The 'Seventh' Pass - 11th May '19

We now have four takers for this outing so, a car load. However, we can squeeze in a fifth participant providing they qualify as a 'little one'.

It would be good if a second car load could be recruited, we'd just need to agree a rendezvous in Borrowdale.

yjfdbhgua...

...and went on to finish Sunday's Blackpool Marathon.

But this was no ordinary fall, this was an M&S fall. (M&S = mutilation and scarring)

 Yes, with less than 10k to go, YJ took one of his signature falls and was soon surrounded by sympathetic bystanders. The paramedic estate car was summoned and he was assessed to decide his fitness to continue. Despite a gash to his forehead, which he was told "will need a stitch" and on the proviso that after finishing he went straight to A&E, he was indeed allowed to continue.

He subsequently did finish, after losing 15 minutes for this roadside assistance. He was a little further down the field than he had hoped, placing 419th out of 493 finishers, in a time of 5:10. He was the oldest finisher.

The race was 'won' in a time of 2:44 by wheelchair athlete Steve Hughes with the first conventionally powered runner, Ugis Datavs of Wesham second in a time of 2:48. First lady was Sally Wallace in a time of 3:18.

Ugis Datavs - yes, that's his real name.

YJ subsequently reported back to his nearest and dearest and then to A&E at Preston Royal, where his head wound was mended, not with vinegar and brown paper, but with the modern equivalent - superglue, and his pinkie was splinted using his index finger.

The following day, Monday 29th April, he reports that he is feeling a little bit sore, but nothing that a few days rest (you must be joking) can't put right.

Well done, John, your exploits compare well with those of Hayley Carruthers.

Pike performance

Yes, well done Matt on your Over 80 achievement at Rivington on
Saturday. You put many younger runners in their place.

Congratulations are also due to EtU who was rewarded for his 40 appearances at the Pike race with a special presentation.

World Beater

You'll be pleased to hear that our very own Ray (Mat Sticklegs) Stafford set a new Horwich and all comers Vet 80 record of 36:28 at Saturday's Pike race, obliterating the previous record by 3 minutes.

As an 'all comers' record on a unique course, this is therefore a world record. Well done that man!

The Seventh Pass - Saturday 11th May '19

Actually, it's the sixth and seventh passes, but I thought this was a punchier title.

During our two attempts at the seven we never descended into Ennerdale, so we have just Black Sail and the Loft Beck Crossing outstanding.  You can refer to earlier posts dated 27th June '16 and 26th June '18 to see just what we did do. YJ has devised the following to complete the job:-

The planned route starts at the southern end of Borrowdale; we'll need to settle on a suitable place to park and meet.

Then we climb to Sty Head and descend into Wasdale on the path adjacent to Lingmell Beck, thereby avoiding the more rocky tourist route below Great Gable and Kirk Fell.

From Wasdale Head we go up Mosedale and then using Black Sail we pass over into Ennerdale, descending close to the Black Sail hut.

Then it's up to the Loft Beck crossing, down to Honister and then down the drovers' route to the north of the motor road, and thereby back into Borrowdale. It's about twelve miles, so not a lot of distance, but a fair bit of climbing and, given reasonable visibility, we should see a decent amount of country.

As it stands, we have three takers, one more would make a car load, but the more the merrier!

Joss recce

I have been talking about doing a Joss Naylor Challenge for a couple of years and the TF decided it was high time I stopped talking and started running. So she very kindly offered me a choice of three Saturdays to recce leg 1, and so last Saturday I got out of bed at 5.45 in order to be ready to leave at 6.30. The TF had offered to drive and we made good progress to arrive in Pooley Bridge and be ready to run well before 9.

The start was fairly easy, if somewhat damp, and we reached our first summit, Arthur's Pike in about an hour. I then decided to "bag" Bonscale Pike as well whilst the TF sensibly kept to the JN route. We met up just below the summit of Loadpot Hill, and then had an easy if somewhat tedious run along the ridge to Wether Hill, Red Crag (the summit cairn of which was on the other side of a fence so we didn't bother touching it), Raven Howe and finally High Raise. Now the run might have been a bit tedious but the views were superb, and at High Raise we stopped to refuel and take in the scenery.

 We soon picked up Kidsty Pike, Rampsgill Head, High Street and Thornthwaite Beacon. At this point with only about 3 miles to go, life suddenly became much harder. There is a steep nasty 600ft drop into Threshthwaite Mouth followed by an equally horrible climb up to Caudale Moor. However it was soon over, and our spirits were lifted by the sight of EtU who had very kindly driven up to the Kirkstone Pass to save us the problem of getting back to Pooley Bridge. You may not be surprised to learn that EtU had acquired some company at this stage: I won't say too much, other than that they were young, blonde and pretty!

The final descent had a sting in the tail with a sharp little climb up to Pike Howe and we then followed the advice of Guru Ian and dropped off the ridge, through a boulder field and so to the Kirkstone Pub for a welcome drink. EtU then drove us back to Pooley Bridge and then it was back to Bolton.

We were blessed with good weather, great views and the very generous help of EtU who drove all that way in order to help us out - thanks Ed, it is greatly appreciated. My thanks too to the TF for organising it all and doing the driving. A great day out altogether.

Little Smartie attends first event

For those not already in the know, I made an addition to my transport arrangements at the end of November 2018

Little Smartie is a pure electric car and was purchased with my Mon-Fri trundle into Manchester in mind. She lives in the garage and has a dedicated home charger. 

After 3 months of ownership I thought it was about time she attended her first 'event'. So which one to choose? Not only do I now have to contend with 'cut-off' anxiety, I now have to think about if I can get to the event and back again on one charge - otherwise know as 'range-anxiety' in EV parlance.

Fortunately the Two Crosses event organised by the East Lancs branch of LDWA fitted the bill. A 22m return drive, with a 25m run in between. The drive was well within the capabilities of Little Smartie (65m range in Winter), but there was a bit of a question mark over the runners capabilities as it's been a long time since this sort of distance has been undertaken.

Event day arrived and the first wobble of the day, looking out the bedroom window to see a covering of hailstones. Little Smartie is rear-wheel drive. A quick check of google maps to see if I can avoid the minor roads without too much of a detour. Reassured this was the case, and off we set. Arriving at Event HQ it was a breeze negotiating the school playground and all the obstacles.

4 Seasons worth of weather and 6hrs50mins later, I returned to Little Smartie. Only now did I realised that I hadn't properly given much thought to the dilemma of keeping Little Smartie's interior spotlessly clean (yes, really!!) as befits a 'city' car.

Aside from the clean car bit, the event was a success. My pace was slow, but training dictates that I also need to spend time on my feet if I'm going to succeed at the Calderdale Way Ultra in June. A big thank you to East Lancs LDWA for fabulous event, food was great and good to see so many familiar faces.

TF

Spring Equinox 'Do'

I have booked a biggish table at the Black Horse for the 22nd.

Interesting article on fastpacking

If I only was a  few years younger, I would be up for this. Maybe some of you still are?
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/articles/skills/series/running/fastpacking_-_a_beginners_guide-11796

Spring Equinox 'Do'

2019 Vernal Equinox is Wednesday 20th March, so a 'do' on Friday 22nd is indicated.

Any takers?

Saturday 23rd Feb 2019

UTUP tomorrow is the Black Dog, Belmont at 8:30. Apologies for late notification.

TF and TLofB Winter Epic

Sat 2nd Feb was set aside for second attempt at our first JN recce, the first attempt last November being abandoned due to weather conditions.

Well the two of us were determined that the weather gods were not going to get the better of us this time. The starting point was Dunmail Raise and the finish Grasmere. We had plan A, B, C......

Plan A was starting well when I spotted a trail of snowy footprints heading up the Fell. Whoever the early bird was, had big feet and was clearly used to winter conditions making a zig-zag trail up the Fell. I was soon making good progress, TLoB however was finding it tougher going as you can see from the picture, it’s not often that TF gains that much on him up a hill!

We finally made it to the fence line after well over 50 minutes of b(****)y hard work. Once on the gentler slopping stuff, TLoB recovered his mojo and was soon zooming ahead to the first summit.

It was here that Plan B was put into action. Surveying the route ahead we could at least see the fenceline to follow, but could predict that progress would be slow. So it was a day for taking in the views and enjoying the experience of the wintery conditions. Our next target was the top of the Easdale valley where we would make our descent back to Grasmere.

After a couple of little detours to check out the views, we duly arrived at the head of the valley after a further one hour of effort.

So in all, 7.75m (on my Garmin) 1370ft and just over 4hrs. Was it worth it - yes!

TAB to Bowland - The event

There was 4 in total for this little adventure into the Bowland Fells, YJ, EtU SN and yours truly. Weather was not looking the best but we hoped we'd be off the fell by the time it turned a bit 'yucky'

We headed off up the Langden Valley with the promise of a guided tour round Langden Castle. Both SN and myself were a little disappointed to find it was only a glorified cow shed, but we agreed to the obligatory piccies. The guided tour was brief to say the least.

From here we headed further up the valley to ascend towards Fiendsdale Head, negotiating a crossing of the Langden Brook. Wet feet for all.

Visibilty on the top wasn't great, so it was useful to have fence to follow, visiting the Trig Point on Fair Snape was left for another day. 

Navigating up to this point had be going 'swimmingly' well especially due to the number of boggy bits, but the lure of a waymarked trod down out of the mist had the only person able to read the map without glasses, making a spectacular parallel error into the wrong valley.

The map reader only realized their error once Langden Castle came back into view - ooops!! All we had to do now was find a safe way to cross back over Langden Brook, given that we were further downstream. Wet feet were a given this time. 

The gps trace reveals the true scale of the error! Thought they were in one valley to the right

All thanks to EtU for suggesting the outing. All felt it was worth another visit but perhaps in the summer months and to see if we can do the original planned route!

TF

TAB to Bowland

TAB is my newly discovered word. I'd heard it several times over recent years, but only in the last few days discovered its derivation. It stands for Tactical Advance to Battle, or in this instance, Tactical Advance to Bowland.
We (as in wfdbwgua) are planning a TAB on Saturday 26th January, commencing from GR SD 632 513, near Dunsop Bridge, at a time yet to be agreed.
We will proceed up the Langden Valley to Langden Castle (Google it). thence to Fairsnape Fell:-

Note:- it may not be this sunny on the 26th and the paint on the trig pillar might have faded.

From there we will turn south and then east to return to our start point. Total distance about 10.5 miles, starting on track and then rough fell. Forecast is dry, but cloudy.
I can forward a map to anyone who is interested.

Season's Greetings

Anne and I would like to wish all our friends in WFDBWGUA a very happy Christmas and New Year. Once again, we are not sending cards but are making a donation to charity instead, which this year is the Yorkshire Cancer Centre.

