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Thunder kept me awake all night, so my planned long hike was ruined before it began. After two hours of staring at the forecast like a grumpy weather detective, I switched to a shorter Ambleside mission. I boiled in full waterproofs, limped on a dodgy foot, and still tackled Wansfell Pike and Baystones. Boggy, humid, chaotic, but satisfying. Fish and chips and two pints finished the day.

A solo Friday escape powered by toe socks and one Boost orange. I drove straight to Seatoller, hit the trail in perfect sunshine, and immediately detoured in classic Mira style. Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, and Base Brown rolled by in wind, views, and minor chaos. I descended like a confused goat, earned 7th on a Strava segment called Almost Certain Death, then inhaled a veggie burger and a pint in Keswick.

It’s almost go time. Bags nearly packed, routes planned, and I’ll be driving straight from work to the Lakes with loud music and too much coffee. Three days of big mileage and character-testing climbs await, my last prep before the Welsh 15. Keswick is home again, the fells are calling, and I feel that familiar buzz. Same base, new version of me, ready for whatever this weekend brings.

Today was a lesson in preparation and pure joy on Derwent Edge. I set out to bag three Ethels and the Back Tor trig, and somehow fell in love with every rock on the ridge. The weather turned fast, but for once I was fully waterproofed and stayed dry the entire time. Twenty kilometres later, fuelled by a cheese sandwich in a rainy pine forest, I finished warm, happy, and proud. A perfect Welsh 15 training day.

06 June 2025 There was a time not so long ago when I’d take one look at a forecast saying “rain and thunder” and say, “Absolutely not, I’ll be inside with snacks.” But now? Now I’m lacing up for a 16 km hike in the Peak District… on purpose . Why? Because this Welsh 15 challenge I signed up for, the one happening on the 5th of July is slowly reprogramming my brain. I'm now the kind of person who chooses to hike through storms because missing a weekend of training feels illeg