Mike, when can we expect the crucial underfoot conditions report for wansfell? It looks like there is enough time for it to dry out and firm up, a good year for fast times.
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Mike, when can we expect the crucial underfoot conditions report for wansfell? It looks like there is enough time for it to dry out and firm up, a good year for fast times.
It is all very wet/saturated and more rain is forecast for tomorrow - I cannot see it drying out at all. But in most places if you slip you will just slide in the mud - the exception being that rocky section about a third of the way down - care needed.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
11.23 miles, 2,987 feet, 3 hours 18 minutes: Wansfell Pike, including the race route up and down, and then across to Loughrigg top, ascending via Fox Ghyll, and descending past the old golf club. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 800 feet. No rain nor significant wind. Terrain wet/saturated/slippery. Quite a few walkers about, mainly in the valley. I saw 11 runners, 2 in the valley, and 9 on Loughrigg, including a group of 8.
The rain that was due today has been rescheduled for tomorrow!
The weather apps are at odds. Met office says drizzle, but the pigeon (did someone say Walter Pidgeon?) fanciers choice XC weather says dry...
11.51 miles, 3,512 feet, 3 hours 43 minutes: Wansfell Pike twice, including up and down the race route, a lap of town, and back up to the top via Blue Hill Road and Lane and the steps, and again descending the race route. Overcast, with mist down to the valley floor in most places. No rain nor wind. Terrain wet/saturated/slippery. Lots of people on the fell supporting the race - I saw some of the descenders as they joined the road - several jumped over the wall onto the road, a drop of about 6 feet.
It was good to cheer on and later chat to Mr B - well run!
10.2 miles, 3,550 feet, 3 hours 16 minutes: Wansfell Pike twice, including up and down the race route, then along Lake Road - Stagshaw Gardens - Blue Hill Woods - Blue Hill Lane to the kissing gate - up the steps to the top of the Pike - race route descent. Overcast, with mist to the valley floor. Intermittent light drizzle. No wind. Terrain wet/saturated/slippery. Lots of walkers ascending the Pike; 1 runner seen.
I had a look at the wear and tear on the fell to clarify the line that most people take - the main difference from "my" route is about 1/3 of the way down where I go left on the level grass - many clearly follow a direct line down despite the intermittent rocks and the steepness. As expected, at the very top, many people went straight down at the bottom of upper steps.
11.49 miles, 2,879 feet, 3 hours 21 minutes: Wansfell Pike, including up and down the race route, then across to Loughrigg top, ascending via Clappersgate/Fishgarths Wood, and descending past the old golf club/Miller Bridge. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,500 feet. A few minutes of drizzle. A moderate breeze from the north west. Terrain wet/saturated/slippery. Lots of walkers on both fells; i saw about a dozen runners, only 2 of whom were in the valley.
I tried to find Mr B's line from near the top of the Pike but had no luck.
11.18 miles, 2,962 feet, 3 hours 16 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Roman Ruins - Borrans Park - Stagshaw Gardens - (High Skelghyll - Skelghyll Lane - Holbeck Lane - Low Wood - High Skelghyll) twice - Wansfell Pike - race route descent - Ambleside. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,000 feet. Intermittent drizzle. A moderately strong wind from the west. Terrain wet and slippery in places. Not many walkers about; 2 runners seen.
10.29 miles, 3,037 feet, 2 hours 55 minutes: Loughrigg top via Fishgarths Wood, Todd Crag, and Lily Tarn, then down past the old golf club to Miller And Rotay Bridges, around to and up Blue Hill Road/Lane to the bottom of the Wansfell steps, down Stock Ghyll Lane to Ambleside. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 500 feet. Constant light/moderate rain. A strong wind from the west. Terrain saturated/streaming/slippery; puddles and rivulets everywhere. Very few walkers on the fells; 2 runners seen.
I had to grip the rocks with my hands to get to the trig pillar on Loughrigg - it must have been grim on the high tops.
Figures for the year: activities - 365
distance - 4,043.6 miles
time - 1,168 hours
height gain - 1,109,357 feet.
Happy New Year to all!