Agreed. The fact that you trained hard and gave it a true application of Yorkshire Grit on the day *might* have had something to do with it Hes .... :DQuote:
Originally Posted by MarkL
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Agreed. The fact that you trained hard and gave it a true application of Yorkshire Grit on the day *might* have had something to do with it Hes .... :DQuote:
Originally Posted by MarkL
I seem to recall on the 2010 Fellsman being directed by a marshall from the Capplestone Gate checkpoint SE on the path rather than being able to follow the wall round to the SW. I guess there's not loads in it, but the wall option is definitely quicker and easier with a nice little trod at first and then short grass as you head south. It's all access land and the one wall you have to cross is ruined.
Anyone know if it's usually compulsory to follow the path on the event or is the wall option legit?
Hank, you need to follow the wall SE from Capplestone Gate (keeping the wall on your right) to meet the track near Bycliffe. If you follow the public right of way going SW (throught the gate at the checkpoint) you will be going the wrong way to get to Yarnbury.
Thanks, yes, I got east and west mixed up in my post! However, we were instructed by the marshall to follow the path SW and take the long way round. I wouldn't necessarily trust my memory I was pretty knackered by then, but I remember a bloke in our group who was doing his tenth Fellsman was most disgruntled not to be able to follow the wall.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dog Breath
I am DT! Don't you fancy it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
I've entered the event on-line and am looking forward to it greatly :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Steampig
I remember following the wall last year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank
I have seen loads of threads on this topic on viewing the forum, but wanted to get one started again on the Fleetmoss, Middle Tongue and Hell Gap route lines and bearings. I'm thinking southern wall along Fleetmoss seems best? Any advice on best bearings to middle tongue checkpoint (new for 2012)? Do you favour staying on the ridge line from about 899818 (Deepdale Haw) not loosing much height and run this to checkpoint 906803.
At this time the bearing to Hell Gap. Any notes on best take on route to Hell Gap, any tracks to follow?? or is this just a straight compass bearing?
First time runner this year and looking for any advice on this bit, the west side to Dent and then to Fleetmoss seems OK and i'm quite happy with, but any experience on above will be great to hear?
Cheers all...
Note I got back from Fellsman on three long sleeve tops, question above. The three long sleeve tops are in addition to the waterproof coat.
See posts #1403 and #1404 in the main Fellsman thread in Long Distance Challenges. I'll see if I can find a copy of the gpx track (tomorrow). :)
the cheque has been cashed, so i take it that i am having a little run out this year !!!
After veering across the top of Deepdale trying not to lose height you hack east through the heather and crap for a bit and then you should be able to pick up a quad bike track going pretty much exactly in the direction of the Middle Tongue checkpoint. Look closely at google earth and you'll see it. After the checkpoint there is no path at all and you just take an easterly (well very slight north easterly) line crossing straight over a dilapidated north-south aligned wall before eventually picking up a wall line which you follow all the way to the Hell Gap cart track - you then head a short way north up that to get the Hell Gap checkpoint before turning back on yourself and trotting back to Cray. Google earth is really helpful again.Quote:
Originally Posted by fellrunner kev
Thanks greatly to you both for advice - will get a look at Google Earth as suggested.
One other line of advice if you can. Line from Snaizeholme to Dodd Fell seems a bit of a section of walls/fences around Snaizeholme fell? Is there any preferred line here? Would you take bearing easterly or slightly south easterly to the Pennine Way then travel NNE on this track before taking a bearing to the trig point? Or can this be taken more directly.
Also is best line off Dodd Fell south easterly picking up the wall, crossing the road and following the wall line to Long Slack Gate, and the checkpoint of Fleet Moss. Did a read right about a quad bike track off here?
Most of the other route seems fairly clear, but probably be back with a line or too about Cray to Buckden another day?!!
Experience you have offered is a appreciated folks!
After the Redshaw checkpoint you follow the wall over Snaizeholme (checkpoint 13 is there to make sure you do) until the Ribble Way dissects your path and you continue on that track. You then pick up the Cam high road briefly before heading along the north west side of Dodd Fell on the Pennine Way. Most fellsmaneers follow this and then take a right angle line to the top of Dodd Fell - there's a bit of a trod to begin with but its mainly just about taking a line and trudging to the top. Off of Dodd Fell take a south east line and you will pick up a trod (avoiding the gully Bank Gill).
Cheers Stolly - again great advice.
Blog seems good. Anyone know of best website to get accurate forecast of Dales weather - thinking of trip up on Sunday but want a good idea of conditions first?
Anyone give a me heads up? Thinking of run up from Ribblehead, up Whernside, down to Kingsdale, up Gragareth, Great Coum, down to Dent then trek up to Blea moor following the wall back down to the track back to Ribblehead. This Sunday morning. Any idea of conditions up their now? rain and thaw temps are due later this week - will this be reasonably runnable then or too snow heavy. Just normal fell/trail shoes to run in? Forecast says fairly clear day?