Christmas (well, nearly) "Do"

After some consultation, I have booked a table at the Black Horse, Limbrick, for the evening of Friday 7th December.  I'd be grateful for numbers.

A PyG of a day

In the end there were just two of us, the TF and my good self. The original plan had been to go to the Lakes but the strong winds meant that we opted for a (mainly) low level route in the Dales instead.
The day started gently with an easy trot alongside the Ribble to Stainforth and then we started on the only real climb of the day, the 4 mile and 1600ft ascent of Pen y Ghent. For those unfamiliar with the route, it is a long steady ascent for 3.5 miles followed by a scramble up some rocks just before the summit, which we reached about 2 hours after setting off.

The rocks had been very slippery so we decided to descend via the Pennine Way to Horton and then follow the river to Helwith Bridge and then to the excellent cafe at Knight Stainforth. At this point, the TF who was suffering with a head cold, sensibly decided to call it a day, so I fortified by tea and buns jogged the last three miles back to the car and then returned for her. In all it was just over 17 miles and 2000+ ft of climbing. Thanks to the TF for driving up to Settle and for the pleasure of her company.

Pen y Ghent

To Be or Knott To Be

The Knott in this case being Arnside Knott which was the venue of an excellent fell race earlier today. It was 6 miles and about 1000ft of climbing, well marked and well marshalled, and at times offering some stunning views of the Lakes. And there was an interesting sting in the tail at the end.
It was my first race since June (Two Lads) and I found the start and the first hill quite tough. However, I eventually found my rhythm and had an enjoyable battle with two other runners, one from CLM who beat me and one from Howgills runners who didn't.
No results out yet so I don't know how near the back I was, but to be honest I don't care. It was a grand day out: good race, lovely weather and a pub lunch to finish off. Happy days.

A couple of 50s

I've not yet had time to write up about my trip to the GRP in the Pyrenees, but thought I would do a quick reflection after getting home from being the event co-ordiantor for the Red Rose 50.
Grand Raid Pyrenees Tour des Lacs 82km, 51 miles
First 10 miles, 4500 feet of climb completed in 3 hours - average 18 minutes per mile.
Next 11 miles to the checkpoint at La Mongie, a further 3500 feet of climbing but over 4 climbs from starting altitude of around 7000ft above sea level. Toughest terrain  (boulder fields) used in event. Result - took 6 hrs 30, one mile took over an hour. Had difficulty breathing so had to keep stopping on climbs. Lost 150 places and timed out. Fellow English competitors in GRP80, Bob Nash ran the last few k with me being timed out  by approx 45 minutes. Abigail and Michelle Sunter, made the checkpoint in time but retired there. Winning time was an hour and a half slower than my previous run in 2014. In all 160 of 1160 starters retired at the CP. In the Ultra 160km which started with same route, Albert completed in about 45 hours,  about 7 hours slower than he expected. Karen Nash was third lady overall (21 started, 7 finished) in about 42 hours which is six and a half hours slower than her time of three years ago. Of the near 400 men, 41% retired.
Red Rose 50 this weekend
Not got the full results to hand yet but Karen Nash finished 2nd overall (not 2nd lady but overall) in 10 hrs 30. Albert was about an hour later.  Bob Nash (who is 74) and Abigail both completed in about 15 hrs 30.
The Red Rose 50 has half the climb of the GRP80k but that is still over 7,500ft. We had 13 retirements from 141 starters, a mix of walkers and runners.
It just puts my "failure" at the GRP into perspective.
I will up update with some photos - and exact times later in the week.

Quarterly 'Do' - Friday 21st Septmber

I have booked a table at the Black Horse at Limbrick for our Autumn gathering.

Hope you can make it, grateful for numbers in advance.

Regards,

The Settle Seven Summits

A few weeks ago, the running of Coope's Dozen was in serious doubt because of access issues after the Winter Hill fire. I suggested a possible alternative (see Blog July 15th) and today the TF and I went out to reconnoitre it.

We went round clockwise taking in Giggleswick Scar, Pot Scar and Smearsett Scar and stopped for tea and buns at the café in Knight's Stainforth, where we were joined by SWINW. After this we detoured via Catrigg Force which was pretty spectacular after all the recent rain. and decided to add an extra summit to the original list, one that is known locally as Tit Hill (for reasons that are obvious when you see it). It is actually fairly insignificant, but we thought that EtU might appreciate it's inclusion.

We finished off by doing Warrendale Knotts, Sugar Loaf and High Hill, before returning to Settle for more tea. The total distance was exactly 14 miles with over 2500ft of ascent. It was a really good day out and I would like to add it to Coope's Dozen as an annual run for the WFDBWGUA group. My thanks to the TF for driving up here to keep me company.

Coope's Eleven

Shock, horror! It transpires that nobody completed Coope's Dozen last Saturday, as we missed the true summit of Old Adam's Hill. Despite the dreadful weather this morning, EtU, TF and I reached the true summit, marked by a small cairn, which we missed last week by about 20 metres as we didn't cross the fence that runs along the summit ridge. The irony is that last Saturday the visibility was perfect and this morning the clag was right down - but of course this morning we had the TF who is a brilliant navigator.
Anyone for a re-run?

The Magnificent Seven

(For future reference, please note that the 'gentleman' second right, sports a small plaster on his left shin)

Well “magnificent” might be a bit of a misnomer but seven good men and true assembled at the Upper Barn last Saturday for the annual running of Coope’s Dozen. The assembled multitude were Young Stevie (at 61 he was by some way the youngest), Older Stevie, YJ, t’Y, TLoB (main author), Mat Shsticklegs and EtU (illustrations and other minor additions).

