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Unless of course I find the gate has been tied shut with rope :mad:Quote:
I don't mind going through a gate marked private into a field but feel uneasy about going over a fence :o
Bill
Heather wasn't too bad either but I'll be checking for ticks for the next few days
Great Calva to Blencathra. Yiannis and his team left the top about a minute before us and appeared to head off through the heather. We took the fence line (keep left of the fence for better going) and caught up with the others going over Mungrisdale Common. We then stuck together to the top of Blencathra. Yiannis took his group down Hall's Fell & we went down Doddick. I got to the bottom probably a couple of minutes before the Hall's Fell people.
Broad Stand. This was very busy on Saturday. I had 2 pacers for leg 3. I of them opted for the Foxes Tarn route (still recovering from a broken arm) whilst the other joined me up Broad Stand. My pacer went up first, then 2 people from another team arrived & jumped in front of me, then I went. Double Dee (who'd gone via Foxes Tarn) beat us to Scafell by at least a couple of minutes.
Interesting Geoff. We went via Broad Stand. Either because of the resulting adrenalin rush or the fact that I just love this bit of the hill, I started feel much stronger. Don't think going round by Foxes Tarn would have provided quite the same kick.
In general .... we found it progressively harder to run as the day wore on. Maintained our uphill pace - so in terms of route choice, taking on extra ascent to save distance worked. Best example: Yewbarrow to Red Pike, where we didn't visit Dore Head.
I know just what you mean, Bill. I really wouldn't have wanted to miss out on Broad Stand. I was just thinking if you arrive at the back of a long queue, it could be quicker going round.Quote:
Originally Posted by bill
Also agree entirely with what you say about running later on. From Wasdale onwards, I had a really sore knee, which made descending quite painful. However, despite having to walk a lot of the downhills (such as Pillar), I still stuck to the 23 hour schedule, as I could make it up on the climbs.
That's a really interesting comment GeoffB. Does that mean that the old " you can walk it in 24 hours" comment isn't as far off the mark as it seems?Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
I'm going to be boring you with my thirst for information!! Time to start some recces and see how I compare against schedules!!
I'm sure I couldn't walk it in 24 hours! I think you need to remember that the schedules (at the least the one I was working to, from Bob Wightman's website) allow for you slowing down in the latter stages of the round.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
I really must get out and run some legs. Just to see the pace. Was hoping to have run leg 4 with Bill on Saturday but continuing dodgy ankle meant I couldn't.
I'm chomping at the bit to get out there now!! You all really inspired me on Saturday.
A big well done Geoff and Dan as well. I can't even begin to imagine how you did it. A nice rest for you now me thinks.
Thanks Matt. Especially well done to Dan. A couple of months ago he was having second thoughts about the whole thing, but since then he's put so much effort into it he really deserved it. He was also about to give up at Threlkeld when his calf tightened up, but Helen did the magic 'laying on of hands' and it never troubled him again.Quote:
Originally Posted by No Snow
Bill: how did you get from Yewbarrow to Red Pike?
We dropped down half way along the traverse on Yewbarrow then followed the stream up.
Geoff was just in front of us and we didn't seem to gain on him as much as I thought we would (took us 45:20) we were going at an easy pace having a lot to eat and drink on the way but not sure if there's much in it now :confused:
Bill
We messed up a little bit if truth be told. Chris, in front, took a direct way down from just before the col on Yewbarrow. I misheard or misunderstood Paul, who was supposed to be directing us, and headed to the col and onto the path to Dore Head, before coming off down a scree run to join Chris. We then headed across the valley to go up somewhat to the right of the prominent stream that comes off Red Pike.Quote:
Bill: how did you get from Yewbarrow to Red Pike?
I should have followed Chris, down grass slopes from ca.100m before the col and onto a trod that takes a gentle travsersing line, before leaving it to go across the valley and up on the right of the stream. This was mentioned further up this thread (should have remembered but thought processes were a wee bit scrambled by this point). There's water to hand on the climb to Red Pike going this way.
Descent from Great Gable, A/C: is the more southerly path down to Beck Head better - it looks like it is on the map?
I presume you mean the one that appears to go directly to Beck Head, rather than following the ridge line? I'm not convinced that it exists in real life; it could just be one those rights of way that the OS seem obliged to draw from time to time. I've only ever used the other route either up or down.Quote:
Originally Posted by Margarine
I suppose it's a bit late for you to recce it now!
Cheers Geoff. Yes - that's the one. Might make a good line, but probably not for this weekend!
Yes that path does not exist you can cut the corner near the summit on a faint path then take a scree run that goes down to the climbers traverse or cut back right onto the ridge don't think you save a great deal of time mind and its tricky to follow if very misty
Bill
Cheers. Definitely not for this weekend then.
Who is out this weekend?... we've got someone from Macc going round along with about 40 supporters (any mention of a decent piss up)... 6.30pm start tomorrow night.
I,m helping on 1st leg on a clockwise midnight start.
Dodgy weather forecast tho':eek:
Quote:
Originally Posted by macc ladd
Swiss Toni is doing it this weekend - not sure what time though!
Laurence Ormerod set off at midnight last night on a clockwise attempt and after a damp first 2 legs he was looking good in improving conditions from Dunmail being pretty much on a 24 hr schedule. Apparently the Caldew was nearly impossible to cross - walking poles were necessary.
If you go down W of the sheepfold - ie down the nose then S through heather, there is a pipe you can use as a bridge that crosses the river at the point the two branches of the caldew separateQuote:
Originally Posted by Chas
Sounds like time to try my skiddaw house variant - you cross on a bridge!
Still waiting for someone else to time that route.
