Originally Posted by
Hank
My last proper run today and now I'm in taper mode!
Parked in Threlkeld and went up Hall's Fell on to Blencathra and off the back to Mungrisdale Common. It's ages since I've been on leg 1 with any visibility and it was great to remember how nice it is up there. Refreshed my memory of the good line up the back of Blencathra and nailed the descent down Hall's Fell... started right, quick bit of scree, steep grass slope, contour down and left across the slope, under the scary crag and on to the ridge... steady pace and down in 24 minutes. A quick coffee and bit of pasta in the car and then went up Clough Head and on to Raise and back. Pushed the pace a bit and made 20 minutes on my schedule. Nice to know I can take it slower on the day.
At the suggestion of my leg 2 nav man I've started taking a slightly different route up Clough Head by climbing left across the slope after crossing the Old Coach Road and turning up the NE shoulder towards White Pike. It's obviously longer on the ground, but less steep and just feels better to me (I've always hated Clough Head!). 47 minutes it took me today and that felt ok, I don't think I could do the regular direct ascent in that time without blowing several gaskets.
I had a great run out in lovely conditions with distant tops visible and all the route laid out before me.