#158: Haystacks – How Wainwright changed our lives

...in which we embark on a memorial walk to Innominate Tarn on Haystacks to ask the question: How did fell-walker Alfred Wainwright impact on so many lives?

Closing a year of AW anniversaries – including the 70th anniversary of the publication of his first Pictorial Guide – we set out from Honister in the company of a string of guests whose lives have been touched or changed by the Blackburn-born rambler, artist and guidebook writer.

Chatting as we wander – through dense clag and worsening rain – we meet walker Richard Jennings, who completed his 214 at 2:14 on the 21st of the fourth, 2014 (definitely not an obsessive!), and who credits AW with his move to the Lakes.

We catch up with geographer-legend Chris Jesty – the only person authorised by AW to update his Guides – who chats about camping on Scafell Pike for six months "waiting for clear weather", about the 10-year three-month update odyssey, and why the Howgills and Outlying Fells are his backwater favourites.

Arriving at Dubs Hut, we are joined by brothers Mike and Paul Duff from Kendal. who accompanied dad Percy and Betty Wainwright onto Haystacks in March '91 to scatter AW's ashes, and who recall their old family friend – the "foreigner from Blackburn" who sunk roots deep in Westmorland.

Anna Nolan from Keswick is our next guest – a bagging record-breaker currently on her 11th round of the Wainwrights by bus, with a cumulative tally of 6,000+ fells and counting.

Sculptor Clive Barnard recounts his experience of working with AW on the bronze bust now resident in Kendal Museum, remembering the 'big, amiable bear' with a commercially savvy mind who made "awful" cups of tea.

In thickening clag, we meet Chris and Lorena Linke from Florida, who fell in love with long distance walking, after completing AW's Coast to Coast Walk, and discuss the under-acknowledged community created by the C2C, life lessons taught by through-walks, and the unique storytelling artistry of the Guides.

Arriving at our pilgrimage end-point of Innominate Tarn, we pay our respects to former Westmorland Gazette print manager Andrew Nichol – one of the unsung heroes of the AW story, who did so much for the ex-fellwanderer, his book sales and his profile. Beside the hallowed 'gravely shore' of the misty tarn, Chris and his wife Priscilla reflect on Andrew's legacy, and the poignant 'guard of honour' final trip he made onto Haystacks to say farewell to his old friend.

Happy New Year to all, from Mark and Dave!

• Chris's extensive archive of articles about AW's books and memorabilia can be found at alfredwainwright.co.uk/

• Anna Nolan's books about fell-bagging and walking in the Lakes can be found at bookguild.co.uk/our-authors/anna-nolan

• Richard Jennings has created The Lakeland Way – a 144 mile walk through the valleys and mountain passes of the Lake District. See here for more.

• Inspired by the Coast to Coast Walk, Chris and Lorena Linke made a film about the Herriot Way. The story behind it can be found at alfredwainwright.co.uk/the-herriot-way/

• The film of Andrew Nichol's journey to Innominate Tarn can be found at youtube.com/watch?v=UpLVp20qIJE&t=330s

• Chris Jesty's beautiful summit panoramas can be enjoyed here: viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ChrisJestyPanoramas.html

• With many thanks to Chris for making the day and recording happen.

• And with thanks to the team at Honister for driving some of our guests to Dubs Hut, and for Tom McNally for arranging the transport.

Haystacks from Dubs Quarry, backed by Pillar. – as not seen on our mizzly day! Image (c) Mark Richards.

Some of the assemblage... From left to right: Mike Duff, Chris and Lorena Linke, Anna Nolan, Dave, Richard Jennings, Chris and Priscilla Butterfield.

The legend that is Chris Jesty – the only man AW authorised to update his Pictorial Guides.

Dave recording Paul and Mike Duff, who accompanied father Percy and Betty Wainwright to scatter AW's ashes in 1991.

Our very own Mark Richards with Mike Duff alongside claggy Innominate Tarn.

AW beside Innominate Tarn in the wet autumn of 1985, as pictured in the BBC's Wainwright's Lakeland, made with Eric Robson. (c) BBC.

Chris in the same spot... discovered after weeks of searching! Photo: (c) Chris Butterfield.

AW bust and figurines, as sculpted by Clive Barnard. Photo: (c) Chris Butterfield.

The Mountain Rescue 'guard of honour' for Andrew Nichol. Photo (c) Cockermouth Mountain Rescue.

Andrew – former print manager at the Westmorland Gazette – paying his respects to his old friend beside Innominate Tarn. Andrew died six months after this last walk onto Haystacks. Photo (c) Cockermouth Mountain Rescue.