SCARPA Athlete Tom Hollins is known for his epic challenges and impressive running feats. From running a Vertical Marathon on his local hill to multiple impressive rounds across the UK and Ireland - Tom has an impressive tick list of achievements.
Tom's latest challenge was taking on a Self-Supported Winter Wainwrights Round - this is a very tough challenge taking in 214 Lake District peaks, covering over 310 miles (500km) of rugged and unforgiving terrain - in winter conditions
Here is Tom's report on his latest challenge...
On 1st December 2021 I set off to complete a winter Wainwrights round following many months of prep and with the backing of a fantastic team of supporters. I wanted to push the boundaries and create something new and personal that had not been done before.
Sadly for many reasons that didn't come to pass, and instead I refocussed on the Spine race for a couple of winters whilst, in the background, working out a way to come back to the Wainwrights that would feel satisfying to me. By this winter, the supported winter round had been done and the fastest time beaten once. I had come to realise that to push my boundaries and do something personal would require me to leave behind my long suffering support team and to immerse myself in the Wainwrights with an attempt at a solo self supported round.
Summit Fever Media I Montane
Every round is different, and in particular every winter round is different. I knew that the main factor determining a finish was not my fitness but the weather window. Having to give 6 weeks notice for any leave from work I determined that I would book leave for the end of February and determine go/ no go on conditions a week prior (a winter round having to finish by midnight on the last day of Feb). I had booked some B&Bs and hotels at intervals along the route and would drop kit at them prior to the event. There aren't many options along the route and there are long sections with no civilisation, but they were frequent enough to feel safe, even if I did have to detour a bit.
Come the 13th of Feb forecast was for weather to become a bit warmer, snow and ice to mostly melt and for rain with some mild to moderate winds. This sounded satisfying enough to be a winter round while still achievable and safe on my own. I determined to set off on the 20th at 8am. Weather in the mountains is always changeable and if I had known what the weather would actually bring then I would not in all honesty have set off. That said I did get a more true winter experience which in the end made the whole thing more involved and satisfying.
Summit Fever Media I Montane
On the first 3 days moderate winds was the starting point and gale force winds were frequent. I had to stop my attempt twice and shelter which cost time and also meant I had to rejig my planned onward logistics. I was thrown to the floor on many occasions and damaged a lot of kit, expended a lot of energy and sustained quite a few bruises. I thought every day about pulling my attempt but every day I just made it far enough to shelter that I could stop, rest regroup and plan ahead. It was tough.
I eventually got out of Langdale and although the winds persisted for a bit for the first half of that day they were blowing me in the direction I wanted to go which made a big change. I then had a quiet day when I could move with more speed and purpose followed by a decent dump of snow just as I approached Helvellyn. I hadn't been bothered about the possibility of snow on the route including Scafell but the one area that did concern me was Helvellyn to Catstycam via Swirral edge. Being on my own meant playing it safe and I diverted via Raise and Whiteside before taking the steep but safe ascent to the north of Catstycam.
Summit Fever Media I Montane
From there to the finish I got my rewards. The snow remained but in atmospheric proportions rather than labour intensive wading. The sun came out and I had 3 of the most beautiful days I have ever had in the lake district. The only thing slowing me down now was stopping to look at the views. Totally magical, and because I was so far in to the event I had got to that stage where you really feel at one with your surroundings.
That smile at the moot hall says it all. The first self supported Winter Wainwrights round and an amazing experience that fulfilled everything I wanted from the adventure. I felt happy and content. The time felt less relevant but having held back early on due to the conditions I was surprised to find I had moved pretty quickly once I could at the end. The final time was 8days 9hrs 44min 57sec. The current supported winter record stands at 8 days and 1hr and the previous fastest time for a self supported wainwrights round in summer stood at 14 days 11hrs.
Summit Fever Media I Montane
I missed my support crew but the reality is that all the prior adventures we did together bought me to this point. Particular thank yous are due to Tim Pigott for coaching to build ultra knowledge and psychological resilience and to Maggie Dempsey for making an old man with a bad back believe he could lift heavy weights again.
Our friends at Montane have documented Tom's Wainwrights journey in this amazing short film:
