Rab Mini MM Coniston Sun 11th Nov (4hr Score event - for the cognoscenti)

Well you know what they say about the shoes completing the outfit, well mine certainly did that if I'd been a first-timer on the fells and didn't know any better.

Must have looked like someone tottering around on 6inch heels, apart from when I was doing an impression of Brian the Snail off Magic Roundabout. Went for the ones that offered comfort and warm toes instead of grip, and paid the price on number of controls visited. Forecast had suggested worse weather than we actually got.

Anyway a lovely day out of the fells, despite the numerous slips. My route for the day took me from the Miners Bridge up past the Youth Hostel to Levers Water and a climb to Levers Hawse. The 'Duddon' traverse (including a slight pause following a contratente with a slippy slab of rock) to Goats Hause. A contour to the stream at GR275971 (west of Buck Pike) and thence to White Maiden. Some unfortunate souls headed for White Pike instead. Having been on it now should know if I've got it wrong in the Duddon race in future if the clag is down.

Return to the finish was via Blind Tarn, a contour around Little Arrow Moor dropping for one on the Walna Scar Road to then climb to the middle knoll on the Bell then (past the finish at Miners Bridge!) for a final out and back for a 10 pointer on Dixon Ground.

By my reckoning with the correct shoes I should have been capable of at least one more control worth 20 points. Hey hum, such is life.

TF