We all set off together, reached George’s Lane and it was there I had my first sight of the devastation the fire had caused earlier this summer. Vast areas of burned out vegetation, some new growth and wide fire breaks had turned a familiar area into one I didn’t recognise. However, we hadn’t time to dwell too long on it as we had a long way to go. After Noon Hill (1) we split into two parties with myself, Steve, Ray and t’Y forming the “faster” group. Another misnomer;-no-one watching our progress would have described it as fast!

The Pike(2) and Two Lads(3) were soon reached, followed by an enjoyable route past the reservoir followed by Whinberry Hill(4) and Egg Hillock(5). Then came the first of two unpleasant sections: the descent and climb up to Counting Hill(6), which might have been ok in winter, but the bracken made it a tough climb. t’Y went a different way but gained nothing, so we concluded that there is no good way on that section. Winter Hill(7) and the trig point soon followed and I enjoyed the descent to Hordern Stoops.

We set off up the flag stones which Ray enjoyed so much he decided to inspect them closely – with his forehead – and as a result spent the rest of the day dripping blood on his shoes.

Old Adam’s(8) proved to be a problem, both in terms of navigation and terrain, and was very time consuming. On regaining the ridge, we had to double back to avoid missing Spitler’s Edge(9) but then had an easy run to Great Hill(10) and Round Loaf(11). We then had a debate as to the best route. Having ruled out White Coppice, we went south of Hurst Hill (why was this left off the original list?) but somehow managed to add over two miles to our journey by coming off the moor at Jepson’s Gate.

This meant a horrid road section before the climb up to our final summit, Healey Nab(12). Here we met a group of ramblers from Merseyside who took pity on Ray’s bloody forehead and administered some first aid along with lashings of sympathy that he had singularly failed to receive from his fellow runners.                                                                                                                                                   
Matt's (Ray's) account of the incident:-

Close Encounters of the Unkind  

It’s a number of years since I did Coope’s Dozen due to a succession of injuries, holidays or a fitness level that rendered me capable only of doing Coope’s One. Then last year I noticed in the blog write-up that people were dropping out at different points. This never happened in my day when men were men, women were women and Gays were neither. (better not put that in). I remember people dropping-off but never dropping out. Armed with this attractive alternative I thought I’d give it a go this year. 

I was doing okay with the Foxtrot Group(slow, slow, quick, quick, slow) and was just behind the others when I had a close encounter with the paving stones a few hundred yards before our, not the,  turn-off to Adams Hill. It’s not the best way of practicing your heading. Going over to Great Hill I trIpped again on the flags but managed to keep upright this time. I think my studs were the problem. At Healey Nab we came across a walking group from Maghull Baptist Church mainly consisting of women. On seeing this frail old chap with bird-like legs, well they  called me a Great Tit anyway, sporting a damaged head(if they only knew about the inside)  they insisted on treating the wound, despite my protestations that I’d run a good few miles with the injury. Bolton Royal would have envied the  volume of  wipes and dressings that the good ladies produced. An ex-nurse then proceeded to clean and dress the wound. At long-last my fellow runners were starting to show some real concern. Firstly, that I was turning into a big softie and damaging the reputation of the fell-running fraternity and secondly, I was delaying progress. They had a point because having made a head of it up to that point, I struggled after being molly-coddled. At the end of Anglezarke reservoir I told them to press ahead as long as it wasn’t mine, but realizing they had a wimp on their hands they stuck with me.

Thanks to t’Yorkshireman for keeping contact with me on the run-in and to TLoB and Steve for hanging back. Would they have beaten 6 hours if unencumbered by the headcase?

On examining my face at home I understood why the Maghull ladies were keen to help. Apart from the cut above my eye I had one rather close to it at the side, a thick lip and also some abrasions, which made things look much worse than they actually were. They must have thought that my face looked a mess, not realising that it starts off with a big advantage in that direction! 

All that remained was to jog back to the Barn where we were surprised to meet EtU andYJ. They had wisely decided to miss out Old Adam’s and Healey Nab and so had beaten us back. My thanks to my companions for the day- it was nice to have a long run on my old stamping grounds with good company. In all we covered 19.4 miles with just over 2500ft of climbing. It took us just over 6 hours – as I said “fast” was not the right word.

A few words from the (very) slow group:- Yes, we plodded round and tried YJ's 'escape' from Egg Hillock - It seems all roads do lead to Hell. One day someone will come up with a solution; whether that will be before or after there is a solution to the Irish hard/soft border issue, who knows?

Slightly ashamed for missing the two outlying tops, we decided to make amends by putting in a bit of speed work on the short up stretch immediately after Alance Bridge. Here we met a jolly band from the 1,000 mile club (is this a bit like the Mile High Club)

and one of their number (Susan - back right) photographed not only the start of our effort,:-

 but also caught us proceeding at a slightly slower pace, a few minutes later:-

Anyway, we soldiered on to finish our 15 mile epic in just over 6 hours, to be joined only slightly later by the 'big boys':-

Note that the 'gentleman' who previously had sported only a small plaster on his leg, now sports a much larger one on his head - will he be allowed out to play with the big boys again?

It would seem that a good time was had by (nearly?) all.

Main write-up by tLoB, with minor editing by Ed and  an extra bit of rubbish from Matt.

