I first heard of the Frog Graham Round in 2014 from my friend Tim Mosedale over a pint or two in the Square Orange in Keswick. I was immediately interested by this unique challenge and the fact that there is no time requirement appealed to me as I refer to myself as a Duracell Bunny – plenty of stamina to make up for my lack of speed. I am also a confident swimmer and so the lakes held no fear for me. Tim then went on to become the first person to repeat the FGR and Steve and I started to learn the route.
At the end of June 2015 I had a new right hip as my old one had become so immobile as to make walking on any slightly uneven surface hard work. I set myself the challenge of completing the Wainwrights with my new hip and to regain fitness. Seeing myself on Nicky Spinks’ Run Forever film was a really good incentive to lose weight and my thoughts turned again to the Frog Graham as Steve had already claimed the 008 certificate of completion.
I always said that I would only attempt in perfect conditions to give myself the best possible chance. I was also worried about getting to Derwentwater after dark which would make navigation and visiting the islands almost impossible. I therefore set myself a 21.5 hour schedule starting at midnight which would put me at Otterbield Bay at 8pm. I supported Nicky on her Joss Naylor Challenge on her 50th birthday on 22nd April 2017 and the following day I swam across Derwentwater in 50 minutes to test the water temperature which was fine for me having enough natural lard insulation. The weather forecast for Wednesday 3rd May looked promising and with Nicky’s words of encouragement , “move your arse”, ringing in my ears, I decided to go for it.
As it is an unsupported challenge I packed four bags of food – one for each leg – each containing a fruit teacake with cheese, salted crisps or cheddars, bar of chocolate and a cereal bar. I set off with 500ml of water as there are places on each leg to top up. I tried to sleep on Tuesday afternoon but I was going over the route in my head so eventually got up and had a good feed. Steve arrived and just before midnight we walked down to the Moot Hall where 3 girls asked if I was setting off on a Bob. “No”, said I, “I’m attempting a Frog” at which point one of the girls said that I would be the 3rd woman to complete if I was successful and that she would love to have a go too. Obviously word is getting round!! They wished me luck and at midnight I jogged off into the dark.
Climbing Skiddaw the clag came in shortly after I left the Latrigg car park and the wind got colder as I ascended. On the summit, visibility was down to a few yards and I had to use my compass to find the trig point. Then I aimed slightly off to the right to make sure that I found the steep slaty path down to Carl Side. As soon as I headed down, the clag cleared and I had wonderful views down over Keswick. When the gradient eased, I started to jog down to White Stones and then all the way down through Dodd Wood to Mirehouse and then down to Church Bay where I arrived at 3:14. Steve saw my headtorch and switched on the van headlights which shone a lovely swimway across the water.I donned my wetsuit but could not pull up the zip completely as I was too clammy. Never mind I will just have to go for it. I picked up my Chill Swim containing my backpack and poles and stepped into the water. I had changed into neoprene socks and wore my new Inov-8 Roclite 305 shoes which kept my feet lovely and warm. However water was flowing down my arms from my back as I swam which felt a bit odd but I made good progress and suddenly I felt the slippery rocks at Beck Wythop under my feet.
It was still very dark and I got a bit cold whilst getting changed but soon began to get warm as I started moving again and on the steady climb up Barf. I could turn off my headtorch as I came out of the forest and I made the summit at 05:25 which was 25 behind my schedule. Knowing that I needed to make up for lost time I jogged as much as I could to Lord’s Seat, Ullister Hill and then all the way down to the visitor centre at Winlatter where our van was parked. There was no sign of Steve and I put a handful of grass under the windscreen wiper to let him know I had gone through. He just spotted me in time to take a quick photo.
