Summit of Dreams: The Conquest of The Wrekin

In 1875, an unlikely band of adventurers attempts the impossible: scaling the unconquered heights of The Wrekin. Facing treacherous terrain, wild weather, and their own limitations, they discover that the greatest challenge — and reward — lies not in reaching the summit, but in the journey itself.

As the first rays of dawn broke over the rolling hills of Shropshire, a motley crew of adventurers gathered at the base of The Wrekin. The year was 1875, and the imposing hill loomed before them, its summit shrouded in mist and mystery. No one had ever successfully reached its peak, but this intrepid group was determined to change that.

Leading the expedition was Professor Archibald Blackwood, a renowned geologist from Oxford University. His weathered face bore the marks of countless expeditions, but none had captured his imagination quite like The Wrekin. Beside him stood his protégé, the young and eager Thomas Fairfax, whose enthusiasm more than made up for his lack of experience.

Lady Amelia Rothschild, a wealthy socialite with a passion for botany, had financed the expedition. Her delicate features belied a steely determination as she adjusted her corset beneath her specially designed climbing attire. Her companion, Miss Elizabeth Hartley, a quiet but brilliant cartographer, clutched a leather-bound journal, ready to document every step of their journey.

Rounding out the team were two local guides: brothers Jack and William Higgins. Born and raised in the shadow of The Wrekin, they knew its lower slopes like the backs of their hands. However, even they had never ventured beyond the treeline that marked the beginning of the mountain’s more treacherous terrain.

As the group began their ascent, the morning mist clung to their clothes, dampening their spirits along with their attire. Professor Blackwood led the way, his walking stick tapping a steady rhythm against the rocky path.

“Keep your wits about you,” he called back to the others. “The Wrekin may not rival the Alps in height, but it’s no less dangerous. Many have underestimated its challenges and paid dearly for their hubris.”

Lady Amelia nodded gravely, remembering the tales she’d heard of failed expeditions and lost climbers. “Indeed, Professor. We must remain vigilant.”

The first few hours of the climb were relatively easy, with a well-worn path guiding their way. Thomas eagerly pointed out various rock formations, rattling off their geological classifications with the zeal of a new scholar. Lady Amelia, for her part, stopped frequently to examine the flora, carefully pressing samples between the pages of her own journal.

As they ascended higher, the vegetation began to thin, giving way to more rugged terrain. Miss Hartley diligently sketched their progress on her map, noting landmarks and potential hazards. The Higgins brothers, usually jovial, grew more serious as they entered unfamiliar territory.

By midday, the group had reached a narrow ledge that wound its way around the mountain’s eastern face. The path ahead was barely wide enough for a single person, with a sheer drop on one side and a wall of jagged rock on the other.

“We’ll need to proceed with the utmost caution,” Professor Blackwood warned. “One misstep could prove fatal.”

They inched along the ledge, backs pressed against the rock face. Lady Amelia, despite her earlier bravado, found herself trembling. Miss Hartley reached out and squeezed her hand reassuringly.

“You’re doing splendidly, my lady,” she whispered. “Just a bit further.”

As they rounded a bend, a gust of wind whipped around them, nearly knocking Thomas off balance. He stumbled, sending a shower of pebbles cascading over the edge. For a heart-stopping moment, it seemed he might follow them into the abyss. Jack Higgins lunged forward, grabbing the young man’s coat and hauling him back to safety.

“Thank you,” Thomas gasped, his face pale. “I thought for certain I was done for.”

“No thanks necessary,” Jack replied gruffly. “Just mind your footing from here on out.”

The incident sobered the group, reminding them of the very real dangers they faced. They pressed on in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

As afternoon wore on, dark clouds began to gather overhead. The wind picked up, carrying with it the scent of rain. Professor Blackwood frowned, consulting his pocket barometer.

“A storm is brewing,” he announced. “We need to find shelter, and quickly.”

William Higgins pointed to a dark opening in the rock face ahead. “There, Professor. Looks like a cave of sorts.”

They hurried towards the cave, reaching its mouth just as the first fat droplets of rain began to fall. Inside, they found a spacious cavern, its walls glittering with mineral deposits.

“Fascinating,” Professor Blackwood murmured, running his hand along the wall. “This cave must have been formed millions of years ago, when The Wrekin was still an active volcano.”

As the storm raged outside, the group took the opportunity to rest and regroup. They shared a meagre meal of hard bread and dried meat, washed down with water from their canteens. Lady Amelia insisted on rationing their supplies, unsure of how long they might be trapped.

Miss Hartley used the time to update her map, adding the cave’s location and rough dimensions. Thomas, meanwhile, collected rock samples, his earlier fright forgotten in the face of new geological wonders.

As night fell, the storm showed no signs of abating. They decided to make camp in the cave, unrolling their bedrolls on the uneven stone floor. The Higgins brothers took turns keeping watch at the cave’s entrance, wary of any wildlife that might seek shelter from the storm.

In the flickering light of their small campfire, Lady Amelia found herself unable to sleep. She sat up, wrapping her blanket around her shoulders, and made her way to where Miss Hartley was sketching by firelight.

“May I join you?” she asked softly.

Miss Hartley nodded, shifting to make room. For a while, they sat in companionable silence, the only sounds the scratching of Miss Hartley’s pencil and the howling of the wind outside.

“Do you think we’ll make it?” Lady Amelia finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Miss Hartley paused in her sketching, considering the question. “I believe we will,” she said slowly. “We have the skills, the determination, and the leadership. But more importantly, we have each other. No one climbs a mountain alone.”

Lady Amelia smiled, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the fire. “Thank you, Elizabeth. I’m glad you’re here.”

