Ambleside staff team member James Gibson will be leaving Keswick Moot Hall at 7am Wednesday 1st December to traverse all 214 Wainwrights. It’s a long way (325 miles). There’s a LOT of ascent (36,000 metres) and no one has ever done it in the winter before…..

Meet James. When he’s not working part time in our Ambleside shop he is delivering great mountain experiences to folk walking and climbing the fells. When he’s not doing that he can usually be found climbing, running or mountaineering, in fact it’s not unusual for us to discover he has just driven back from Cornwall or Scotland at some outrageously early hour of the morning having gotten some prime climbing crammed in between shifts!

On the 1st December James will embark on an attempt to run and fast hike a continuous round of Wainwright's 214 peaks. Why? Because……

“Limited daylight hours, cooler temperatures, and hopefully some winter conditions will all make this an arduous, yet oddly appealing task.”

Starting at Keswick (Moot Hall) and traveling clockwise he will follow variations of a tried and tested route, originally masterminded by Steve Birkinshaw, but tweaked along the way by other incredible athletes. All being well, he’s planning to return to the doors of Moot Hall just over seven days later. When it comes to long endurance events James certainly has form…..

I have run a number of rounds over the years, many heavily influenced by a good friend of mine called Joe Mann. My most recent endeavours include running the Cape Wrath Trail in November 2019, the Pennine Way in October 2020 and completing the first recorded Winter Steve Parr in 2021. I purposely seek out these long challenges, and after watching Paul Tierney complete his successful Wainwright round in 2019 I put the wheels in motion to undertake my own, but true to previous form, I pinned myself for a winter attempt.

As it stands no one has yet to compete a continuous round of the Wainwrights in Winter, however a mention needs to go to Mingma Tshering Sherpa who completed all 214 Wainwright’s over a period of 14 days during winter months, solo.

Having been years in preparation, the support from friends and the running community has been amazing…..

Such a challenge would not even get past the opening hours without the team behind the scenes, and as with many previous attempts of the Wainwrights or similar rounds the incredible fell running community has shown its strength and I have managed to build an army of on and off the hill support. Some of these people I am yet to meet! Thank you in advance to all these people who will help make this run smoothly and efficiently. Ultimately, the success of this round will be all of ours.
I would also like to thank the kind companies that have helped me along the way, these include MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT, The Climbers Shop, Paul Tierney at Missing Link Coaching for providing an expert training programme, LMG Personal Training - Mountain Focused Fitness Training, Harvey Maps, LEKI, Waktu and Kendal Mint Co.

Among James’ many support runners will be Steve, Ali, Chris and Will from our current staff team as well as 3 past staff members all psyched to help James on his way.

You can follow his progress throughout the week via his tracker https://live.opentracking.co.uk/jgw2021/

Good Luck James!!

(P.S -Post submission GPX changes will see a few small errors on the shown route. Errors include; wainwright summit of Grey Knotts and Seat Sandal being on a later leg)

Update 01/12/21

A quick touch of the Keswick Moot Hall door and he was gone!

We’ve heard back from his Leg 1 support runners and James is having “the best” time out on the hill. It looks like a chilly night ahead but nothing he’s not used to.

Update 02/12/21

James was moving really well through the night on Leg 3: Loweswater to Ennerdale and really appreciating the messages being sent to his tracker. Keep ‘em flowing! He’s in great spirits and moving well ready to rest at Wasdale. Many thanks to Matt Le Voi at Lakeland Mountain Guides for the update and the pic.

Photo: Matt Le Voi, Lakeland Mountain Guides

James is powering through Wasdale feeling good. Just the expected fatigue from running 130km with just 3 hours of stops!!!! Special shout out to the wonderful folk at Woodhow Farm in Wasdale for their amazing hospitality. They not only let James and his crew use their yard to do support, they also provided soup, hot drinks and hot rolls for everyone!! Amazing!

Incidentally, James is keeping toasty warm at his checkpoints in the brilliant Mountain Equipment Kryos Jacket. It’s been a stunning cold crisp day here in the Lake District but the Kryos has a Gore-Tex Infinium has the added protection of a weather proof outer for when the (inevitable) damper weather arrives. With the calories he is burning James will chill down really quickly when stopping so this jacket works as a vital part of his clothing system. To learn more about the science of layering you can read our Buyers Guide or take a listen to our podcast.

Update 03/12/21

Fellow Climbers Shop staff member Steve headed up onto the fell after work to catch up with James and his support crew in some pretty challenging conditions over Bowfell and Crinkle Crags. James is powering through and still smiling even pulling ahead in the unofficial race with Ultra Runner Tom Hollins who left Keswick an hour before him!

Don’t forget, you can send a message of support directly to James via the messaging service on his tracker - he’s on day 3 of a 6/7 day challenge so now is the time he’s going to have to start digging deep.

50 hours and 100 miles in James is looking strong coming into Tilberthwaite near Coniston. The Climbers Shop staff were out en masse to support James on the leg across to Little Langdale. There was plenty of banter and laughs across Holme Fell, Black Fell and Lingmoor. He’s still powering through with minimal rest. Still smiling like a hero.

