I remember doing the exact same route in (i think) 2018 the day before the Mountain Trial at Grasmere. It was a nice day.
True to form, the first part of the LDMT day was abysmal.
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10.78 miles, 2,737 feet, 2 hours 42 minutes: Red Screes via Roundhill Farm both ways. Sunshine and some very welcome clouds, and a very nice cool breeze on the top. Terrain dry and firm. Saw about 15 others on the fell. So nice to get home and have a cold drink and as cold a shower as it will go.
9 miles, 3,854 feet, 3 hours 53 minutes: ODG - Bowfell via the climber's traverse - Crinkle Crags - Pike O'Blisco - Great Lakes descent - ODG. Sunshine and clouds, no wind, very warm. Terrain dry and firm. I only about a dozen others on the fells.
13.57 miles, 5,402 feet, 5 hours 47 minutes: ODG - Bowfell via Buscoe Sike - Esk Pike - Great End - Esk Pike via the grassy trod to the right - Bowfell - Crinkle Crags - Pike O'Blisco - ODG. Initially in mist above 1,000 feet or so, but it soon cleared to sunshine and clouds. Very warm, no significant wind. Terrain dry, firm. Lots were heading towards Scafell Pike, but otherwise the fells were fairly quiet. Despite the mist I managed to find the race route between Bowfell and Ore Gap both ways.
10 miles, 3,311 feet, 3 hours 12 minutes: Loughrigg trails. Almost constant drizzle/light rain. No wind, not cold. Terrain wet and slippery. Not many on the fell. Wet bracken is horrible - it sags and blocks the paths, and, of course, it makes you wet.
9.17 miles, 3,475 feet, 3 hours 4 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 3 sides. Sunshine and clouds and one brief but heavy shower. Terrain wet and slippery. Quite a few on the fell, despite the fairly grim forecast.
10.83 miles, 4,003 feet, 3 hours 57 minutes: Traveller's Rest - Bracken Hause - Gibson Knott - Calf Crag - Steel Fell - Steel End - Dunmail Raise - Seat Sandal - south ridge - Winterseeds. Mainly overcast, occasional sunshine, some brief spells of light drizzle, no wind. Terrain wet and slippery. Only saw 4 others on the fells, 2 of them fell runners. Town busy.
Way to go Mike!
I've been curious about my own daily calorie burn recently. The PM5 on the indoor rower give me a pretty accurate (I believe) reading of about 750 to 850 a day, for an hour's row, but my old Garmin Fenix3 I'm less sure about. My diminutive 6 mile trot up to and around the local trig (1100' ascent) clocks in at about 830 on the Garmin, which feels like an overestimate.
Being impressed by your daily distances/ascent, surely that's got to be 1500-2000 calories, at least?
Whatever, that's got to demand some serious refueling and license to scoff as many pies and cakes as you damn well like, I'm sure :)
6.86 miles, 1,047 feet, 1 hour 31 minutes: Wray Castle - south along Windermere - Coffin route - Latterbarrow - Outgate - Wray Castle. Intermittent light drizzle, very overcast, no wind. Terrain wet and slippery. Not many on this route, but Wray Castle carpark and cafe were both very busy. With 8 others from AAC.
19.94 miles, 5,513 feet, 6 hours 33 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Rydal - Nab Scar - Alcock Tarn - Traveller's Rest - Steel Fell - Calf Crag - High Raise - Sergeant Man - Swinescar Pike - Silver How - Loughrigg Top - Miller Bridge - Rothay Bridge. Sunny, the occasional cloud, no wind, quite warm - any shade was very welcome. Terrain mainly dry and soft. The fells are not that busy, but almost every top had picnickers on it. Saw three other runners, and, on a path on Loughrigg, an adder.
9.22 miles, 3,576 feet, 3 hours 41 minutes: ODG - The Band - Crinkle Crags - Cold Pike - Red Tarn - Pike O'Blisco - race descent - ODG. Overcast, cloud base initially below 2,000 feet, though it later rose. No wind, not cold. Terrain dry except in the mist where it was damp and slippery. I did not see many on the fells, though the car parks were very busy.
11.27 miles, 3,214 feet, 3 hours 41 minutes: Elterwater - Silver How - Lang How - Swinescar Pike - Sergeant Man - Swinescar Pike - Silver How - Elterwater. Overcast, no sunshine, no rain, no wind. Terrain dry and soft. Not many on the fells , but the car parks are busy. The first 2.75 miles was with 10 or so from AAC, but I could not persuade anybody to go a bit longer.
11.2 miles, 4,483 feet, 4 hours 41 minutes: ODG - The Band - Crinkle Crags - Pike O'Blisco - Lingmoor Fell (ascent via Side Pike, descent via the ridge to Bleatarn House) - ODG. Initially overcast and misty with light rain; it slowly cleared to weak sunshine. The cloud base was below 1,500 feet at first, which made finding the ideal lines a bit tricky behind and descending from the Crinkles. Terrain wet and slippery, particularly the rocks. Not many on the fells, though there is a Lakeland Trails event on with lots of runners on the minor roads.