Looks like it'll be me on Tuesday, it'll be "onsight" though I hope its easy to follow in the dark :)Quote:
Sounds like time to try my skiddaw house variant - you cross on a bridge!
Still waiting for someone else to time that route.
Bill
Sorry this is not a route choice subject but, does anyone have any photos from Sat 23d June (BG day). Someone (unfortunately not my support team) took my photo at Dunmail (I had a blue HH top, or a blue jacket, on and Black KIMM tights). If you can get hold of it, could you please forward it on it would be very much appreciated. Or fiailing that any other photos of the day Cheers Alan.
[email protected]
No problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by Baggins
The only issues are-
The last 200-300m of the descent from a really fast track is on good trods, but the heather has grown in over the sides of the trod - so they look less substantial than they are.
Once you have crossed the valley, dont be tempted to climb up too soon: you dont want to have to drop into the stream gulleys - you will see what I mean from the map.
Are you going round on tuesday?
[quote=Chas;45823]Thank you that avoids the rock steps :D good lineQuote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
Bill
Thanks for that, I may jog round from Latrigg car park on Monday just to get an idea of where it goes.Quote:
Originally Posted by alwaysinjured
Need to check Threlkeld to Newsham and the way out of Keswick across fitz park :o :D
Yes we're going round on Tuesday.
Bill
Recced this today, I've found a line here that goes a bit higher that I'll use on Tuesday that ends up traversing into Roughten gill from the sheepfold in Sinen gill I'll stick with that for now no more time left :DQuote:
Once you have crossed the valley, dont be tempted to climb up too soon: you dont want to have to drop into the stream gulleys - you will see what I mean from the map.
Bill
Don't worry Baggins, you wouldn't be the first forumite to go wrong before you were even in Fitz Park:D :D :D
A couple of lads from our club did an unsupported round a couple of weeks ago and did exactly that... couldn't find their way to Fitz park from the car park! What a way to start...
Of course we wouldn't ever do that, would we? Oops!Quote:
Originally Posted by Margarine
I told you I'd remembered:D .
Re Leg1 - descent from blencathra.
This year I have reccied pretty much everything there is. And I am now completely convinced that Dodick Fell is the way to go.
At an easy pace which would give 30-32 mins down halls fell ridge - I got to the bottom of Dodick in 16 mins - 5 mins to the farm gate at the foot of halls fell ridge. So it really is only around 23 mins to the normal changeover point a down the road from the farm.
So no contest in my view
To the top of dodick is fast. There are 3 rocky sections , at most 30-40 feet each and even these are only the same as the very easiest parts of halls fell ridge. Two of them are easily bypassed on grass to the right.
The lower sections are nowhere as steep as halls fell/ dont beat up your legs.
And the section to the gate from the foot of dodick is essentially downhill. It is certainly best to go into the stream reentrant at the bottom than to drop and climb.
PS - Id always assumed the direct route to fairfield was best. Im beggining to change that view. I took a dead reckon from dollywagon to join the wall at the bottom and right of the tarn - on easy spongy grass. And was up on fairfield easily in 36: I reckon the advantage is not in time: it is in effort - the descent is a lot easier and softer, and the climb is nowhere near as brutal.
I hadnt realised either, there is a decent grass descent line to the left of the wall ( avoiding the zig zags off fairfield) - with only one steep section involving 4 points of contact including bum to avoid slipping. Finally there is a good grassy ascent line on seat sandal to the right of the normal - shaly - slippy ascent.
Agree with everything you say there, AlwaysInjured. Except I didn't know about the alternative ascent of Seat Sandal - I normally go to the left of the main path.
That's interesting news AI. I'm about to do some more recce's and had already decided, being an unconfident scrambler, that it'd be better to go down Doddick. But now it's "official" that I'm not even losing any time!!
Now all I need is for you to confirm that Lords Rake or Foxes Tarn route is in fact quicker than Broad Stand ;)
Interesting to note that, after recent rock movements, Foxes Tarn seems to be regarded as more unstable than Lords Rake at the moment.
When I did my BG this year, one of my pacers went via Foxes Tarn and there was such a queue at Broad Stand that he beat me to the top! So it could be quicker (especially if you use the climber's traverse that Ali described earlier this year).Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
Recced leg 1 today and did the direct descent 10m west of the summit then across Middle Tongue, got to the road in 23 mins, I think its quicker than Halls fell but will try Doddick next time.Quote:
Originally Posted by alwaysinjured
Mate went down Doddick at the same time so we could compare them but he got lost and turned up 13mins later :rolleyes: :D
Just a small piece of news for all you BG contenders out there.
The BG 24 Hour Club's Guidance Notes and the standard Application for Ratification Form (C/w and A/w on the same sheet) are now available to download from the BG 24 Hour Club website at www.bobgrahamclub.org.uk
As things stand, you still need to register your attempt with Brian Covell, by phone or by post. Brian's details are in the Guidance Notes.
Cheers.
BGSec
Fascinating...I have struggled on the two occasions I have tried that, but maybe I am not going far enough down before crossing middle tongue, and just maybe I am cr*p at steep descents!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Baggins
I have still to try the line that drops down from the top w of the summit, then traverses back to the end of halls felll below the rough stuff. I will have a go at that in the next few weeks
I was recceing sections 1 and 3 over the weekend with a mate. We timed going down Hall's Fell and Doddick Fell and the latter was a couple of minutes quicker to the "waterfall" at the bottom of Halls Fell - and more enjoyable !Quote:
Originally Posted by alwaysinjured
On section 3, we struggled to find any proper trods traversing from Rosset Pike up to Bow Fell.
Very sad news about the gentleman falling from Broad Stand.