I pushed on as hard as I could up Grisedale Pike which just seems to go on forever. The cold wind picked up again and clouds were blowing in and out of the summit. I didn’t linger but pushed on to Hopegill Head and Sand Hill where I had reduced my deficit to ten minutes. I jogged down to Coledale Hause and then pushed on up to Crag Hill before a delightful run down to Wandhope and then to Whiteless Pike where I was back on schedule – hooray!! As I descended carefully to Low Bank I was watching out for Steve but there was no sign of him and I arrived at Crummock at 10:02. There was the van again and I added a small stone to the Winlatter grass on the windscreen wiper. Feeling very hungry I sat and ate my leg 2 bag of food and had a good drink before getting changed. I asked a passer-by to zip me up and set off for Low Ling Crag on the opposite bank. Once again, the swim soon passed and it was lovely getting changed in the sun and trying not to think about “Heartbreak Hill” which is Melbreak.
I knew that Leg 3 is hard but I had recce’d the route from Melbreak to Red Pike and just dug deep and got on with it. I kept looking back and the van was still parked up but where was Steve? As I climbed Red Pike the wind became very fierce and in the words of MWIS it impeded my forward progress. I was nearly blown off my feet in the col between Red Pike and High Stile and the technical descent off High Stile was tricky although thankfully bone dry. I looked down to Buttermere and was horrified to see small tornados scudding across the water lifting spray into the air. When I got down to Horse Close I sat and ate my Leg 3 bag of food whilst contemplating the prospect of what should have been a very easy ten minute swim. I put on my wetsuit and set off but once again was unable to pull my zip all the way up. The water was pretty wild and I felt myself getting quite exhausted as I was getting battered and not making much progress. I made a really big effort and finally managed to reach Crag Wood in about 30 minutes but the swim had taken its toll out of me both physically and emotionally. Thankfully Steve was there and he asked me if I was going on. I was worried about Derwentwater if the wind did not subside and I had lost too much time which would put me in the dark coming off Catbells but Idecided to press on regardless.
The ascent of Robinson was painfully slow and I seemed to have a headwind all the way around the head of the Newlands Valley, over Dale Head and then up to High Spy. I should have been able to run some of the lovely ridge past Maiden Moor to Catbells but I was shattered and when Steve came up to meet me I had a few tears. I thought I had blown it and that all my efforts were in vain. I knew that I could not swim 2k in conditions like Buttermere and I was over an hour behind my schedule and it was going dark. Then Steve told me that the cavalry had arrived in the shape of Nicky and her husband Steve, complete with a Canadian canoe – my knights in red drysuits. He also said that it was calmer in the valley and so I was still in with a chance.
I donned my wetsuit for the last time and Nicky and Steve took compass bearings on the islands. I told them that I wanted to go to the left hand side of each island where there is a gravel spit and we set off with me following Steve’s headtorch pointing back at me. They did a fantastic job and one by one I exited the water and back in again before they took a final bearing on Calf Close Bay. As we approached I could see headlights on the bank and tried to put one last effort in. My hands were getting cold though and I struggled to catch the water. Then we were there but I couldn’t stand up and fell forward onto my knees on the slippery rocks. Steve and Nicky helped me up and I set off walking with my Steve whilst Nicky and Steve got a lift to the Moot Hall with our friends Max and Lynda who had driven up specially to see me finish.
That last mile seemed to take forever but eventually I was there and I touched the Moot Hall with my friends giving me a round of applause. I must have looked a sight for sore eyes, still in my wetsuit with a big grin on my face. I had done it and fulfilled an ambition but I could not have done it without the support of very special friends who turned out in my hour of need.
The Frog Graham Round is a great route and I am very proud to have claimed the position of FGR009. Now who will be next?!?
Postscript:
So what happened to Steve at Crummock? He later told me that he was on Rannerdale Knott at 10:05 when I was sitting on the side of Crummock Water eating my Leg 2 food. We must have missed each other when I was coming down from Rannerdale but we can’t work out how!! He stayed on the hill for 2.5 hours and went up Whiteless Pike to meet me. Meanwhile I was climbing Melbreak , Red Pike and High Stile behind him. When he started to get cold he returned to the van to fine my little stone on the windscreen and was relieved to know that I was on Leg 3 somewhere. I was mightily pleased to see him when I got out of the water at Buttermere and he did a brilliant job of rallying the troops to come to my rescue.
He clearly needs more practice at this supporting lark!!