Anybody on here done this? Or thought about having a go? Certainly looks like a great challenge for runner who can swim a bit.
Bill
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Anybody on here done this? Or thought about having a go? Certainly looks like a great challenge for runner who can swim a bit.
Bill
My target for next summer. I swim about as well as a frog mind
Bill, I thought about this last year but the problem been I can't swim properly and slightly scared of Derwentwater, if you can get me across the lakes then maybe :rolleyes:
The people who've done the FG seem to be swimmers who can run. I think it'd be a really good challenge, doable but bloody tough (just like the BG then), for non-swimming mortals. Anyway where did I put my Speedos?
Quite fancy the idea of an anti-clockwise Round. You could do Derwent before any boats were about and get the longest swim out of the way first.
I thought it anti-clockwise
I can swim a bit :-D
Quite fancy it actually and I have been thinking about it as a target for next year. I'd like to do a bit more research though, I'm quite happy swimming across all four of those lakes but I would want a wetsuit and as the rules say you're expected to be self-supported and CARRY the wetsuit between lakes, well, that puts a bit of a different complexion on things.
This might be the sort of thing that Moorlander would like to try .....
Yes I'm running leg 3 with him Sunday morning, a subject for discussion Martyn
No time limit? I'm in. I run with wetsuit in a bag sometimes though, and it's Heavy.
I'm anti kit faff and wouldn't want to use a wetsuit. I *think* a low key attempt relatively late in the summer during a settled spell of good weather would / will be my approach
Yes I think no wet suit is the way to go.
The culture for want of a better word of this challenge seems quite relaxed and I feel it's up to atemptees within reason to satisfy themselves whether they're doing it in "good style". I can swim breast-stroke very slowly but would have to start from scratch with free style, which in my view means I can do what I like really
Yes your right Martyn. Must get this done. Old Ken has been on about it for years
I started training on Saturday for this
Good effort. I might be doing a little recce soon .... I reckon I know all the route bar that bit from Bassenthwaite up over Barf, Lord's Seat then Ullister Hill. It will be a good pull from there up Grizedale Pike.
I'm thinking about doing this for next year. Have been open water swimming without a wetsuit but still need more acclimatisation.
My wife is a great open water swimmer and hates fellrunning - and vice versa. I think we might look at this as a relay. Nice route :)
You really reckon it's an option without a wetsuit Bill? I'm thinking that by the time you get to Derwentwater you're going to be pretty knackered and a wetsuit is as much about safety as anything. It would make it much easier, no doubt about it ...
If you're well acclimatised maybe. I've not really looked into the logistics of carrying a wetsuit, a short wetsuit would be probably the best compromise option.
I love the idea of going sans neoprene, but I'm sure will end up in at least a summer shorty
Did a bit of a recce of the FGR route on Saturday, quite a nice day out. It was my first time on Barf, so I had no clue about the best line up .... for anyone in a similar situation, let me recommend AGAINST going the way I went via Slape Crag. It's a steep and nasty scree ascent with an awkward little scramble at the top, it got us all working way too hard early on in the run. The rest of it was pretty straightforward, we missed off Low Crag and Mellbreak, going straight up to Red Pike from Buttermere. From High Crag we carried on over Seat and then Haystacks before running back to Rosthwaite, but the descent back down to Buttermere was very obvious (and very steep - it would be fast). I can provide more details if anyone is interested.
I seem to remember Jamie telling me a route up Barf described as a scrambly walk was a tough climb
Well done on getting out on the route Martyn
Interesting dilemma. I don't really know much about open water swimming, but would it not be possible to layer up lighter body hugging base layers to try and keep the cold out a bit? Maybe 2 or 3 layers of skins, or similar? The portable mangle would still be useful however.
Problem is without a wetsuit you'd be losing the extra buoyancy that it affords which would be of great benefit when knackered.
A big polystyrene fish and chips box from the Keswickian perhaps?
Does anyone intend to have a serious go at this in 2016? Myself and Arkel are going to give it a stab at some point. Was out on the route over the weekend and there's some interesting bits.
Can I just say (for the record) that the direct line off Ullock Pike - down the parochial boundary - is an absolute non-starter! Run to the end of the ridge please.
I intend to have a go at supporting a Frogger on the Melbreak leg
So ...... it's getting to about That Time. Anyone considering a stab at this in the forthcoming weeks? Have been out recceing the route and it's got some serious challenges (and I don't just mean swimming across the Lakes). I know of one or two attempts that are going to happen, just curious how much interest there is out there.
Barf is a lovely climb through the trees. Grisedale Pike a steady plod (albeit without a wet wetsuit on my back). Robinson is Yewbarrow with knobs on. Late summer 2017 for me. Seriously considering swimming lessons, especially as would love to take lightweight non-neoprene approach
Looking at the website but can't see a route description. Does someone have a summits list.
I think there is a route description there, but it's more of a suggestion rather than an enforced rule. The summits/check points for the FGR are:
1. Moot Hall -> Skiddaw
2. Bassenthwaite Church
3. Beck Wythop
4. Barf
5. Lord's Seat
6. Ullister Hill
7. Grisedale Pike
8. Hopegill Head
9. Sand Hill
10. Eel Crag/Crag Hill
11. Wandope
12. Whiteless Pike
13. Low Bank (why not Rannerdale Knotts? You have to pass right by the summit)
14. Hawse Point (Crummock Water)
15. Low Ling Crag
16. Mellbreak
17. Red Pike (Ennerdale)
18. High Stile
19. Horse Close (Buttermere)
20. Crag Wood
21. Robinson
22. Dale Head
23. High Spy
24. Catbells
25. Otterbield Bay (Derwentwater)
26. Otterbield Island
27. St Herbert's Island
28. Rampsholme Island
29. Calf Close Bay -> Moot Hall
Martyn "Northern Exile" Price set off at 4am today on his FG. Best of luck Mart!