Cheers Kev
Deepish snow up high, although the path will be trodden on Whernside and possibly wind cleared. The descent to Kingsdale will be virgin snow with some deepish drifts and I suspect the Gragareth to Great Coum trod will have plenty of drifts too, as will the descent from Great Coum. Blea Moor, both going up from the Craven Way and then cutting back to the tunnel path (to return to Ribblehead) will be hard going, regardless of the snow as its all tussocks and cotton grass, with the occasional swamp for good measure. I'm running all the time hereabouts in inov8 300's - nothing to worry about at the mo. Its fantastic in fact albeit toughish running at times. Conditions would become awful if there's a hard thaw followed by a hard frost as its then that you get the horrible ice sheets
Did something similar 2 weeks ago, Ribblehead, up Whernside, turned right, across moor to pick up the Fellsman route, down to Stonehouse, Up Great Knoutberry, Snaizeholme, Dodd fell then Dales Way back to Ribblehead. Was cold, especially on Whernside, the wind chill must have been -10. Very boggy in places and the hard frosted earth gave way on the moor parts and you ended up sinking to mid calf in freezing water and mud. With the predicted snow today conditions will likely be tough on Sunday, good luckQuote:
Originally Posted by fellrunner kev
This sounds a bit better given conditions and today's snow. Down to Kingsdale and up Gragareth, probably untouched, will have too much snow and probably best avoided this week and not very runnable.
Anyone - What are the roads like getting to Ribblehead? be going up from Harrogate the through Horton on B6479?
If you do go up to the Dales tomorrow, please be careful: I know a thaw is setting in, but there will still be lots of *very* deep snow around. I only went up on to Barden Fell/Barden Moor today and climbed up over Simon's Seat, it was basically a 14-mile wade rather than a run. In up to shoulder-height in places, quite dodgy. It will be worse on higher ground and as that snow starts to melt, will get very wet under the snow crust.
Thanks for the advice on this Martyn. Decided on leaving this a week and seeing how things go this week, before a potential trip up next weekend. A long run will be better preparation than a slog through shoulder deep soggy bottomed snow drifts!
Heads up on this is much appreciated.
Cheers
Fellsman route - Once hitting the Cray checkpoint from the track down from Hell Gap. Route to Buckden Pike.. is this following the wall around Buckden Causeway Moss heading East then South East, cross this and take the wall South for a short time then head South East on this wall to pick up the footpath to the trig point? Off Buckden do you take follow the wall to the memorial then drop down South East picking up the track off Starbottom Fell, taking a bearing South East (left) on this track as it splits takings this down to Top Mere? Looking then at route to Great Whernside.
The fellsman start to finish:Quote:
Originally Posted by fellrunner kev
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9869/p1110001.jpg
Wow - cheers for the map details Stolly - just the sort of help I've been needing!
Nice one Stolly - that looks neater than mine. Attachment 6736
Stolly - how are the lower levels up there now? Roads and lower level tracks - I see from your Ingleborough Assault that high levels are heavy going!
Pretty much all of the snow has gone so nothing to worry about
DinoF: If Blue Peter did Fellsman maps... Looks like you've got a big "sticky backed plastic" session ahead - and make sure you don't spill that coffee over it!Quote:
Originally Posted by DinoF
Stolly - great map. I'm hoping to get my optimised route marked up on my 50th Fellsman souvenir Harveys before April.
I don't want to ruin my 50th Fellsman map (even though the north face advert pictures on the front of it aren't even of the Dales and have technically ruined it already :) )Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkL
Mark - that was last year's, so all the cut and paste is already done for this year . I may use the souvenir map instead, but like Stolly I'd rather keep that for possible framing if I actually finish this time ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkL
Stolly - thanks for the weather update, hows it looking higher up the hills, is it getting a thaw at all?
i have the route mapped out on google earth, with a couple of variations on there. This was mapped before i first did it in 2011, if you would like the link drop me a message with your email and i will send it across.
Thank Philt1 just sent you a PM with my e-mail
Cheers
just fired it across to you Kevin.. hope it helps you out.
If anyone else would like it just ask..
Phil
Looks like a great day out - but I'm not convinced of it's usefulness as a reccy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
I went over Fleet Moss a couple of weeks ago - it's spooky up there on your own.
I reckon only Fellsman contenders ever go there.
Oh I dunno, I found it very useful. After that, how hard can it be? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkL
I found it really useful. First off there were a couple of brand new fence lines that weren't up there last time I was there. And secondly I was really pleased to easily find the quad bike tracks after Deepdale that take you down to the Middle Tongue checkpoint, especially in all that snow. And then, after that, our line from there to the Hell Gap to Cray track wasn't too bad either (despite me referring to it as heading 'west' when of course I meant east) :)
I knew what you meant :) Seriously though, in those conditions that was a pretty good piece of navigation across some featureless terrain. Thanks for showing us the way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly