A brilliant day out, even more so after my DNF last year, also would recommend to anyone fancying a tough ultra with great organisation. Top marks for the porridge and soup too :)
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A brilliant day out, even more so after my DNF last year, also would recommend to anyone fancying a tough ultra with great organisation. Top marks for the porridge and soup too :)
Anyone on here doing this one? I’ve not done it before, but am familiar with some of the route - the section from High Street, down to/through Patterdale, via Grisedale Tarn to Wythburn, then up to Helvellyn. The rest* is unknown to me and won’t get chance to do a further recce. Any tips/pointers from people who’ve done the race before or are familiar with the route?
* Weather and underfoot snow conditions will determine whether you can descend Swirral Edge or have to go via Whiteside Zig-Zags. I’ve done neither route before (only Striding Edge)… am curious, is (descending) Swirral Edge that much quicker than the zig-zags?
It is billed by the Nav4 team as a low key event (which is an appealing aspect), but still only 49 people currently signed-up from a max of 100. The main Nav4 website is currently out of action (and may be for a little while longer), so if you’re interested in entering, you can do so here https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.ph...&event_id=2193
Also further info here……
https://www.facebook.com/NAV4-Advent...088989/?ref=hl
I'm doing this Mark. Will be by far the longest race and most climb I've attempted.
Similar to you I'm familiar from the Kidsty Pike area, over High Street, Patterdale, Helvellyn, and back over to Place Fell. The other parts do not appear too confusing on the map (famous last words).
Swirral Edge looks very daunting from above, particular in mist, you get to the cairn and it appears to descend into the abyss, but it's only 50 yards or so of moderately easy scrambling, then it becomes a lot more gentle. In terms of time, I think it's quicker than White Side due to pure distance. Personally I'd prefer it if we have to use White Side route as I think there's a little more scope for route variation and shortcuts. I think with Swirral Edge it is easier to cross the ridge back into Grisedale, but with White Side you are in the Glenridding valley unless you make a detour up and over to get back to Grisedale.
Place Fell after 30 odd miles will be horrific.
Can't wait!
Pete
Nice to hear you’ll be there Pete. Hopefully get a chance to meet at some point. I’ll be there for registration on the Friday, but staying in the Punch Bowl Inn both nights.
Yes, going to be quite challenging this one, with ~10,500 ft climb. I did 4 Inns last Sat (40 mls – 7,500 ft) and legs felt great afterwards, so hopefully I’m reasonably prepared. Hope the weather is kind to us. My main aim is get round before it gets dark and not trash my legs too much – am doing the Fellsman the following weekend ;)
I’ve done the route out of Patterdale up to Angle Tarn and have glanced up at the suitably impressive and slightly daunting Place Fell. I definitely won’t be taking the direct line, especially after 30 miles as you state!
Until we got the event update email yesterday, wasn’t even aware Swirral Edge was an option. Thanks for the extra info on that route choice….. and hadn’t even made the connection yet about further route variations e.g. going back into Grisedale. Might have to plot/examine some scenarios in Tracklogs.
I'm staying in Penrith and will probably register on the morning. Say hello to the guy in Dark Peak vest and bandana!
10000ft? Oh dear, said something like 2000ish metres on the website, which I guessed was about 7000ft. Oh well not to worry. I had been hoping to push towards 9 hours but it's a step into the unknown distance wise, so will see what happens.
I was also unaware that White Side was only a bad weather/snow checkpoint. if we do have to take in White Side i was planning on shortcutting the zig zags and staying in the valley all the way to Glenridding., rather than extra climb to get back over to Grisedale, just to save 3/4 of a mile on the road at Glenridding.
Pete
I’ve checked my bad weather route plot with a file I found posted on a different website from Daz The Slug, and they fully align. Tracklogs (which is pretty accurate as far as I’m aware) shows that as 40.1 miles – 10,455 ft. Thanks for the tip to adopt a direct line rather than use the zig-zags – that reduced it from 40.5 miles. I noticed it said 2000+ m on the website, but that seems majorly adrift of reality.
You might want to re-think your choice via Swirral Edge (I've since done some plotting) – continuing down into Glenridding (similar to bad weather option), that’s 39.5 miles – 10,113 ft. Or if you take a small climb away from Red Tarn and go over Hole-in-the-Wall and head down into Grisedale again, that’s 38.5 miles – 10,081 ft.
Any thoughts on route choice up Helvellyn? I’m currently thinking of just following the main path. The alternative is a more direct/steeper line, which is the reverse of the racing line used in OCT/10 Peaks.
PM me with your email address if you want any of my gpx files.
My plan was to take a pretty direct countour from Grisedale Tarn down towards the checkpoint at Wythburn/Thirlmere. Then take a direct-ish route back up towards Helvellyn using one of the becks to point the way if the weather is poor. Although I'm quite strong on steep uphills so may not suit everyone.
Yes if we are allowed the Swirral Edge route I plan to go via Hole In The Wall. I was merely suggesting that if we have to use the White Side route, then I don't think it's worth the effort to get back over into Grisedale, and would just take the easy route down to Glenridding. But I agree, with the Swirral Edge route it makes perfect sense via Hole In The Wall back down into Grisedale.
Took path down raise beck then path parallel to road to wythburn and gained places on people who went direct/contured. Also think the zig zag path up helvelyn better than direct route so as to save legs for later in particular Place fell!! Hope this helps great event did it 2years ago.
Yep, agree with you on the direct line down from Grisedale Tarn to Wythburn. The attached image shows that and the route I used to descend Helvellyn at 10 Peaks last year. Climbing is not my strong point (in fact, I don’t have any strong points, except being able to drink and eat for England), but I’m very tempted to go direct as it will save 0.6 mile.
Attachment 8401
Apologies, my fault, misunderstood part of your previous post on route choice from Whiteside/Swirral re Grisedale.
Didn't see your reply before my last posting Chorlian. Very interesting. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chorlian