10.39 miles, 2,610 feet, 3 hours 15 minutes: Traveller's Rest - Bracken Hause via those lovely zigzags - Calf Crag - Steel Fell - back the same way. Initially overcast and misty with light rain, but it slowly cleared up. No wind. Terrain wet and slippery. Saw 6 runners on the route, and a lot of walkers coming from the direction of Helm Crag. I have finally worked out how to go between Steel Fell and Calf Crag without getting my ankles wet.
11.27 miles, 4,357 feet, 4 hours 30 minutes: ODG - The Band - Crinkle Crags - Pike O'Blisco - Lingmoor Fell (going around Blea Tarn, up via the Bleatarn House ridge, and down via Side Pike) - ODG. Overcast, though most of the tops were cloud free; no sunshine, a few minutes of light drizzle. Terrain initially damp and slippery, but it improved as the day went on. Not many on the fells, and the car parks had quite a few empty spaces. I was able to work out exactly where I had got the lines wrong a couple of days ago.
Mike, do you take public transport to reach ODG? I've not been there for years as every time I consider it the car parking headache puts me off. In fact, all my recent (last 10 years) visits have been while renting a cottage in the dale.
I also avoid camping there now (at the NT site) as it seems to be a haven for anti-social behavior and thievery, sadly.
I drive to ODG, getting there at about 8.30 am - parking is not a problem at that time. There is of course the much larger car park at NDG if the one at ODG happens to be full. And one of the farmers has opened up a large field at NDG for parking at £5 a day.
On the weekend, or on a day with a good weather forecast, ODG is usually full when I get back, but it wasn't yesterday.
6.96 miles, 2,415 feet, 2 hours 6 minutes: Torver - The Old Man: up via Goat's Hause, descent via the Torver race route. Sunshine and clouds, no rain, no significant wind. Terrain dry, soft. Quite a few on the tourist paths, and the towns are very busy. With about a dozen others from AAC.
18.98 miles, 5,336 feet, 5 hours 58 minutes: Ambleside - Rydal - Nab Scar - Alcock Tarn - Traveller's Rest - Steel Fell - Calf Crag - Sergeant Man - Swinescar Pike - Silver How - Loughrigg top - Miller Bridge - Ambleside.
Sunny, very warm, a pleasant breeze on top. Terrain dry and soft. Tourist paths busy, and every top had groups of picnickers. My post run weight was 59.9 kg - normally it is about 62 kg.
8.14 miles, 3,295 feet, 3 hours 11 minutes: ODG - The Band - Crinkle Crags - Pike O'Blisco - Great Lakes descent - ODG. Very warm, a cool breeze at times. Terrain dry, soft. I saw about 20 on the fells. The ODG car park was only about 1/4 occupied when I got there, but completely full when I left, though there was plenty of room at NDG.
13.64 miles, 4,607 feet, 5 hours 43 minutes: ODG - Stake Pass - Rossett Pike - Ore Gap - Esk Pike - Ore Gap - Bowfell - Crinkle Crags - Pike O'Blisco - Langdale descent to ODG. Very warm, a cool breeze at times. Terrain dry, firm. Fells not that busy. The ODG car park was 2/3 full at 7.30 am, and was completely full when I got back - there was space at NDG.
PS. I should add my post run weight today was 59.7 kgs - I was quite thirsty at the finish, not having carried any water, nor drunk from any water sources on the fell side - but that is what I am used to doing.
Bloody hell, 6hrs in today's heat without water!?!?
I think I had 4-5 litres at Welsh 1000 today (in a similar time period to you), and was/am still dehydrated now...
10.75 miles, 3,900 feet, 3 hours 41 minutes: Traveller's rest - Bracken Hause - Calf Crag - Steel Fell - Steel End - Dunmail Raise - Seat Sandal - Winterseeds. Sunshine and very welcome clouds, and a lovely cool breeze up high - it was so much warmer in the valleys. Terrain dry, firm to hard. Saw 7 on the fells; the carparks are overflowing and town is heaving.
16.56 miles, 4,193 feet, 4 hours 48 minutes: Waterhead - High Skelghyll - Troutbeck - Garburn Pass - Ill Bell - Thornthwaite Beacon - Caudale Moor - Kirkstone Inn - The Struggle - Middle Grove Cottages. Very warm, not many clouds, not much of a breeze - the shade from trees was so welcome. Not many on the fells, though I saw 8 other runners. That cold drink and cold shower once I got home were so nice.
That descent from Thornthwaite Beacon down into Threshthwaite Mouth is one of my favourites at the moment!
Another contender being the north-west ridge off Caudale Moor down to Brothers Water.
I think that's why I like it, because it's challenging and I know I need to improve on more technical ground.
