmin map connect.garmin.com/modern/course/392613498
Nevertheless I hope you all enjoy, atb Paul πππππ #camping #mountains #hiking #outdoors #emergency
I set off on this solo wildcamp thinking it would just be another awesome outdoors adventure, which it was, but halfway through something terrible happened which was a frightening reminder of just how badly things can go wrong out in the fells! Parking up at Honister Slate mine, it was a glorious day, 23 Celsius and climbing, the sun was beating down and barely a cloud in the sky. Starting off slowly to warm the legs up on the initial steep first incline, I quickly find myself at a good altitude and in the middle of nowhere, just the way I like it, with amazing mountain views, what a way to start the day! And within 45 minutes I'm tapping my first Wainwright summit of the day, Grey Knotts, and not 10 minutes later, number 2 of the day Brandreth is in the bag, I'm off to a flyer! After this I take a bit of a detour for summit number 3, down a very steep rocky decline and a good hike sees Base brown conquered, this one is out on it's own, but well worth the visit, it offers fantastic views over mountains, valleys and farmland, after a snack and some water I head back up the steep climb to summit number 4, Green Gable, the legs are starting to fade a little now, I pause briefly to admire the awesome views and recover a little, before heading to windy gap, and this is where things take a frightening turn! The GNAAS helicopter swooped in to land, and as this happened a lot of very upset walkers told me that a gentleman had taken a huge fall from Great Gable and was very badly hurt! On the steep ascent to Great Gable I watched the rescue unfold, unbelievable work from the helicopter crew and mountain rescue, assessing an access route to the casualty and getting him safely to hospital and the treatment he needed. A moment of realisation that definitely brought a lump to my throat! With this in mind I continue to summit Great Gable, which was a massive WOW moment for me, having planned this summit so many times, and had to cancel due to bad weather. The views from here are nothing short of spectacular, especially over Wastwater, where I could also see the final summit of the day, Kirk fell. I make my way to the descent, and what lay before me was the steepest decent I've ever attempted, but it was very rocky and covered in scree! With the events that had just unfolded I exercised extreme caution, lots of little slips and trips slowed me down massively, and at the bottom I'm absolutely knackered, and my legs are pumped, but no time to hang about though, Kirk fell lays before me, and guess what.... steep rocky ascent π€£ halfway up I need to take a minute as my legs are shot, but I push on and Wainwright number 100, done and boshed it mate πͺπͺπͺ unbelievable views from here, and a fantastic location to pitch the tent too, with lovely flat grass, but I need to get back to Green Gable, luck is on my side as I can see a shortcut around Great Gable and up to windy gap, which I take. On reaching Green Gable I was very tired and took 10 minutes rest to enjoy a 0% lager, then pitched the Durston X-mid 2 pro, enjoyed my evening meal, all just in time to enjoy one of the best sunsets I've ever seen, it's not often I'm lost for words π€£ Time to hit the hay. A reasonable night's sleep sees me wake and enjoy a morning coffee with breakfast, before packing up and walking back to the car, enjoying the most wonderful sunrise on the way.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the casualty and his family, as I mentioned in the video all YouTube earnings from this episode will be donated to the GNAAS, and should you wish to donate directly here's a link to their website...
Great North Air Ambulance Service | Charity funded, world-class critical care https://share.google/N7cKpllobj2I3SMTY
Here's a link to my merchandise store, and it seems only right that any sales over the next fortnight also get donated to the GNAAS...
A Cumbrian Lad Outdoors Merch | Cardz Unique https://share.google/m9wh98k7IhUyu8hpu
Although a thoroughly enjoyable trip out, full of highs, it was an awful reminder that things can go wrong in a heartbeat π’
If you would like to follow this route, heres a link to the Garmin map connect.garmin.com/modern/course/392613498
Nevertheless I hope you all enjoy, atb Paul πππππ #camping #mountains #hiking #outdoors #emergency