Not completing the hardest race I have ever attempted

Four years ago I completed the Grand Raid Pyrenees 80km in 20 hrs 39 minutes. It was tough but I was always well inside every checkpoint cut-off time. I didn't even think about cut-off times.
This year was different. I had recce'd the finishing 8k and found it much more to my liking than the 2014 route. The route to Pic du Midi was also different, going via La Mongie instead of Artigues. The 16km to the first checkpoint at Merlans Restaurant was no problem. My target was three hours to arrive there at 8am. The first 2km is quite flat so I just ran along with the rest at about 10 minutes per mile pace. Then the climb begins. The next 14km has 1500m (5000ft) of climb : you mostly walk it. I arrived at the checkpoint in just inside three hours. However, I did have to stop for a couple of short pauses on the final climb to Col de Portet but it was no cause for concern as I was holding my position. The next couple of miles were fine, just go with the flow, 13 miles or a quarter of the race completed in about 4 hrs 22. By 12 miles in, we were at a height of around 7,500 ft above sea level, heading for four climbs to take you over cols at above 8000ft. I was struggling to breathe on these climbs. I had to stop to recover for a minute or two. The stops became more frequent and longer. I was gradually being overtaken by most of the 200 or so who were behind me. I am well known for my lack of descending prowess and much of the flat parts had their difficulties being over boulder fields. I reached the final col at Pas de la Crabe. I had already decided much earlier that I would retire either at La Mongie or, try my luck at climbing and descending Pic du Midi which I enjoyed last time, then retiring at Tornaboup which is 51km (33 miles). At Pas de la Crabe I  knew I would not make the 1.45pm cut-off at La Mongie. One of the few other British runners, Bob Nash, overtook me whilst I recovered at Pas de la Crabe. He went way from me on the tricky descent before I caught him at the ski station. We then ran together, often with a French guy, to make the checkpoint at 2.30. Even if that had been the cut-off time, there is no why I would have continued. Eventually the few runners still behind us arrived and at 4pm a coach took us back on a 90 minute mystery tour to Vieille Aure.
The race was won in 10 hrs 54. The 2014 race was won in 9 hrs 33. In 2014, I reached the checkpoint at Artigues at noon : this year at La Mongie it was 2.30pm. Bob was one of only three V70s in the race but none completed. Of the 1163 starters, 147 retired at La Mongie, with another 90 retiring after. I know I am not as fit as in 2014 but not by a massive amount. The officials at La Mongie concurred that it was hard this year. Albert completed the 160km version but many hours down on what he targeted. Bob Nash's wife Karen also completed the 160km some 4 to 5 hours down on what she expected - yet she still finished 3rd woman.
It didn't seem to take a lot out of me for nine and a half hours and 8000ft of climb - just a shame I couldn't have put the effort in to reach the CP in say 8 hours.
I will post some photos of the area when I find suitable.

Coope's Dozen 2018

Now confirmed as Saturday 1st September, start at Top Barn 9:00 a.m. Entirely un-official, un-marked and un-supported. Background and route from edswift@btinternet.com (aka Grimeford Ed).

Saturday UTUP

Now Winter Hill has been re-opened I suggest we revert to the Lower Barn as our 'Usual Place'. However, I won't be there for at least a couple of weeks:- tomorrow 11th August (sorry for short notice) I'm doing the Howgills Triathlon - 18th August I'll be driving over to Anglesey - 25th August, put me down as a 'definite maybe'.

Then 1st September Coope's Doozen?

Winter Hill Has Been Re-Opened!

I spoke to the police lady who was taking down the 'Closed' signs last night, and she confirmed that we can go out to play again.

Read, Learn and Inwardly Digest

I bumped into one of our number this morning on the western flank of Great Hill. They were muttering about many things, but I took exception to one complaint in particular which was that 'there was no one at the UTUP'.
As avid readers of this blog will know, my post of 12th July notified the temporary UP shift from the Bottom Barn to Hordern Stoops. Apparently the person in question (no name/no pack drill) had seen this but had 'forgotten'! Words almost, but obviously, not quite, fail me.

Coope's doz

The new date sounds ok to me.

Would it be too much to hope that the tussocks on the way to Old Adam have suffered fire damage?

Coope's Dozen

With the access ban on Winter Hill extended for a further three weeks, shall we pencil in Saturday 1st September for our annual celebration of this route - subject, of course, to there being no further extension of the ban?

Settle Six Saunter

EtU has asked for suggestions as to what we do about Coope's Dozen. Here is a possible run.
Start:- Settle Market Square
Peak 1 Giggleswick Scar 805656 (not named on OS map but a very distinct summit with a large cairn)
then down into Feizor (tea shop), up to Feizor Nick then
Peak 2 Pot Scar 795679
Peak 3 Smearsett Scar 802678
then down to Knight's Stainforth (excellent café run by a runner) then Stainforth up to Catrigg Force then
Peak 4 Warrendale Knotts 834643
Peak5 Sugar Loaf 837636
Peak 6 High Hill 833635
then back to Settle
about 14 miles and 2000 ft of climbing

Saturday UTUP

Until we are allowed back onto/up Winter Hill again, I will be reporting to Hordern Stoops (SD 655 158) each Saturday morning at 08:30 hrs and setting off to run in a generally northerly or north westerly direction.

I will post any variation from this plan.

Coope's Dozen - 2018 - ???

The date for our annual 'mob' running of Coope's Dozen has, for a number of years now, been accepted as the Saturday one week before the Borrowdale Race. This year this gives us Saturday 28th July.