In wet conditions it's absolutely horrible.
8.08 miles, 2,242 feet, 2 hours 23 minutes: Patterdale(Cricket Club) - Place Fell - High Knott - path above the lake shore - Patterdale. Very warm, not much of a breeze, the intermittent shade on the path above the lake shore was most welcome. Terrain dry, firm. Lots on the lake path.
9.72 miles, 2,094 feet, 2 hours 40 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Under Loughrigg - Badger Bar - Rydal Water - Deerbolts Wood - Loughrigg top - down to the road to Loughrigg Tarn - Loughrigg top - Fishgarths Wood - Rothay Bridge. This route was chosen as it has a lot of shade. Still very warm, very little breeze, terrain dry and firm. Not many on the fells, though there were 10-15 at the water's edge at both Rydal Water and Grasmere.
10.17 miles, 2,516 feet, 3 hours 15 minutes: Traveller's Rest - Bracken Hause - Calf Crag - Steel Fell - back the same way. Very warm, not much of a breeze, terrain dry and firm. Saw six others on the fell, one a fell runner. I think most people are seeking swimming spots, not hills.
8.95 miles, 3,798 feet, 3 hours 57 minutes: ODG - The Band - Climber's Traverse - Bowfell - Crinkle Crags - Pike O'Blisco - Great Lakes descent - ODG. There was quite a significant inversion when I set off - I did not get above it until 1,000 feet up. It was a bit cooler than yesterday, but then I had set off an hour earlier. Very warm once in the sun, with a refreshing breeze. Terrain dry, firm. Only saw 9 others on the fell. Took 50 minutes to get back to Ambleside - sheer volume of traffic heading north through the town.
12.39 miles, 3,243 feet, 3 hours 29 minutes: Fairfield Horseshoe c/w, going around 5 of the tops (Heron Pike and its unnamed north top, Great Rigg, Hart Crag and Dove Crag), and avoiding the rock step, though going up to join the grassy path just underneath it. Initially sunny, then clouds moved in as the morning progressed. A lovely cool breeze above 2,000 feet. Terrain dry, firm. I saw about 25 others on the fell, including 4 other runners. Town is very busy with both people and traffic.
16.61 miles, 4,368 feet, 4 hours 38 minutes: Kentmere Horseshoe c/w from Troutbeck Church. Sunshine and clouds, a lovely cool breeze on the tops - for the first time in ages I wore my gloves as my hands were cold, rather than just to protect them if I fell. Terrain dry, firm. Not many walkers on this route, though I did see eight other fell runners.
12.02 miles, 4,311 feet, 5 hours 24 minutes: ODG - Rossett Gill - Esk Hause shelter - Scafell Pike - around to the right of Esk Pike - Bowfell - The Band - ODG. Sunshine and clouds, patches of mist coming and going on the tops. Warm in the valley, less so on the tops. No wind, no rain, terrain dry and firm. There were about a dozen on the top of Scafell Pike, and the routes to it were fairly busy, otherwise there were not many about. I saw five other runners. There was an extra field open for cars at the ODG, so parking was not a problem.
12.06 miles, 3,883 feet, 4 hours 24 minutes: Traveller's Rest - Grasmere - Far Easedale - Calf Crag - Steel Fell - Steel End - Dunmail Raise - Seat Sandal - Grisedale Tarn - The Tongue - Winterseeds - Traveller's Rest. Overcast, no sunshine, a lovely cool breeze at times, no rain, much cooler than it has been. Terrain dry, firm to hard. Very few on the fells, but then the forecast was off-putting; car parks and town very busy.
11.7 miles, 2,279 feet, 2 hours 54 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Under Loughrigg - Badger Bar - Rydal Water - Deerbolt Woods - Loughrigg top - around under Ivy Crag - Loughrigg Tarn - Loughrigg top - down the race route to Miller Bridge - Rothay Bridge. Sunshine and clouds, and a few minutes of light rain - it rained heavily before and after my run. Terrain damp but not yet slippery. Pleasantly cool, a nice breeze at times. Quite a few walkers about, and four other runners.
11.41 miles, 3,678 feet, 3 hours 47 minutes: Traveller's Rest - Steel Fell - Calf Crag - Helm Crag - back the way I had come. Overcast, virtually continuous light drizzle, a few minutes of sunshine, very little wind. Pleasantly cool. Terrain wet, rocks slippery. Saw about 20 on the fells, all but 2 either on Steel Fell or Helm Crag.
8.86 miles, 2,888 feet, 3 hours 4 minutes: Traveller's Rest - Winterseeds - Grisedale Tarn - Cofa Pike - Fairfield - trods to the right of Great Rigg and both tops of Heron Pike - Alcock Tarn - Traveller's Rest. Overcast, light drizzle at first, no wind, not cold. Terrain wet/damp, rocks slippery. Saw about 20 on the fells. Town very busy.