Yes, It Was Wet!

We planned a trip up to the Lakes for three main reasons:-

1. We like a trip up the the Lakes.

2. With YJ and me still unable to come to terms with the fact that anything beyond a flat 10k is now likely to be beyond our capabilities, we have both entered events that will need us to train on terrain that cannot be found south of Lancaster.

3. We like a trip up to the Lakes.

The plot was to drive to the ODG (at least TM knew where we were at that stage) and then run/walk up the Band to Three Tarns, down to Lingcove, but break away from the beck to travel south along Mosedale to Cockley Beck following that part of the Old County Tops race route. Then ascending the Coniston plateau by way of the flank of Grey Friar, head south to the Old Man (that would make three of us) then turn north and return to the ODG via Wetside Edge and Blea Tarn. We had allowed ourselves six hour 'running' to complete this rather ambitious route.

However... (we seem to manage a lot of 'howevers' nowadays) ... it was not to be. It was a bit wet as we left the ODG and for the next four and a half hours it just got wetter. This was not a problem as we climbed up the Band (see TM's first photo, not sure why you can't see the rain) as the route was clear and we were being led by the wfdbwgua's second string navigator. However, the route down into Lingcove seems to be little used, and although our line was generally good, we found the going, over wet rocks and on wet grass, to be very slow, and at times there was little or no trace of the path - Wainwright says of this section ...beyond the tarns the way is unfrequented and rough underfoot as it threads a passage through a barren waste of rocks and stones undisturbed down the ages. The scene is primeval...

After leaving Lingcove and climbing over the brow into Mosedale we picked up some speed and enjoyed some respite from the rain. We picnicked in the shelter of a wall at Cockley Beck and started the climb up Grey Friar's flank. However (again) both the rain and the wind picked up again and (to use a boxing phrase) to avoid taking further punishment we decided that discretion was the better part of valour and we dropped down again to the road and tackled the climb up Wrynose Pass to the Three Shire Stone. On the climb, I was treated to a fine display of uphill running from TM and YJ which I watched from an ever-increasing distance.

The conditions gradually improved on the descent and we finished the run in past Blea Tarn in fine form and high spirits. TM's other two photos were taken just before Blea Tarn.

Not quite the outing that we had imagined, but apart from one or two occasions when the old men were feeling both their age and the cold a most enjoyable day out. Time on our feet - 5 hours 18 minutes, see TM's Strava link for how much of that we were actually moving.

Thanks are due to YJ for providing the transport and to TM for continuing to smile despite everything.

Future plans include a recce of the Langdale Horsehoe route, date to be agreed to accommodate as many of the squad as possible.