James sporting the ultimate in venting technique. His Mountain Equipment Tupilak Atmo Jacket has been specifically chosen for it’s lightweight waterproof protection. It’s got all of the technical features of the proven Tupilak jacket (including the brilliant hood) but made with a much lighter face fabric making it 182g lighter. To learn more about waterproof fabrics take a look at our Buyers Guide or listen to our podcast.

The weather forecast for tonight is, er, “character building” but luckily James is practically in his own back yard. Why not send him some good karma via his Tracker chat here James Gibson Winter Wainwrights 2021 | Open Tracking

Update 04/12/21

When two legends meet!

Ironically, James is in an unofficial race with ultra runner Tom Hollins who completed a solo Wainwright Round in the summer. This is a shot of them stopping for a chat on Low Pike, what the photo doesn’t show was just how brutal the wind was. James caught up with Tom who left Keswick Moot Hall an hour earlier and both runners are putting in a superb performance in grueling conditions..

Just like buses - you wait for one Winter Wainwright attempt and two come along at the same time! Both knew the other was making an attempt and for both; this will have been a long time in the planning. In fact James was all set to start out last December but took the decision to delay with the level of Covid restrictions that were in place at the time.

After a four hour sleep at home in Rydal James set off at 4am and was looking strong as he dropped down into Kirkstone Pass. He’s definitely getting the winter conditions he’d hoped for!

No one knows this route better than ex staff member and summer Wainwright Round finisher Paul Tierney - he was out with James earlier today passing on his sagely words of wisdom. The weather on the tops this evening is appalling so a great opportunity for James to rest up ready to leave again in the early hours.

We haven’t calculated how many tons of weight will bear down through James’ knees throughout the round but a significant percentage will have been transferred more evenly across his body by the Leki Micro Trail Race Running Poles Using poles not only reduces leg fatigue but has the added benefit of keeping the upper body upright aiding breathing. You can learn more about running with poles and running skills courses at our sister website Joe Brown Outdoor Academy or read about how poles can benefit your walking here.

Update 05/12/21

The decision to rest really paid off - even when James and his support crew set off the first 6 hours in darkness was some of the worst weather any of them have been out in (and that’s saying something with the amount of winter running/climbing and mountaineering experience they have between them!) They were rewarded however with an absolutely incredible sunrise.

We were all sorry to hear that Tom Hollins took the difficult decision to abandon his attempt at Mardale, conditions underfoot were extremely challenging with huge snowdrifts, energy sapping powder snow and battering winds.

But the legend that is James Gibson is still smiling…….

Meanwhile, the next amazing support crew were managing the kit changeover, ensuring it was all dry enough to use on the next leg, batteries were re-charged, radios were handed out and a colossal number of calories were on hand to be consumed on the next leg to Patterdale. The good news is that the majority will be below the snow line…….

Update 6/12/21

120 hours in and James is still getting the full winter experience. With a strong support crew with him he was moving well over the Helvellyn range. Lakes based photographer Steve Ashworth headed up to the summit to capture just how harsh the wind and conditions under foot are:

Friend and local running guide Charlie Sprosen from Mountain Run , the UK’s leading school of extreme mountain running was running with James on this leg and describes the conditions:

I was asked to navigate, an honour and a high pressure situation
The only way I can describe the conditions were arctic, full on, blizzard 🥶 and extremely energy sapping ground conditions …….. to be able to continually take the weather, be hidden on a hood while the winds and snows batter you to pieces, sleep exceedingly minimal hours and still get up to go out and do it all again is mind boggling.

With weather warnings out for Storm Barra to hit Cumbria tomorrow morning James and his support team have been doing some serious chin stroking about how best to safely proceed during the next 24 hours. Here’s an update from Matt Le Voi at Lakeland Mountain Guides:

As many of you will have seen there is some pretty atrocious weather inbound. The timing couldn't be worse, but then it is winter after all!

James has just got into Dockray and a group of us surveyed the options. I wouldn't be able to guess at how many thousands of hours on the mountains the people in the conversation would have clocked up, but ones thing's for sure, some sound decisions were coming out.

Ultimately safety is the primary concern and nothing will cloud that, regardless of any 'fastest known time' desire.

And so, James will continue to progress tonight and all being well will be off the hill before the storm hits. He will have to stay put (I.e no KFC in Penrith!) until we feel it suitable. Based on the current forecast he will get a great rest and it'll be a 'hard reset' for him.

He will likely push on again in the early hours of Wednesday morning and continue the route as planned - finishing sometime Thursday (as it stands).

Other then this, he is well and surrounded by great people. He is positive and even let me snap a picture with a genuine smile.

Update 7/12/21

After a good rest at Troutbeck on the A66 James and his support team stuck to plan and took in Blencathra and Bannerdale Crags before descending to the safety of Mungrisedale to weather out Storm Barra. The weather at valley level is grim and unless you are clothed in white fur, have four paws and a penchant for seals the artic conditions on the fells are best left well alone.

