All the way up Scarfell Pike??:eek: :eek: (you may let you just take them to Great Gable instead:rolleyes: ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by No pain no gain
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All the way up Scarfell Pike??:eek: :eek: (you may let you just take them to Great Gable instead:rolleyes: ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by No pain no gain
A few posers. . .
Do those in the know say that to do one of these classic lakeland longs, you really need to do a proper recce?
What are the cut offs?
How much harder is Borrowdale than (a) Langdale and (b) 3 Peaks?
Still can't make my mind up. Do I start to crank up the miles? Is mere mileage sufficient?
Any thoughts. . .
TB,Quote:
Originally Posted by Tractorboy
In my book Borrowdale is probably the "best" of the long'ish Lakes fell races... but I would say that as it was my first fell race... is wends it's way thru' some of the most dramatic parts of the Lakes, in a way that is etched in your mind forever..
Significantly harder than Langdale, but not really a mega slog like Wasdale & Ennerdale; absolutely no comparison with 3 Peaks as the terrain is totally different.
For a person with some true mountaineering experience, who is a fair fell
runner too, plus a decent navigator, it hits all the right spots..
For a novice, it can be more than a little scary; a couple of close friends have been in tears of relief at the end!! (but grins soon ensued).
Not knowingly knowing you, or your background, it's hard to provide meaningful advice on a yes or no basis.... but, I'd say if you do have some "real" experience.... can read & understand a map and compass in pissing/freezing gale driven rain & sleet/in the densest of scudding clag, trot & prance around on the skiddiest of rocks, able to dodge the odd flying rock, take your brains out for quite a while.... you will have a fantastic time... with a post race bash that is rarely bettered...
And the rest will be his/herstory as they say..... see you there...
oh' and when I did do it for the first time, I did know most of the course from other adventures.... and still managed to go astray a bit!
recce planned for week of the 28th of may at some point will be staying at holllows farm campsite with family. might do first leg to styhead one day n styead onwards later.
I haven't posted on here for ages but the mention of Borrowdale has motived me to do so.
Of my memories of fell races Borrowdale sticks out as the best hands down.
Only recced Scar fell and that counted for nothing as the mist closed in so much I didn't recognise diddly when I got up there (plus I recced it at night, not such a good idea for recce but damn fun).
And then I followed a Scottish lass the wrong way just after Great Gable I think and got lost. Found another group after backtracking and then went and got lost with them too.
Completely died on the last climb up whatever the last climb is and struggled with the downhill from there which was the only time that ever happened in a race for me.
Ended up been the only race on a club champs I got beat on too.
BUT...what a brilliant race. Felt like I was on another planet in the mist at the bottom of all the stairs up Great Gable (think that's where the stairs are isn't it). And been all on my lonesome struggling round going up Scar fell while you could hear the leaders cranking down the scree was brilliant. And that run down the scree is damn good too.
Then on that last climb down whatitsname it was a completely different scene/feeling too.
Brilliant memory. Brilliant race. I could go on & on & on...
So my advice - if you can see only one movie this year: make it The Deer Hunter (cool, cool film)
If you can run only one race: make it the big B.
Scar fell :confused:. No wonder you got lost :rolleyes:.Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwi
Tractorboy, the only cut-off is Honister after 4 1/2 hours.
I agree with all that has been said about it - a cracking course and a great atmosphere. Can't make it this year, but hope to be back next year and not die on Dale Head - my experience last year was very like kiwi's.
Spot on 'Luv Shack' - saved me some typing... I run this route more than any other just because it has a bit of everythng in it - navigation wise I still haven't run the same route twice there really is so much variation - Even my avatar comes from the Borrowdale!Quote:
Originally Posted by gej
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Originally Posted by kiwi
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Originally Posted by kiwi
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Originally Posted by kiwi
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Originally Posted by kiwi
:D :DQuote:
Originally Posted by kiwi
Thanks for the tips/encoragement guys - am now committed!
Upping the miles and planning a recce (possibly the outing on the 23rd):)