I never knew that footbridge was there till last year :oQuote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
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I never knew that footbridge was there till last year :oQuote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Quote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
Daz
If I was a the clever sort, I could link you to the relevant thread.
As I am not, you need to go to page 5 of Long Distance Challenges, and look up the "Bob Graham Route Choices" thread and start at post #11 for the Skiddaw route choice debate.
200 plus posts for you to enjoy; get cracking. :D
Morgan
Or use this link ;)
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showthread.php?t=325
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Originally Posted by Marvin
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Originally Posted by Margarine
6P's ?:pQuote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
thanks for that Morgan (and mxhornet)
I was aware of the route choices thread, but didn't realise how seriously the Carl Side route has been taken
I don't recall reading any reports of actual attempts/completions that include it
the one thing that occurred to me (which is mentioned in the route choice thread) is that it might be better if there is a strong wind from the east as it is going to be sheltered - mind you, you'd get a heck of a shock when you finally got up onto the ridge! :eek:
All the times I've been up Skiddaw I've never had a strong wind from the East but I've always had that shock when hitting the ridge with winds from West/North :DQuote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
I intend to use Carlside for my attempt. Not that I have reccied it properly yet or anything. it's just that I utterly loathe the 'tourist route' after going up it so many times over the last couple of years what with Skiddaw race, section1 reccies, section 1 pacing, dog walks etc etc.
Wait till you reccie it; I remain unconvinced by the argument that it is better.
If going clockwise with a traditional midnight/1.00 am start, what better way to ease your way into the round than with a steady plod up Skidda'.
No excitement that way; save that for later in the day. :D
Morgan
I'll second that.....i recci'ed both routes after reading forum last year and decided on 'traditional route' for my round which started at midnight ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by BGSec
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob
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.
I certainly like the sound of that BGSec!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by BGSec
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!
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob
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.Quote:
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.
This was my reckoning too, although weather was horrible and it was pitch black and dangerous on Hallsfell :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Marvin
We also got back with plenty of time for all to have a few pints in Keswick:D
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob
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.
We set off at 6.30-7.30pm depending on time of year that way you get to Threkeld as it gets dark, Leg 2 is the night section hitting Seat Sandal as the sun starts to get up. That way there's no rocky bits in the dark at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob
Sooo many permutations.............
Enjoy testing all the options, those who are moving towards the BG start line.
What a great obsession to have. :D
Great obsession BGsec? You are the only one so far who has thought it to be great, everyone else thinks I am mad... :D
I have to say, I was disappointed to find I am not going to be the first Dutch person to do this :( but can still be the first Dutch woman I think... :)
Yes, there is a trod off Robinson, actually in both directions there are a few options... I went up and down it a few times a few weeks ago, while recce-ing, testing out which way I liked best.
Miss out the darkness almost entirely by doing it mid June in about 19 hours:D
Trouble is you would have to get up unfeasibly early. S'pose thats a bit irrellevant if you aren't going to go to bed for an entire day and night though eh?
Or have a lie in and have a crack at 15 hours ;)
I went at 7 in late June and donned the head torch at Calfhow Pike and took it off on the way to Calf Crag. I think having a night section is part of the experience :) Going in the evening can work out well, with the runnable dodds and helvellyn making for a magical night section. Also feel like having a leg and a bit under your belt before darkness falls somehow makes it less daunting - although that's probably just me.Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
I couldn't have coped with a midnight or similar start, such an anticlimax when you finish and jst drift off to bed. I loved popping into the pub afterwards! Far better for the supporters too :)
I still like the idea of an a/c roudn and starting at 8am...
This is almost entirely theoretical, but if ever I do it I will get the road over and done with in the morning, and finish with a run down a mountain into Keswick.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanneke
Exactly my feelings about it so far...
Running down a mountain after 20+ hours?????? Are you mad?:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Swing
In my opinion it is infinitely preferable to run down a mountain at the end of the round than it is to stagger along 6 m iles of tarmac... especially if you hate it as much as I do...
Fair enough - I hate tarmac too. I just remember doing the last 15 miles of the Fellsman with a bad injury amd it bl**dy hurt especially going down hill.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanneke
I am counting on not being injured :)
At the moment, I have a torn ligament in my ankle that makes it hard to stabilise the ankle, so can't run very well, let alone downhill...
There are plenty of us on here who are afflicted with the obsession. Realise also that once you have purged your own (like I did back in 1985), it simply returns even stronger, so you have to find more things to do that most of the world considers mad. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Hanneke
Simon Barnes called it "slaying dragons" after the OMM debacle so get slaying.
Then don't do the road, take the track through the fields/woods, it's shorter less hilly and very pleasant, You only have a mile of Tarmac then in to Keswick.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanneke
With tired quads the descent off Skiddaw must be hard.
Each to their own on this subject too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanneke
The majority of people report that they suffer badly on the downs, often after about half way (so that's a long time to suffer!)
If time is tight at the end, and your quads are wrecked, the road shuffle will pass more quickly than the nightmare of Jenkin Hill.
Of course if you really want to test the theory, you could do a double like the late Boyd Millen, Roger Baumeister or Eric Draper which would allow you to experience both finishes within a 48 hour period (well RB managed his double in that time). :D:D
Anyone got any thoughts on the value of a 'steady-away' 3day backpack / trot around BGR as an initial famaliariser? Last time I walked something before then running it was Burnsall fell race but accept this is ever so slightly different! ;) :D
Yes definitely, Go for it, at the very least it's time on your feet and any familiarisation of the route is a good thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Met a guy a couple of years ago near Great End who was doing this Ian. I liked the idea then although never thought I'd be starting to think about doing same thing :)Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
DT, I agree with IDP.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
This would be a brilliant way to get started. Time on your feet and all that. Ty and pick a decent spell of weather which will help
If you do go for it, let us know how you divide the days up and where you chose to camp.
Mrs BGSec has designs on a BG (2 Ilkley Harriers lady successes this year) and we have talked about this method of getting started, tho' 2 days was mentioned.
Thank God I went round when I was a nipper; don't know how I'd find the time now (but I'm working on that!). Be nice to go all the way round with the Mrs :D