This post is merely to point out that access to that part of the route to he south of Hordern Stoops, that is, most of it, may still be prohibited, and to ask for suggestions as to what we do.

Some possibilities are could be:-

Forget about it for this year.

Wait until we are allowed access to the full route.

Just do the top five.

Do the top five plus Darwen Tower.

Grateful for suggestions.

NUTNUP

Given the dreadful fire on WinterHill, it may be some weeks before UTUPing can resume on a Saturday. In the interim, if anyone fancies running in the Dales instead, you are most welcome. I can offer tea, coffee, showers, and if anyone wants to stop on a Friday night, we have spare beds. If not, it is one hour from Jn 6 on the M61 to my house.

A (very) Few More Passes - Saturday 23rd June '18

The planned outing started to unfold with our arrival at the New Dungeon Ghyll at the due time of 08:00. The party was smaller than originally expected, just YJ, Stevie B (he didn't like his originally given name) and yours truly, but despite this this compact nature it was still another 40 minutes before we left for Stool End Farm.
Progress was slow, as it was all day, due to my lack of fitness.
We reached Three Tarns then descended to Upper Eskdale and Lingcove Bridge, where our shy and retiring companion posed for this:-

This seemed to be a venue for the now popular activity of Ghyll scrambling and amidst the throng we felt decidedly underdressed without wet suits.

Then it was down to the valley bottom and a brief call in at the Woolpack for soft drinks.

We discovered later, that the Iceman had aimed to meet us along this stretch but we had managed to miss each other, and he had continued up to the valley head, to take in Scafell and Scafell Pike.

We passed through Boot village, over the Burnmoor Corpse Road and down to Wasdale Head.The view below is an old picture of Bulatt Bridge over which we had hoped to pass en route. Unfortunately, by the 23rd June it had been destroyed and we had to paddle across the Whillan Beck which it had previously spanned.

By the time we got to Wasdale Head we (yet again) realised that we were not going to complete our planned route, which would have taken us over Black Sail Pass and we opted for Sty Head, Esk Hause and down Rossett Gill

Here the less flamboyant members of the party were photographed as we prepared ourselves for the awkward descent by the Gill:-

Then an even slower trudge back to the NDG. Over twelve hours on our feet and not back to Bolton until the pubs had closed!!!

Thank you to YJ for providing the transport and thank you to both for your company.

We had hoped to put the route to bed this time, but we still have unfinished business with Black Sail and the Loft Beck descent into Ennerdale - maybe in another two years time?

Last to first and back to last

Sadly the answer to the question I posed at the end of my last blog is a new left knee! An ongoing slight niggle has turned into something altogether more serious 😤

Last to First

I don't do many races these days but last Thursday I went back to Horwich to do the Two Lads fell race for the first time this century. I had tried to do it three years ago but someone had set light to the moor and the race was cancelled. Given the dry conditions, I did anxiously scan the moor for signs of smoke, but fortunately there weren't any.
Race HQ is now The Ale House (which I remember as The Brown Cow) and registration gave me the chance to catch up with some old friends and inspect the very impressive range of beers. The start of the race is fairly brutal; straight up Factory Hill, through Wilderswood and then up the moor to the pumping station. We then turned right and did a loop round past the top of the quarry and approached Two Lads from the back. I was struggling to see at this point - a combination of the low sun, sweat and contact lenses not being a good mixture. However, past the summit things improved, and I enjoyed the rest of the race despite some abuse from Mark Davies who was marshalling at the dog hotel, and then some more from Albert as I was catching Michelle just before the finish.
Back to the pub and time to sample the ales. I was then delighted and surprised to discover that I was 1st V65 and got a bottle of wine and a Walsh's voucher. Given that two races ago (Hodgson Brothers relay), I had been the slowest runner on my leg, this was unexpected. So a good race, a prize and ale at £2.40 a pint; what more could a man desire?

Tour Of the Lakeland Valleys via the Passes - 23rd June 2018

Ok folks, it's nearly time.

For those making their own way to the start point at the NT car park at the New Dungeon Ghyll, please aim to be ready to roll at 8:00 a.m. - not the ungodly hour of 6:00 as originally suggested.

YJ has offered to chauffeur a number of us (four if we have little bottoms, or just three if we tend to be of a more comfortable build) from the Hob Inn at Bamber Bridge at 6:00 up to the NDG. I am available to get folk from Bolton up to Bamber Bridge. Please get in touch with me (phone, text or email) if you wish to avail yourself of either service.

Not seen a forecast yet, let's hope the sun shines on the righteous.

LakeLand Valleys - 23rd June 2018

A Second Tour of the Central and Western Lakeland Valleys

(or more correctly – A Second Attempt at a Tour of the Central and Western Lakeland Valleys – like the first but backwards)

Planned date:- 23rd June 2018

Start in Great Langdale at the NT car park across the road from the New Dungeon Ghyll at 06:00 a.m – or is this too early?

Three Tarns – Via Stool End Farm, then up the Band to Three Tarns and then down into Upper Eskdale to Lingcove Bridge and thence to Brotherilkeld Farm and Boot – three pubs and the café at the station to choose from.

Burnmoor Corpse Road – From the packhorse bridge in the centre of the village, we follow this ancient bridle path up to Burnmoor Tarn, which we pass on our left and then down to Wasdale head.

Black Sail – Over the packhorse bridge behind the Inn and up the pass and down to Black Sail Hut.

