BG attempt in mid July

[AndreaS]

Due to various reasons (none fitness related just logistics) I am thinking of an attempt on the 20th July. Does anyone have any thoughts about having an attempt late in the season, what has been the experience in past years with the heat/weather etc.?

I guess the main issue I am going to have with a July attempt will be ensuring a full support crew when it's holiday time!...

Andrea

[Splatcher]

Hi Andrea. You're probably just as likely to get the weather you want as earlier in the season. And there should be plenty of people around to support as well, as there'll be fewer attempts going on. My first Joss Naylor attempt last year was in May, & the weather wrecked it. My 2nd attempt in late July the weather was perfect. The main disadvantage of an attempt in July is that you're running out of daylight hours for a 2nd attempt if the weather does stop you. The reason my BG is scheduled for early June is so I can have another go in July if the weather's bad.

[elliptic]

Ditto the above...its not that late. Best way round the bad weather issue is be flexible if at all possible and ready to rearrange at short notice if it's not looking good. Harder I know to arrange support that way, but going with light support on a good day is a far better experience than having a cast of thousands on a bad one. Well that was what I decided anyway...!

[Derby Tup]

It's worth checking what races are on the weekend of your potential attempt

[Nigel]

As it happens I was thinking of exactly the same weekend (but, don't tell anyone). I had planned to go mid July last year until fate dictated otherwise and the weekend of my planned attempt was actually the best weather up there than any of the rounds I'd supported earlier in the year. But, it's the one thing we can't plan.

[Nigel]

It's worth checking what races are on the weekend of your potential attempt

Ingleborough, Turnslack and Warton Crag

[blencathrafrommykitchen]

I wouldn't describe 20th of July as late - it's only 4 weeks from the longest day.

The only factor I would consider if you were going to make it much later is hours of daylight: the closer you're going to be to 24 hours the more the time of year is important. If you start in the period late May to mid July at midnight on a 23 hour schedule you'll be down on the road at Newlands before it's dark, which takes away some of the stress towards the end. I know of one or two attempts that failed because of navigational problems in the dark on the last descent.

[el pearson]

Hi Andrea

I think 20th July is fine - I did my BG last year on 30th July starting from Keswick at 2am on a clockwise round. It was light enough by the time we were coming off Skiddaw to not use head torches and we had to put back on head torches after leaving Honsiter at 9.45pm so did all the last leg in the dark, which was fine but I wouldld make sure you know the leg well in the dark. In cloud/ rain and dark you need to have your bearing sorted coming off Hindscarth to hit the short cut path that traverses towards Robinson, but we found it easily enough. I finished in 22hrs 55 mins, but took it really slowly once we hit the road at Newlands as knew it was in the bag so enjoyed the moment. Heat was a bit of an issue and I don't normally like running in the heat, so you will need to watch your liquid intake from really early in the day if it looks like a scorcher. Cups of tea at every road point plus a lollipop to get me up Yewbarrow worked for me.

Good luck - it will be fine.

Cheers

I wouldn't describe 20th of July as late - it's only 4 weeks from the longest day.

The only factor I would consider if you were going to make it much later is hours of daylight: the closer you're going to be to 24 hours the more the time of year is important. If you start in the period late May to mid July at midnight on a 23 hour schedule you'll be down on the road at Newlands before it's dark, which takes away some of the stress towards the end. I know of one or two attempts that failed because of navigational problems in the dark on the last descent.

[Martyn P]

Hi Andrea

I think 20th July is fine - I did my BG last year on 30th July starting from Keswick at 2am on a clockwise round. It was light enough by the time we were coming off Skiddaw to not use head torches and we had to put back on head torches after leaving Honsiter at 9.45pm so did all the last leg in the dark, which was fine but I wouldld make sure you know the leg well in the dark. In cloud/ rain and dark you need to have your bearing sorted coming off Hindscarth to hit the short cut path that traverses towards Robinson, but we found it easily enough. I finished in 22hrs 55 mins, but took it really slowly once we hit the road at Newlands as knew it was in the bag so enjoyed the moment. Heat was a bit of an issue and I don't normally like running in the heat, so you will need to watch your liquid intake from really early in the day if it looks like a scorcher. Cups of tea at every road point plus a lollipop to get me up Yewbarrow worked for me.

Good luck - it will be fine.

Cheers

I know this is slightly off-topic, but that short-cut path that leads up to Robinson summit is becoming more and more defined - I was up there last week and I could swear it reaches further up the side of the fell than before. When it peters out, it's important not to stray too far to the right otherwise you miss the summit and have to double back, there is a big rock with lots of quartz on its surface that I use as a landmark.

[Askern]

This is my chosen weekend for an attempt too, so it sounds as if it could be "busy". I would have gone for June but injury has delayed my training this year.

I made 2 attempts last year in mid June (bad weather/visibility) and the end of August (very dark and bad legs).

Here's hoping for fair weather and strong legs. A midnight start sounds like a plan, although I have not ruled out Anticlockwise yet.