Throughout each leg James has been continually checking his support crew are doing okay, assessing and re-adjusting the route as needed and relentlessly placing the next foot forward. His crew are made up from a pool of friends and fellow runners & mountaineers with a huge amount of winter experience between them and an intimate knowledge of the Lakeland fells. There’s no better group of people to help him round the final section.

Rest well everyone - we’re looking forward to seeing you moving again when it’s safe to do so.

Making sure his hands are warm and dry has been critical throughout the weather conditions James has faced. His “go to” gloves have been Mountain Equipment Couloir’s, frequently changing them so the warm air trapped next to his hands remains dry for optimum insulation. To learn more about choosing gloves you can read our Buyers Guide or for a bit of lighthearted glove info - including why a nose wipe is a critical feature - take a listen to our podcast.

It’s been a day of tactical rest and recovery as Storm Barra has blasted through. This has given Emma at Fellside Phsiotherapy a chance to encourage some recovery in James legs - even though she was astonished at how well they were holding up considering the 200+ miles he’s covered. He even got to do an interview with Radio Cumbria!

Massive shout out to The Mill Inn, Mungrisedale acting as an impromptu HQ today, they have been amazing!

After a full weather review, James and his support crew are all set to head back up onto Carrock Fell at midnight to crack on with tentative plans to arrive in Keswick on Thursday afternoon……

These next legs are long and they are tough so keep sending your messages to James via his tracker chat to lift him - the end is in sight!

James Gibson Winter Wainwrights 2021 | Open Tracking

Update 8/12/21

He’s back running and has flown around the Northern Fells overnight! Binsey is in the bag (not a favourite of those on the Round as it is a long out and back) and 174 hours in he is keeping an incredible pace!

Daylight caught up with James and his support team on Skiddaw and it’s looking like there was a lot of fresh snow but James will be on the lower fells for a while before climbing back into the snowline and with just (!) two legs left to go before he will make fell running history. Go James!!!!

How is he maintaining his pace and STILL smiling????

James is looking all set to finish in Keswick tomorrow - which is just as well really as he needs to be at the shop Christmas dinner on Friday evening. When we asked him what he would like to pre-order he said 25 Turkey dinners! He’s definitely earned them!! Here’s the latest update from Matt Le Voi at Lakeland Guides:

This is the final time I'll give you a daily update, as by this time tomorrow James will be either drunk, or asleep. Either way he will be the first person to ever complete a Winter Wainwright Round - yes, this is literally hours away from happening!!
He's been in good spirits today despite the Binsey bit! Here he is scoffing some of Emma's epic brownie as he preps for the leg he is about to finish now.
He will rest for a few hours and then it's the last push, 3 legs to go.
I'll be with him tonight from Whinlatter to Rannerdale, and then it's a bag fest on the Coledale fells. From Newlands pass there are just 6 peaks left, peaks he will get to run with some of his closest pals.
The current estimated time of arrival in Keswick will be 3pm. If you're about please come and give him the welcome he so very much deserves for what he will have achieved.

Update 9/12/21

More deep snow through the night but James is smashing the last few hills with just a few to go before dropping down into Keswick! He’s 194 hours in and taking a short rest while his final support crew ready his kit for the final leg of this monumental run.

Lakeland Mountain Guides will be giving a 60-90 minute warning of his arrival on their facebook page here If you can’t make it to Keswick to cheer him in don’t worry they will be live streaming it too.

Meanwhile, it’s a party atmosphere on Cat Bells as James tops out on peak 214! Look carefully - it’s a Wainwright beer bottle. Hope he didn’t carry that all the way round.

Photo: Sarah McCormack Missing Link Coaching

ETA to Keswick likely to be 1:45-2pm

#winterwainwrights

He’s in!!!

In less than 200 hours and after enduring EPIC winter conditions; James Gibson has completed the first ever continuous round of the Wainwrights in winter!

Here’s a video of James (still smiling) as he comes into Keswick with thanks to Lakeland Mountain Guides

James Gibson has made history:

First ever continuous Winter Round of the Wainwrights

completed in:

8 Days 6 Hours 44 minutes

James has been supported by over 60 friends and strangers throughout as well as a number of small local businesses that have offered hospitality en route. While he has received some help from Mountain Equipment, Harvey Maps, Leki and Kendal Mint Co he has planned, funded and supported his round with just the help of friends.

We are all, quite simply in awe of his achievement and we’re not alone. Previous summer round record holders Steve Birkenshaw and Paul Tierney were on hand to congratulate James on his success as he enters a very elite club.

Well done James - no one deserves that beer more than you. We’ll get a stall put behind the till ready for your next shift!

Monday 14th February

It’s official - James Gibson: The Movie, is happening!

We’re sure it will have a more suitable title when it comes out but you can get a taste of how brilliant it is going to be in the trailer below:

1st April 2022

He’s off………again!!!!!!

James Gibson Coaching offers bespoke ultra-running programmes uniquely designed with your ambitions and goals in mind. As a qualified mountaineering instructor, I have over a decade of knowledge and experience in a range of activities including mountaineering, climbing, hill walking and guided runs.

www.jamesgibsoncoaching.co.uk

Read About James Summer Round here

Listen to the Outdoor Gear Chat Podcast with James

The First Winter Wainwright Round 2021