It’s interesting to scan through the list of first ascents for many of the Lakes’ winter climbs, if only to note how many were completed over a small number of consecutive years, now decades past. If they ever were, stable winter conditions on the fells it seems are no longer a thing.

An Teallach (The Forge) is arguably the greatest of all Scotland’s mountains and one which, in winter conditions, requires no small degree of commitment if the ridge is to be traversed in full.

It seems a long time since I last supported a BG, much longer still since my own, though the Wasdale fells that dominate leg 4 remain as familiar as they ever were. It is arguably the hardest of the five legs on the Bob Graham, at least if running clockwise and for many aspirants, a daunting prospect.

Growing up in West Cumbria, Wasdale was among the more accessible valleys, Wastwater and the surrounding hills a familiar weekend haunt. It was a long time ago but even then, on a good day it always seemed busy - the lure of The Pike, Great Gable and others drawing folks from far afield. I’m glad we could not foresee what was coming.

Of the six classic north faces of the Alps, the Piz Badille is arguably the easiest. The Cassin Route - first ascent in 1937 - gives relatively safe climbing on good rock, largely free of rock fall. It seemed a good place to start.

Typically approached from the Cairnwell Pass, a far better run is to be had by starting at the head of Glen Isla and finishing via Black Hill and Monamenach.

The last Slioch Horseshoe hill race was held in June 2017. Just 33 ran, including Clayton-le-Moors’ Andrew Laycock who finished 8th in 2:31:07. I had hoped to run the race the following year, but it was not to be.

The greatest of the Torridon giants, Beinn Eighe is a vast mountain offering one of the great ridge runs of Scotland…