Day 1 - Eskdale to Little Town (Newlands Valley)
The 'B' and 'C' course were transported by coach to our start outside the Woolpack Inn in Eskdale. The Elite and 'A' started at the event centre in Ravenglass.
Route CP1 Wasdale Head Inn - CP2 Pillar - CP3 Black Sail Pass - CP4 Honister Café - Finish Little Town.
By the time I'd climbed up to Wind Gap for the approach to Pillar the weather took a turn for the worse with strong winds and snow. Coming off wasn't too bad using what I remembered of the racing lines. At Black Sail a few others opted for the 'down and up' but as it was only day 1 and against my natural inclination of 'short&steep' I continued on the Wasdale race line to pick up Moses Trod to drop down to the Slate Mine.
Weather was still generally miserable and I took a quick nip to the loo to give the gloves and anything else I could manage a blast under the dryers! Last climb of the day didn't seem too bad but could have done with knowing where the grassy descent for the drop in to the valley started as it was a bit slow down the tourist path.
Stats - 27k, 1563m 5hrs56mins
Day 2 - Little Town to Little Langdale
The day started with the cheery news that we were on 'Bad Weather' courses for the day. This meant I got to miss out a trip up Glaramara and Bowfell.
Route CP1 Path junc bottom Cat Bells - CP2 High Spy - CP3 Pike 'O' Blisco - Finish Little Langdale (Fell Foot)
First time I've put on waterproof bottoms before the start of an event, I'd also switched to my heavier jacket. A longer day with the dubious pleasure of the full climb of Pike 'O' Blisco to finish with. Path seemed to go on for ever. Arrived back just as the sun came out - briefly, but enough to dry out the tent and sit out in the chair. I needed it, High Spy to Blisco took just over 4hrs!
It had to move indoors when it started raining again.
Stats - 30k, 1695m 6hrs46nins
Day 3
Improving forecast for the day so we were back to normal courses.
Route CP 1 - path junc (306028) - CP2 Wetherlam - CP3 Swirl How - CP4 forest path junc Harter Fell (214988) - CP5 Dalegarth Hall path junc (172001) - CP6 Road/path junc (147993) - CP7 Hooker Crag Trig - Finish at Ravenglass.
Couldn't quite remember the race line up Wetherlam and as it was a tad misty 'bottled' what I thought it was about half way up and turned to rejoin the masses for the search for the summit cairn. Swirl How was a bit easier. From here I was tempted to try a contouring line under Grey Friars to take a more direct route to the wall crossing near Troutal. But I'd dropped a bit too much in the clag and the steep, bouldery slope didn't look too inviting. Plan B option of dropping to the path to the north of Seathwaite Tarn came into action. I was rewarded with a much more grassy run down than the 'bee line' route that others were taking though - so every cloud etc! Speaking of which, they'd disappeared by now allowing me to shed some layers. By CP4 most of the climbing was done and we were left with a series of good paths/trods to finish with.
Stats - 29k, 1387m 6hrs10mins
Full results can be found on the sportident website. Remember that people had the option to switch between courses depending on how they were doing. Overall results show the ones who stuck with the same courses each day.
Here's a print out of my split times in case you're curious!
1 comment:
Sounds like quite a hike, well done! Glad to hear that you had room for all 'essentials'.
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