As dawn broke, the storm finally passed, leaving behind a world washed clean. The group emerged from the cave, blinking in the bright sunlight. The air was crisp and clear, offering breathtaking views of the Shropshire countryside spread out below them.

“We’ve made good progress,” Professor Blackwood announced, studying Miss Hartley’s map. “But the hardest part of our journey still lies ahead.”

Indeed, the terrain became increasingly treacherous as they climbed higher. The path, such as it was, often disappeared entirely, forcing them to forge their own way over loose scree and around massive boulders.

By mid-morning, they reached a vertical rock face that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. Professor Blackwood produced coils of rope from his pack, along with a set of primitive pitons.

“We’ll need to climb this,” he explained, hammering a piton into a crack in the rock. “I’ll go first and secure the rope. The rest of you will follow, one at a time.”

The climb was gruelling. Even Professor Blackwood, with all his experience, found himself struggling at times to find handholds in the smooth rock face. Lady Amelia, despite her initial trepidation, proved to be a natural climber, her slim fingers finding purchase where others faltered.

As they neared the top of the rock face, disaster struck. William Higgins, bringing up the rear, lost his footing. He slipped, crying out in alarm as he began to fall. The rope went taut, jerking painfully against the others.

For several heart-stopping moments, it seemed the entire group might be pulled from the cliff face. But Jack, with a strength born of desperation, managed to brace himself and halt his brother’s fall.

Slowly, painfully, they managed to haul William back up to safety. He collapsed on a narrow ledge, shaken but largely unharmed.

“Perhaps,” he said with a weak attempt at humour, “we should have stuck to guiding folks around the base of the mountain.”

The incident cast a pall over the group as they continued their ascent. They moved more cautiously now, acutely aware of how quickly things could go wrong.

As afternoon waned, they finally crested the last ridge. Before them lay the summit of The Wrekin, a relatively flat expanse of rock and scrub grass. A collective cheer went up from the group as they realised they had done it — they had conquered the unconquerable mountain.

Professor Blackwood was the first to step onto the summit proper. He removed his hat, running a hand through his grey hair as he surveyed the panoramic view.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, his voice thick with emotion, “we have made history this day.”

They gathered around a large boulder at the centre of the summit. Miss Hartley produced a small Union Jack from her pack, which they planted triumphantly atop the rock.

As the others celebrated, Lady Amelia found herself drawn to the edge of the summit. The view was breathtaking — rolling hills and patchwork fields stretching as far as the eye could see, with the spires of Shrewsbury just visible on the horizon.

She felt a presence beside her and turned to find Miss Hartley. Without a word, they clasped hands, sharing a moment of quiet awe at the beauty spread out before them.

“It’s magnificent,” Lady Amelia breathed.

Miss Hartley nodded. “It is. And to think, we’re the first to see it from this vantage point.”

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange and pink, the group gathered for a celebratory meal. They toasted their success with the last of their water, each lost in their own thoughts about the significance of their achievement.

Professor Blackwood cleared his throat, drawing their attention. “My friends,” he began, “what we have accomplished here today is more than just a feat of physical endurance. We have pushed the boundaries of human exploration, proving that with determination, teamwork, and a bit of British pluck, there is no obstacle too great to overcome.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each member of the expedition. “But our journey is not yet complete. We still face the challenge of descending safely. Let us not allow our triumph to cloud our judgement or dull our caution.”

As night fell, they made camp on the summit, huddling close for warmth against the chill mountain air. Despite their exhaustion, sleep proved elusive for most. The events of the day played over in their minds, along with thoughts of the descent to come.

In the pre-dawn light, they began their journey back down The Wrekin. If anything, the descent proved even more challenging than the ascent. Gravity, once their enemy, now threatened to send them tumbling down the mountainside with every step.

They retraced their route, moving slowly and deliberately. At the vertical rock face, they used their ropes to rappel down, a technique that left Lady Amelia exhilarated and Thomas slightly green around the gills.

As they passed the cave where they had sheltered from the storm, Professor Blackwood called for a halt. “I propose we leave a record of our expedition,” he said, producing a sealed metal tube from his pack. Inside was a document detailing their journey, along with a small daguerreotype of the group taken before they set out.

They placed the tube in a crevice near the cave entrance, marking the spot with a cairn of stones. “For future generations,” Professor Blackwood explained. “Proof of our accomplishment, should anyone doubt it.”

The final leg of their descent was marked by a growing sense of elation as the familiar landscape of lower Wrekin came into view. When at last they reached the base of the mountain, they were greeted by a small crowd of locals who had gathered, drawn by rumours of the expedition.

As word of their success spread, the crowd grew, cheering and patting them on the back. Lady Amelia found herself swept up in the excitement, recounting their adventure to an eager audience. Miss Hartley stood slightly apart, quietly sketching the scene.

In the days that followed, news of their conquest of The Wrekin spread far and wide. They were feted in Shrewsbury, invited to speak at the Royal Geographical Society in London, and even granted an audience with Queen Victoria herself.

But for the members of the expedition, the true reward was not in the accolades or the fame. It was in the bonds forged on the mountain, the personal challenges overcome, and the knowledge that they had pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible.

As Lady Amelia sat in her study months later, penning her account of the expedition for publication, she paused, her gaze drawn to a pressed flower tucked between the pages of her journal — a rare specimen she had discovered on The Wrekin’s slopes.

She smiled, remembering the moment she had plucked it, Miss Hartley at her side. The flower, like their achievement, was a small but significant thing — a testament to the untamed beauty of The Wrekin and the indomitable spirit of those who dared to climb it.

Bob Lynn / 18-Sep-2024