I'm still very much focused on completing the Birketts by Summer 2020 but when asked did I have any goals besides completing the Birketts I replied with "I wouldn't mind doing the Ennerdale Horseshoe" which officially is a fell race aimed only at the experienced fell runner but that isn't to say that us mortal fell walkers can't attempt it where one should expect a long, demanding and physical day on the fells.

The Ennerdale Horseshoe covers a staggering 7,500ft over 23 grueling miles but I thought I'd add a twist by including Kirk Fell North Top, Looking Stead on Pillar, and for the pure love of the fell, Caw Fell which took my total ascent to 7,700ft over 24 miles, a walk that exceeds anything I have attempted before and would push me to my mental and physical limits, I of course have experience in long day walks with my Harry Griffin 2,000 footers and my Wainwrights in 30 Walks projects but the Ennerdale Horseshoe is on another level.

I benefit from being able to focus over long periods of time and I'm physically stubborn which would help me to push when the going gets tough which I would call upon many times, however, what I couldn't change after weeks of planning, was the forecast which was dominated by strong to gale force winds throughout.

Which wasn't so much of a shock as the low cloud had been forecasted to clear by mid morning along with the strong winds which had also been forecasted to ease within the next hour or so, that aside I've been around long enough to know that such strong winds don't ease suddenly which right now is causing me a little concern.

I continue around the western tip of the Lake until I arrived at Bowness Cottage.

The steepness didn't seem to let up and not even the sound of a farmers quad bike below broke my ascent, however upon reaching the summit shoulder I was exposed to the wind at its fiercest so much so after turning into the wind the contents of nose was blown back up my nostrils and into my brain, this not long after the slather had been emptied from my mouth such the fierce gust, the last time I felt like this I'd jumped into the swimming pool as a kid with my mouth open!

My cause for concern meter was at it's highest and I questioned would I be able to continue at all, this before the first of twenty summits was reached.

Conditions were changing and I had to adjust my mind-set rapidly realising that 'this ain't going to be a camera day' and instead I should just enjoy, and focus at the task in hand.

I down pack in a hollow just behind the summit cairn where I treated my ears to a few minutes silence and I was able to add my hat and gloves where they remained for the entirety of the walk.

I left Herdus with the wind on my back which was some comfort and followed the path towards Great Borne, in some ways I expected a more rugged ascent but the path weaved its way through bog, then gently climbed onto the rocky summit shoulder, I was back in cloud with around forty yards of visibility - I knew the trig would appear at any time towards my left, it did and I stepped over boulder and gave the trig a double tap with my right hand which was just my way of a greeting.

I have traveresed this ridge many times but never in this direction meaning the ascent of Starling Dodd from the Great Borne side was new to me. I was once again exposed to the elements between both summits and I was thankful despite the machine gun rat-a-tat-tat in my ears that I reached the summit feeling positive and fresh after all, It is still early and there's plenty of time for the cloud to clear and for the winds to ease.

For some reason I expected a tougher ascent on Red Pike, I guess with the wind obscuring the summit didn't help and I was elated to find that after picking my way through the ascent I had arrived at the summit shelter where despite the conditions, was a huge pick me up so early into the walk.

David had suggested we keep in contact if only to track my progress and to 'generally' see how I'm getting on so at nearly 08:00am I knelt down in the shelter and gave David a ring finding he must have been busy (I was asked to leave a message should this be the case) "David it's 08:00am and I'm at Red Pike, the wind and cloud have let me down but I'm in good spirits, speak later"

I left Red Pike and lost the path in the confusion of the high winds and cloud which by now was forcing me towards the head of Chapel Crags, I keep as far away from the edge before passing the craggy outcrop which makes up the summit of Chapel Crags.

I am feeling somewhat wind blown but I continue to maintain high spirits.

After leaving High Stile summit I started my descent onto the High Stile ridge finding navigation difficult sometimes on, or off the path. With the winds still approaching from the west I picked up the ridge and found a shelter behind a large boulder where once sat down I found silence, this was a good time to give David another call and this time he answered sounding surprised I'd progressed as far as I had since the time I'd set off. During that conversation we both kept positive - both agreeing that the cloud should lift and the winds would ease, this helped heaps even if present condtions didn't reflect it.

"I'll try and call again later David but the further I venture into the valley the weaker my signal will get" we agree to leave the next call until I reach Green Gable.

It seemed I made the summit of High Crag in record time which probably made sense seeing that I hadn't stopped to take photos just keeping focused on reaching the next summit.

I had by now arrived at the conclusion that today wasn't going to be about seeing great mountain scenery, well for now anyway which helped to maintain my focus.

The descent of Gamlin End slowed me down which was to be expected. I did manage a few views over towards Fleetwith Pike, Hindscarth and Robinson but the light was so poor they sadly didn't warrant a capture. With the descent of Gamlin End behind me I started the easy ascent on Seat and flanked its summit to the left from where I heard an almighty roar of wind passing over the top of Scarth Gap, so loud in fact it sounded like someone was testing jet engines such the roar.

I'm not afraid to admit it was quite an intimidating roar!

Digging deep was something my body was getting used to in fact during this section of the walk I could turn it on and off whenever I needed without feeling my energy levels had been used, this was a good sign and kept up self morale.

After crossing Moses Trod I continued to follow the path and with Grey Knotts in sight I checked my bearings finding I was travelling too far easterly, I hadn't yet reached the path for Brandreth but should I continue my humble thoughts were I'd lose time and energy, it was time to ascend pathless. I followed the fence line and used the lay of the fell side to the best of its advantage soon spotting a group of four walkers off path huddled around a map or GPS (I couldn't see so clearly) I spotted a wooden sty up ahead and then the path which I had out flanked started to appear leaving me feeling clever in a stupid way (I needn't have ascended pathless gaining the sty by a matter of minutes, nothing more!) I passed the group and shouted over the wind "are you ok?" one chap looked back and waved "Ok"

I reached, then crossed the sty and followed the path for around sixty yards then made a pathless, direct ascent for Brandreth's summit by which time the four walkers were tracing me step for step.

The four walkers had left Brandreth just after I had but I lost them after choosing to descend where I avoided the worst of the boulders. Two of them re-appeared as I passed the Tarns then the two others a large gap behind. It was time to dig deep at a point when I was back in the cloud and in the wind's firing line. Green Gable was reached and I recalled my last visit with David and Rod back in April where we had similar winds but much clearer views. I checked my phone and found I had a signal so I decided to give David a call.

I checked in "Green Gable David" by eck your making good time Paul, whether this was true or not David word's picked me up, the best thing was ending the walk early never entered my head during that conversation which for me showed a 'mental momentarily blip' "you're doing great Paul just get on with it"

"I'll check in at my next available signal David"

Morale was boosted by our last phone call but the wind was at its highest once again with Windy Gap living up to its namesake. I picked my way down and found a walker adding extra layers while waiting for his friends to ascend from Aaron Slack.

Conversation was difficult but questions were asked out of politeness anyway nodding to acknowledge replies even though we couldn't hear a thing over the deafness of the wind.

I started the ascent of Kirk Fell in good spirits but I think my lunch stop may have allowed my thigh and calf muscles to tighten feeling just ten minutes into the ascent my thigh muscles twingeing, I guess this is where the Isotonic kicked in because other than the usual aches and pains I never cramped up for the remainder of the walk, good stuff.

Kirk Fell north top was sighted from the summit shoulder and I made a direct ascent feeling my calfs burn over the pathless ground. With the summit reached I gave the cairn a tap from my walking pole and started the descent bound for the main summit.