1:50 run last night with an hour of it without the torch, nice :)
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1:50 run last night with an hour of it without the torch, nice :)
First ‘torcher of the season coincided with the full moon. 3.3 miles on road round Haworth area
D.T. be on the public car park at Clapham for 18.00 next Tuesday; we'll be back to GMT and Bowland are heading up Ingleburger.
W. D many thanks for invite but I’ll be in Ayrshire in that Scotland for work
So why did you need a head torch if you had a full moon to light the way?Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Last night was the Bowland Bats first 'torcher of the season.
It was a 'feral' one (outwith the bounds of Bowland)
3 of us formed the 'slow group' leaving Clapham at 18.00.
Another 6, including 3 ladies, formed the 'fast group' at 18.45.
A beautiful starey night-scape on the summit of Ingleburger.
The fast group were maybe 300 yards from gaining the top of the Swinetail,
as we descended past them.
Being the old man of the group, I was very cautious descending the steps
below Little Ingleborough and the fast folk had all caught me by Bar Pot
but I managed to tag on the back of them, down through the gardens and
into Clapham. Various 'devices' made it 14 km / 8.75 miles.
Last night saw 11 Bowland Bats on a circuit from Ribblehead, taking in the Blea Moor sidings, Whernside summit and descending via Bruntscar to cross the fields to Ivescar Farm (where the fast group reeled-in the early starters), Gunnerfleet and Ribblehead.
The maelstrom along the summit ridge had us linking arms to stay upright - general consensus was that gusts must have reached 80 m.p.h.
The Station was closed, so we settled for the Hill Inn.
An invigorating way to celebrate one's 68th birthday.
Stunning cloud inversion last night from the Mam Tor - Lose Hill ridge, looking down into Castleton and the Hope Valley.
Last night the Bowland Bats opted for a circuit over Pen-y-Ghent from H-i-R; Brackenbottom, S. Crags, summit then Horton Scar Lane.
Two of us got away early with eight, including two ladies, following in the fast group. Once on to the crags it was very claggy and windy.
The fast group caught us at the gate below the barn on Horton Scar Lane whence we all made it to the car park in one group.
No sign of the locals, Stolly and Hesther this year!
Refreshments were taken in The Crown.
That's the 'Yorkshire Trilogy' completed as 'torchers for this autumn.
Always good to hear the bats have been out Ian
Very pleasant run out last night followed by fine hospitality in the Turkey. Thanks to Brett and Sue for organising
Seconded. Good route, nice pub, fine hosts and excellent company.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
You had a better night than we did last night. From Barden Bridge some went up Simons Seat and I lead a group of head torch virgins round the strid. Wet to the knickers and how they moaned; but nobody died!
Last night was Bowlands first 'feral' torcher of the year to Gregarath. Just five of us made it to the car park at Leck parish church.
I was initially there on my lonesone to take a very early lead up the long & winding road to Leck Fell House. By the top cattle grid,
maybe 2/3 of the way to the farm, it was totally clagged in - maybe 5 metres, due to the torch beam 'bouncing back'.
Once through the gate, on to the fell track, I set a bearing of 083* and pressed on through slimy boulder fields and whatever else.
Often thinking, "This could be construed as a bit silly". After maybe 1/2 km I spotted, just to my left, an exceptionally faint trod that appeared to be heading in the correct direction. As I followed this trod I kept re-checking with my compass and hey-ho the trig appeared, just two strides in front of me.
It was then a bearing of 000* towards the wall corner just below the shooting hut. After various adventures on slimy boulder fields and in spagnum bogs I hit the track and decided that I'd had enough adventure for one night and headed back to the farm and the road descent to Leck village.
The fast group completed the full circuit - down to the wall corner, descent into Easegill and down along Leck Beck to the village. I'd been snoozing in my camper for over an hour when the foursome, including one lady, appeared.
Mmmh. I am rarely so polite when talking to myself at night, alone, in clag and hoping my headtorch is going to behave...Quote:
Originally Posted by wheezing donkey
First ‘torcher of the season tonight with a few (socially distanced) pals
Yes the nights are drawing in. Had mine on leading a club run through the Chevin woods.
Fantastic evening on Kinder yesterday. The full moon had just risen as we topped out at Kinder Low End, with Mars looking very red just to its left. Then Saturn and Jupiter were shining bright round to the south. Interestingly, the air temperature felt a few degrees warmer on Kinder than it was down in Hayfield.
Looking around I could see the head-torches from the various Pennine running groups heading off in different directions.
A lovely evening to be out in the hills.