Loft Beck – From the hut, upstream alongside the beck to our next high point at the Loft Beck Crossing.

Honister – From the Loft Beck Crossing we head in a north-easterly direction to descend to the Slate Mine. It was along this section, approached then from Honister, that we decided to cut our 2016 outing short and head for home via Windy Gap, Styhead Tarn and Esk Hause. Refreshments are usually available at the mine. We then descend on the bridle path alongside the motor road to Rosthwaite.

Greenup Edge – Approached via Stonethwaite and Greenup Gill. Thence down to Grasmere via Easedale for gingerbread, Peter Rabbit etc.

Silver Howe – Tackled from the north-west side of the lake. This pass does not seem to have a formal name, I’ve just taken the name of a small top that we pass just south of.

Then it’s back down into Great Langdale for refreshments and preparation for our journeys home.

We can leave our travel arrangements until nearer the time, although it would seem sensible not to pack the cars too tightly, to give us the flexibility to split into different groups for the return journey.

Saturday 12th May

YJ is planning a long road run tomorrow, but is likely to report UTUP to start, if you want to say 'good morning'.

I will also be UTUPing and would welcome company for a meander over the fells.

A Date for Your Diary - Saturday 23rd June 2018 - The Rest of the Passes and Valleys

After due consultation, it has been decided (use of the passive tense avoids allocation of blame) that this outing will be on the 23rd June.

Start will be earlyish (?) from the New Dungeon Ghyll.

Thence to Three Tarns and Down to Boot, over the Corpse Road to Wasdale Head, then Black Sail...

Anyone who wants details of the full route can email me on edswift@btinternet.com.

Saturday 28th April 2018

YJ and I plan to UTUP tomorrow, and we may have a blast from the past. You will need to attend the UTUP to find out who the mystery runner is.

Happy Anniversaty

If it hadn’t been the last one I would have left it because six weeks out with the Aussie flu bug meant that my longest run since January had been less than 6 miles – hardly the ideal preparation for an 11.5 mile race in the Lakes with 3500 feet of climbing. However, it was the last one, Newlands is my favourite part of the Lakes and the weather forecast was good – too good as it turned out.

So at 6.45 on Saturday the alarm went off, which wouldn’t have been too bad if I hadn’t been at a Dinner Dance in Blackburn the night before! Roger picked me up at 7.30 and we collected Tom five minutes later. They were both doing the Teenager with Altitude which started an hour before the AW but I needed a lift as SWINW wanted the car. We arrived at registration at about 9.15, I collected my number and went to find what little shade there was and read a book until it was time to go.

The first three miles were straightforward enough but then the climb up Robinson began. I picked a good line but the valley head had turned into a furnace which made it a relief to reach the summit ridge. Once there, I performed my good deed for the day. A lady runner had got crag fast on the Robinson Step and so I gallantly helped her – it was a good excuse for a rest!! I enjoyed the rest of the climb to the first check point on Robinson summit but went for a pearler coming down having caught my foot on a rock. The only damage was a nasty cut on my left hand and slightly shaken confidence.

 Hindscarth and Dale Head (with choir!) were soon passed, but then the very steep descent to Dale Head tarn began. Now my descending skills have improved no end on the grassy slopes of the Dales, but this was a different league altogether, both steeper and rockier. However, I made it down without mishap but on the climb up to High Spy I realised that my legs had gone so I was reduced to a slow shuffle- I wouldn’t call it running – for most of the rest of the race. By the time I reached the summit, NLN and Ian had both run out of film and so the only thing they took was the micky!

My shuffle towards Catbells and the finish continued. By this time I was cooked. The temperature was into the 20s and despite lashing on the sun cream, I could feel my neck burning. Finally I reached Cat Bells but took a bad line off it and ended up in some rocks whilst other runners were on grass either side of me. I managed to extricate myself and got down the steep grass to the road ok, but the last half mile on the road, although down hill was a killer. At the finish I couldn’t walk in a straight line and the first aiders grabbed me and made me drink lots of water. However, there was free beer available and I decided that I was better off re-hydrating with that instead!

It is a great race in a stunning part of the world and very well organised. However, I learnt the hard way that to do these events justice, more training and a recce are necessary, an d so preferably is cooler weather. Whoever said that with age comes wisdom?

No Golden Mile(s)

Thanks to NLN for her pic of me at about 18 miles of the Blackpool Marathon.  Sadly, the result was not what I would have wanted as the wheels had already fallen off the trolley.

After a brisk half marathon completed in around 2 hours leg pains which had surfaced during the first few miles worsened  and coupled with a drop in energy levels it was difficult to keep the pace going, To avoid serious damage I decided on the easier option of retiring at about  mile 21.

So it is back to the drawing board with the intention of being in better shape for the Lancaster Marathon in September.  To this end there will be more 10Ks and half marathons and more training miles as it is obvious that 30-40 miles per week is not enough.

Never Mind London

Blackers is where it's at!  Well done Mr Swift and hats off to Mr B (LoB) for completing the final Anniversary Waltz - you were too quick for me to get a snap on the summit of High Spy, apologies.  But with 750-ish runners, getting the numbers down required a bit of concentration.  Fab few days in the Lakes visiting a variety of summits, returning via Blackpool after the rain arrived to see if we could spot this gent.  Look forward to reading all about it YJ.

Saturday 21st April 2018

Neither YJ nor I will be UTUPing this coming Saturday, John will be nearing the end of his taper for the Blackpool Marathon, and I may be Parkrunning in Derby.

