On the last day of November, and to herald a month of being back in the running game, myself and Azja headed to the picturesque Buttermere Valley for a run up my favourite mountain, Red Pike. Situated in the North West of the Lake District National Park, Buttermere is a relatively small lake, with an even smaller village which takes its name from the lake too. The lake itself has a beautiful 4 mile trail (bar 1/4 mile of road) running right along the sides, and is a very popular destination for walkers and runners alike. However it is nestled at the foot of a large horseshoe of mountains, on which the number of people seen during a run can usually be counted on one hand!
As I said our destination today was Red Pike, which sits above the North West Corner of the lake. It is by far my favourite mountain. The views from the top are without doubt some of the best in England, and if you continue your run over the adjoining peaks of High Stile, High Crag, Seat and Haystacks you are in for a very special day indeed. Alas we were doing a simple up and down, but it still has plenty to offer!
We started out from the Bridge Hotel as always and joined the path down to the lake, crossing the foot bridge over Sour Milk Gill as it pours into the lake. From here you immediately start climbing a rock staircase, which takes you about 600ft up through the forest to the top of the tree line.
Azja & Milo start the climb!
Almost to the tree line.
Upon reaching the tree line, there is thankfully a 10 metre section of flat trail and a gate to negotiate, which gives you some time to suck in some oxygen after the leg burning start to the run! The trail pretty much stays as a bouldered staircase up through the first mile/1000ft of climbing, and then changes into a boulder strewn path that is still uphill, but feels flat after the staircase! We stopped at the mile to have a breather and a drink. I was happy knowing that at this point every step I had taken was a running step, and though I'd had to pause a few times, I hadn't walked any part of it, and neither had Azja.
The views from our little break were fairly amazing though!
Muddock Crags overlooking Buttermere
We continued onwards and upwards towards flatter ground at Bleaberry Tarn, as Azja continued to beast the ascent! Whilst I pottered up behind with burning legs and heaving lungs! a few walking breaks started to appear about now!
Typical terrain for the first mile and beyond!
Maddock crags & Buttermere
As the incline evens out the running becomes a little easier and we made our way on the flat ground to the tarn which is a mix of boggy, gloopy mud and big rocks which make a bit of a path, but it's really anyone's guess as to which line to follow! Azja was a good 2-3 minutes ahead of me at the tarn, her ability to climb was not expected, but I was super happy to see her charging off round the tarn and onto the next staircase climb towards the summit! Gladly I recognised a gentleman and his daughter who were having a break at the tarn as customers from work the previous day, so I used this as an opportunity to have a breather and a crack with them about their day and how they were finding the climb etc.
As I was chief water carrier however I noticed Azja had stopped and was waiting for me to catch up so she could grab a drink!
Waiting Patiently for water & treats for Milo!
The staircase gradually merges into scree and loose rock towards the top of Red Pike, and footing can be a bit tricky, today it was super greasy underfoot, and it made the going even harder, but with the summit just about insight, we pushed on. Again I was noticing that I was running more of the climb, whereas normally I would just get my head down and grind out the ascent in a hike, especially at this stage as the climb intensifies and the ground becomes less secure!
Azja & Milo still putting in work!
Crummock Water and the slopes of Melbreak
Just below the summit there is a small scramble through a gouge in the rock caused by the 2009 floods. There is another route which we used to descend, but I find the scramble on the ascent to be quicker and more fun! Milo had to be lifted over a few of the obstacles, his little legs and lack of any jumping ability wouldn't allow for any climbing unaided!
Bleaberry Tarn below the scramble
Surveying the land below the summit
My Queen of the Mountains
After the scramble there's a steep but manageable run out onto the top and to the summit, I went up first to capture Azja's very first proper fell running summit. The picture says it all!
Mere feet from the summit, one happy Azja!
We hung out at the top and got the obligatory summit pictures!
Queen Of The Mountain
Cumbrian Krupicka
Looking towards the Scafell Range
Ennerdale sneaking in
Loweswater, Melbreak & Crummock Water
Melbreak &Crummock Water with a cloudy Grasmoor
Summit Photo's done we had a quick drink and then headed down the way we had come. I was looking forward to this part as descending has always been my talent with fell running, I'm still slow, but faster than ascending!!
When I was almost back to the tarn I heard a yelp and stopped to look for Azja and Milo behind me. I could see Milo looking off the path into the grasses but no sign of Azja until up popped her head amongst the grass! She had slipped on the rock and taken quite a fall, she assured me she was ok, and I waited for her to catch up. She was running again as she got to me and once again said she was ok, and we continued down. We passed all the hikers who had been descending as we went up, and as we crossed the footbridge once more, I unclasped my bag and ran into a freezing Buttermere for an Ice Bath - Legs only!
2081ft in 1.87 miles for the ascent and the same for descent. Time wasn't something we were concerned with as we were taking a lot of photos, it was Azja's first proper fell run and I'm as unfit as ever!!
