A record-breaking Cumbrian youngster has completed his fourth round of the Lake District’s Wainwrights.
Leo Mason, 11, of Frizington, is now believed to be the youngest person ever to complete all 214 peaks four times in the fastest time.
It has taken him a total of two years and seven weeks to complete the four rounds – and he has set his sights on becoming the fastest youngster to bag the 214 peaks a whopping 10 times.
It’s a feat Leo has reached while living with Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD and hyperactivity – all of which the youngster and his dad Michael, raise awareness of on their popular Facebook page, TickinEmOff, where they document their adventures.
Michael said: “We had so many amazing hikes and adventures on Leo’s round four, with his biggest ever hike covering 21 miles and Tickin Off 15 Wainwrights in one day – Sour Howes, Sallows, Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick, Thornthwaite Crag, High Street, Kidsty Pike, High Raise, Rampsgill Head, The Knott, Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts.
“We did lots of challenging hikes of 15-plus miles, we also did lots of scrambling, on the classics like Jack’s Rake, Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag.
“We did lots of early mornings hikes this round so staring in the dark and getting up at 4am to catch lots of sunrises, we had some amazing cloud inversions on lots of those mornings especially toward the end off the round, and they were some of Leo’s favourite walks from the round.”
Leo, who is home-schooled, first started doing the Wainwrights with Michael after he completed a few while supporting his dad in scattering the ashes of his climbing partner and close friend.
His dad added that the family quickly noticed Leo’s more active lifestyle out in the mountains was helping him thrive.
After completing round three, Michael said: “What the fells have done for Leo personally for dealing and his Tourette’s and ADHD has been lifechanging for him. It’s helped him deal with his tics and ADHD so much better because he burns off so much energy.
“One of the big things with kids who have ADHD is they’re high energy and they need to burn it off, sometimes he’ll still have energy after 15 or 16 miles and he still wants to play darts or do things when we get home, but it’s a relaxed energy.
“If I take him out on a climbing adventure, he also has to put his full focus into it. It’s just something we’ve really bonded over as a family. It’s done so much for him, but because he’s so young I don’t think he fully grasps yet what it has done for him.”
Leo began round five of the Wainwrights last weekend.
You can keep up with Leo’s adventures on his Facebook page, TickinEmOff.