A Second Tour of (some of) the Central and Western Lakeland Valleys

If your refer to my post of 27th June 2016, you will see that we were left with unfinished business. Wind on almost 22 months:-

Over a recent couple of  beers, Steve (B) (he doesn't answer to his allotted blog name) told me that it was time to put this one to bed; apparently he and YJ had decided this at a previous drinking session. After some discussion, we decided that we should use the original plan (see 27/6/16), but in reverse order, so that we mop up the missed passes and can go home any time after we hit our route of two years ago.

We're looking at the second half of June, either a Saturday or a Wednesday - a Saturday would no doubt suit those of us that still have an attendance clause attached to their monthly pay cheque. Comments please from interested parties - I can email you full details of the original plan if you wish.

Saturday 14th April

Sorry for the late notification, but YJ and I will be UTUPing on the 14th.

'Do' on Friday 6th

Further to my post of March 16th, I have booked a table for 7:30 for tomorrow evening, at the Black Horse, Limbrick.

Hope to see lots of you there.

Pike Race 2018

Where to start? - Same as every year, at the bus turnround on Lever Park Avenue! Well that's not quite what I meant, so let's go back a bit further.

I knew this year was going to be harder than last - one year older (no escaping  that) - a few pounds heavier (mea culpa, although the OSP is trying to put weight back on by increasing portion sizes - for both of us! So not all my fault) - and averaging only 24 miles a week compared with 31 last year. So, as ever; hoping for a good run, expecting a bad one - blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed.

The Pike Race has always been special to me, it was my first fell race, and I was then running in Notts AC colours. It was 1979 and Pete Ravald won, just 3 seconds in front of (ever the bridesmaid) Shorty. A quick scan down the (now yellowing) results for that day suggests that only Albert, George Arnold and I are still racing on the local scene. The numbers have increased since then, 220 in '79, 354 last Saturday.

Anyway, as they say, nostalgia ain't what it used to be so let's move on half a lifetime.

Fewer old faces on the start line, a lot of new ones in Horwich vests. Mostly unknown to me; for many years we got to know all the recent additions over a beer or two in the RMI after Tuesday training, but no more - stoppit, I said no more nostalgia!

Particular targets for me were to beat my older brother John, and Ray, a friend of one of my daughters who I had said should give it a go. Cut to the chase, or rather to the end of the chase; John beat me by over 5 minutes, Ray by almost 5. We were all beaten by Tony Hesketh,Tony Varley, John Parker and many, many more, whilst t'Y managed to finish behind Ray, but in front of me.

But Horwich as a club had a good race - first open men's team, first vets men's team and fifth ladies' team. Incidentally and unusually, TF's club - Salford - had two finishers (wow!) and although placing 5th and 6th had insufficient runners to complete a team.

Good to see the ever cheerful, six times Pike Race winner Paul Dugdale in the Crown later, but sad to hear the he is awaiting joint surgery for osteoarthritis.  Hope they sort you out soon, Paul, guys like you always make me feel guilty, you wear yourselves out with superb results, whilst I have never gone fast enough to do myself any damage, but just keep crawling along  - oh for that 16 minutes of glory (that's about how long it would take to pull off a win).

I will leave you with this picture of Ray approaching the finish, of special note because he had both feet off the ground, something neither of the bros has aspired to in recent years:-

Hope to see you all next year.

Unrivalled!

There is a group of three hills near the north coast of the Lleyn Peninsula known collectively as Yr Eifl. Our Welsh neighbours take great delight in hearing us misinterpret this as meaning 'The Rivals', when anyone with even the faintest grasp of their language knows that this means 'the forks'. I had been aware of their commanding appearance since holidaying on the peninsula over 30 years ago, but had never got round to climbing them. So when I came across a holiday cottage on the internet, several months ago, which was less than a mile from the most easterly peak it seemed too good an opportunity to miss, so Saturday 24th March saw me setting off from that cottage to make good this gap in my 'mountaineering' experiences.

Tre'r Ceiri, or Town of the Giants, stands just 1,591 ft high and is the site of Wales' biggest and best preserved Iron Age fort. It was occupied before the Roman invasion, and from what I can gather, remained in indigenous hands throughout the Latin occupation. The remains of over one hundred stone huts can still be seen as can a large part of the perimeter wall:-

Although it will be obvious from the above that visibility was poor on the day, navigation was not a problem due to the compact nature of the 'rivals'.

From there,it was barely a mile to the highest point, Garn Ganol (also the highest point on the whole peninsula) at 1,841 ft, which was the site of a trig point incorporating some unusual ironwork, in memory of an unconsummated love affair:-

Picture half inched from the 'Trigpointing UK' website.

The low cloud obscured all views from there, but this photograph, taken from the third top shows most of Garn Ganol, with Tre'r Ceiri in the left background:-

The third top, Garn For, is the lowest of the three at 1,457 ft, but, perched so close to the sea, is perhaps the most dramatic:-

From there I descended seawards to the Welsh Language Centre at Nant Gwrtheyrn for bara brith and coffee, then stopping off for a pint of something stronger in Llithfaen before returning to my accommodation. Not a lot of miles, but some rough ground, a fair bit of climbing and a long delayed outing finally completed, all without any transport, other than my Salomons.

I took this shot the following day from the coastal path near Morfa Nefyn, about 4 miles west, which is the  view that had stayed with me all those years:-

Yes, 'The Rivals' are definitely worth a visit if you're ever in that area - just don't ask me to pronounce any of the placenames!