We were out too, admiring the sunset and then the moon and Mars. We also managed a headtorch dip in the Ribble at Stainforth Foss which finished things off perfectlyQuote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
How long before a headtorch discussion breaks out? I think I need to move out of the stone age and swap 3 AAA batteries for li ion.
It's hard work being tighter than a crab's arse.
I've got an Led Lenser which has one of those newfangled batteries. I also bought a replacement battery direct from them, which is my spare. Sort of gives you the massively long life, plus the versatility of carrying spare batteries.
Only just thrown away my Petzl Zoom with its flat 9v battery, may as well have used a candle.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
A solo head torch blast up Ingleborough last night from home - 5 and a bit miles up and 5 and a bit miles back the same way - with the Horton to Ingleborough track just about as muddy and slick as I've ever seen it. Great fun (with a touch of borderline lethal in places) trying to push it both ways. In the end I was a good 20 minutes slower than my fastest on this route, finishing in 2 hrs 4 minutes, but a brilliant outing all the same :)
I've never had any enthusiasm for running in the dark, although I do sometimes cycle or walk in the dark when I haven't been able to get out in daylight; and the walking would then be under urban streetlights. But one of my presents from my wife this Christmas was a head torch; just a simple EverReady torch, not the sort of thing any respectable fell-runner would be ever seen wearing. I've just been out for a walk up to the Outwoods, leaving the house just as the rain was starting; it was fine for seeing the mud and puddles, allowing me to walk confidently, but I'm still not intending to start running in the dark.
My first headtorch was a cheap Coleman one from Go Outdoors... adequate for running round unlit roads, but you do notice the difference between those torches and really good ones when you start trying to move over the fells at night... in fact i've still got the cheap one and my nephew likes to wear it and go on "adventures" round the house with all the lights off...!
I'd much rather run over the fells in the day, but can't deny that there's an interesting feeling being out on the fells on a dark night knowing you're out there completely alone.
My first headtorch was a two piece affair. A light on an elasticated headband, which had two spare filament bulbs attached to it, along with two 18" wires. The second part was a brown, wax covered battery pack which had two brass threaded terminals. It was about 5"x 3" x 1" and weighed around 1lb.
You attached the wires to the terminals and and put the battery in your pocket or rucksac. Not only was the light not very bright there was no on/off switch. A wire had to be disconnected to turn it off which was a right faff so invariably they were left on and went flat very quickly. Another problem was taking your jacket or rucksac off and forgetting about the wires and snapping them which was a common occurrence.
The light was just about good enough to map read or take a bearing and just about lit the ground to a maximum of 4 or 5 feet in front of you. Oh, the fun we had on night exercises!
I currently use a rechargeable Silva which is great but I am tempted to get a Hope, as I've heard they are the bees knees, but need to find someone who has one first so I can try it out.
Hope is to headtorches as...Bianchi is to bikes.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
I've got a rechargeable LED Lenser one which i heartily recommend. The battery lasts something like 8-10 hours on high mode. Rather than carrying a spare headtorch, i ordered a 2nd rechargeable battery from LED Lenser, and bring that along for emergencies... only the size of an AA battery.
Do they come in celeste Graham?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Nah. Just black as the night.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
I used to do night races. I had a decent Petzl and one night a much slower runner on a very rocky descent from Simon's Seat went past me as if I was standing still as their portable sun lit up the path, after which I was cast back into the outer darkness. Ian Holmes and all the fast guys were running with a Hope and I realised why. Hope are pricy but either you want to race to your ability or you don't. They are not particularly advantageous on climbs (running slower, closer to other runners) - but races are won on descents.
IIRC the people who founded Hope worked at Rolls Royce in Barnoldswick and Hope are engineered to last. I have had mine for around 12 years and I have had one new battery.
Obviously it fits on my bike and I just have to live with the colour clash.:)
I agree. I keep wanting a new one but my original is just still too good to justify it. It must be about thirteen years old.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Mmmh. Thirteen years. I am wondering now if it was you who went past me descending Simon's Seat and lit up my life?:)Quote:
Originally Posted by millipede
I have broken my Silva Trail Runner headtorch, over 5 years old so out of warranty, but sent it to the friendly staff in Edinburgh to see if they could fix it. They couldn't. The battery is fine but won't fit the new model.
I was flirting with the recommendation of Mr Breeze and the Hope, but, Silva advise me that one of their retailers, Absolute Snow, have the new model, Trail Runner Free Ultra, on offer at £58.95, a saving of 58% on the usual price of £127.95.
Having found my previous Silva could do everything I wanted it to do I have fallen for their sales pitch. A bargain!
Hrm I had been putting off replacing my teenage Hope light until next winter (I told myself that last year too!), the duct tape repair is still holding out after all. This is a good deal though LB. Thanks for the "heads up". ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy