learning BGR sections

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Originally Posted by Bob

Whichever way you go (I'm with Morgan here - steady away up the motorway) I reckon a 1am start is better than a midnight one as you are then going to get Hall's Fell (or whichever descent off Blencathra you prefer) in the first light rather than in the dark. Best part of 15 minutes difference in time.

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Bob - what's your recommendation for an anti-clockwise round? I'm looking at 23-24 hours and reckon midnight would be good. First leg in the dark, getting light heading towards the Gables. Then I should have some light all the way to Calva at least.

Wait to see what Bob says, but don't discount the trad view which would be an 8.00/9.00 am start putting you on the Helvellyn ridge in the very dark hours and into Threlkeld when its getting light.

You can have a good night's sleep beforehand too and a good breakfast after finishing. Not to be sniffed at! :D

Doesn't sound too bad a reasoning. However the only time I've ever done any of the BG anticlockwise was supporting Full Moon Addict on his winter BG so may not be the best person to ask!

My usual aim with picking the night section is to chose that ground where darkness has least effect which tends to mean either ground that you can maintain pace on in the dark (i.e. roads and non-technical fell) or ground that is rough enough to slow you down even in the daylight, which for me is the heathery stuff in the back of Skiddaw.

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Originally Posted by BGSec

Wait to see what Bob says, but don't discount the trad view which would be an 8.00/9.00 am start putting you on the Helvellyn ridge in the very dark hours and into Threlkeld when its getting light.

You can have a good night's sleep beforehand too and a good breakfast after finishing. Not to be sniffed at! :D

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I certainly like the sound of that BGSec!:D

I was looking at it from the point of view that I know I'm a wee bit slower on the rocky bits than I ought to be so need "easier" bits like the Helvellyn ridge to make up time.

I aimed for the Helvellyn section in the dark on one of my first attempts and we lost nearly an hour on it. Partly due to the low cloud and us losing the tracks and partly due to catching our feet on the many stones sticking out of the ground that you just don't pick up in the flat light of your torch.

Another point is that the middle three sections have the best views!

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Originally Posted by Bob

Doesn't sound too bad a reasoning. However the only time I've ever done any of the BG anticlockwise was supporting Full Moon Addict on his winter BG so may not be the best person to ask!

My usual aim with picking the night section is to chose that ground where darkness has least effect which tends to mean either ground that you can maintain pace on in the dark (i.e. roads and non-technical fell) or ground that is rough enough to slow you down even in the daylight, which for me is the heathery stuff in the back of Skiddaw.

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Thanks Bob. I'll wait and see if FMA comes along with advice then. The highlighted bit is what I'm trying to take into account. The only bit I can see I might be slower than in the light is after Robinson, including the descent to Honister. But then, as others have commented on the Skiddaw options, nowt wrong with keeping the pace reasonably easy early on!

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Originally Posted by Bob

Whichever way you go (I'm with Morgan here - steady away up the motorway) I reckon a 1am start is better than a midnight one as you are then going to get Hall's Fell (or whichever descent off Blencathra you prefer) in the first light rather than in the dark. Best part of 15 minutes difference in time.

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We went for a midnight start, and coming down Doddick Fell was pretty straightforward in the growing light - we arrived at Thelkend at 03:49. It also meant that we had plenty of light coming off Robinson.

The AC descent off Robinson isn't too bad, just one or two awkward drops on the path but you can avoid them by keeping left. Also dropping down to Honister is reasonable as again there are only a couple of very short awkward sections. I reckon you'd be able to keep a decent pace up as they aren't bad enough to worry about that you'd keep at a slower pace.

Compare this with descending Halls Fell in the dark, you can't really let go as you are never sure when another rocky step is going to appear until you are a long way down the ridge.

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Originally Posted by Marvin

We went for a midnight start, and coming down Doddick Fell was pretty straightforward in the growing light - we arrived at Thelkend at 03:49. It also meant that we had plenty of light coming off Robinson.

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This was my reckoning too, although weather was horrible and it was pitch black and dangerous on Hallsfell :eek:

We also got back with plenty of time for all to have a few pints in Keswick:D

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Originally Posted by Bob

The AC descent off Robinson isn't too bad, just one or two awkward drops on the path but you can avoid them by keeping left. Also dropping down to Honister is reasonable as again there are only a couple of very short awkward sections. I reckon you'd be able to keep a decent pace up as they aren't bad enough to worry about that you'd keep at a slower pace.

Compare this with descending Halls Fell in the dark, you can't really let go as you are never sure when another rocky step is going to appear until you are a long way down the ridge.

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Thanks Bob. There's a small trod off Robinson isn't there? Used in the Anniversary Waltz I think, cuts left off the top. I think we used it c/w when I was supporting someone's BG last year.

I'll go and give that leg a go ac in a couple of weeks time then. I had the impression that the descent down to Honister wouldn't be too bad.