To be cross with OH for wanting to run up a mountain solo in January?

[Orangelover]

Basically I've come on a weekend with OH in a lovely hotel in the Lakes for his bday treat. He's very outdoorsy - me not so much however we both like walking. He would rather be running, thinks nothing of going to the Peak District at the weekend and running a good 15+ miles up and down hills and has completed a 34 mile ultra race before at his peak fitness.

Today we attempted Helvellyn via Grasmere, Grisedale Tarn and Dollywaggon Pike which was ok until about 850 meters then the heavens opens and the terrain became icier. I had had enough and wanted to call it a day as I was soaked, even through all my waterproofs and layers. I didn't want to go any further as the visibility was poor, there were no other walkers around (we saw 3 in the whole day) and both our phones were dying, probably due to the cold/wet. So we went down.

He was not happy with this but after a good look at the map when we got down I was satisfied I'd made the right decision as the final ascent appears very exposed and I was cold and wet enough as it is. We knew it was ambitious for a January wet day, and I still had a fab time with some good views before the cloud came in.

Since we've been for dinner all OH can talk about is the fact we "quit". He's like a dog with a bone and has decided he wants to be out for sunrise and give it another go in the morning. I think this is a ridiculous idea. It was slippy and treacherous and it's forecast 3 degrees colder tomorrow. Anything could happen to him He says I'm being silly and he knows his limits. I'm not saying he isn't fit enough but we don't know the Lake District as well as some areas and all it takes is one wrong step for an accident leaving him very vulnerable on his own. Given that we didn't complete the mountain we don't know what the conditions were like further up. I've said we should just come back in the spring but he's adamant.

Am I being unreasonable for suggesting he is insane?

Op I read this thread before I went to sleep and then dreamt of walking about a combination of hills and trying to decide which one I could realistically get to the top of... I didn't get far

One of my best hiking memories is of Hellvellyen, on the descent we saw the red arrows fly over. My health couldn’t manage a walk like that these days unfortunately.

I’m glad it’s sorted I was always a must succeed whatever I am doing type. Very physical when younger took some risks, used to go scrambling which isn’t quite climbing but is almost but not roped. But I have also been swimming in the sea in January. I wonder what makes some of us risk takers? It changed after I had dc, far more risk averse.

YANBU. It's reckless and selfish. If he falls other people will have to come and rescue him. No one likes the feeling of giving up but you have to grow up sometimes and make sensible decisions.

It's not insane to go up a mountain on your own, and neither is it insane to do so in challenging conditions.

But it sounds like his main motivation for doing is to prove that he can, and that he's not a quitter. That mindset does not make for good decision making - it's really important to be ready to turn back and to constantly assess the conditions on the day in order to make the right decisions. So that aspect would worry me, as people who turn it into an ego thing do not make safe walking or climbing partners.

I read this thread to my dh who's an experienced walker. He says it's very foolish to walk up mountains in the Lakes in bad weather, especially when you don't know the mountains well. He says a good walker know the limits. He says it's not about fitness. Glad your dp saw sense.