Bob Graham Route Choices

[Baggins]

I cross at the style but have crossed about 10m? right of style (could step over wall)

Bill

[alwaysinjured]

I cross at the style but have crossed about 10m? right of style (could step over wall)

Bill

Thanks.

So where do you enter the field?

The fence is very low just to the left of the layby opposite the road to brackenclose and so can be stepped over which is what I have done in the past, more or less in line with the reinforced wall corner:

But it is nowhere near the style, so do you go further down the road more in line with the style?, or take a diagonal crossing of the field?

[gej]

Since the BG is over 120 naismith miles, and therefore faster than 12 min equivalent flat miles arguably you cannot do 12 min miles downhill on good paths and still succeed on the BG as a whole.

Doesn't Naismith equate 1000ft ascent to 1.5 miles, which for the BGR gives just over 100 miles (assuming 63 miles, 26000ft).

[Mark Smith]

Thanks.

So where do you enter the field?

The fence is very low just to the left of the layby opposite the road to brackenclose and so can be stepped over which is what I have done in the past, more or less in line with the reinforced wall corner:

But it is nowhere near the style, so do you go further down the road more in line with the style?, or take a diagonal crossing of the field?

I'm planning on going down the road 50 yards (if that) and going over the gate marked 'private' (I know, i know) and heading up the trod that materialises as the ground steepens (a few cairns too). I'll pretty much go through that gate and head for the big boulder.

[Full Moon Addict]

I'm planning on going down the road 50 yards (if that) and going over the gate marked 'private' (I know, i know) and heading up the trod that materialises as the ground steepens (a few cairns too). I'll pretty much go through that gate and head for the big boulder.

thats definitely right - through the gate and past the boulder to the stile.

[GeoffB]

I'm planning on going down the road 50 yards (if that) and going over the gate marked 'private' (I know, i know) and heading up the trod that materialises as the ground steepens (a few cairns too). I'll pretty much go through that gate and head for the big boulder.

Yes, me too. I thought that was the way everybody went.

[alwaysinjured]

Yes, me too. I thought that was the way everybody went.

Dont bother with the gate.

Just left of the layby ( and before the gate) you can step over the fence: it is easier, shorter and faster.

(and that way you dont even see a sign marked private!)

But I think you will find a great many people have crossed at the wall corner, and then taken a route that connects with the stream gully at a height of 300-400 feet that saves probably 200m distance BUT at this time of year the bracken is too deep, and you are more or less forced to join the gully lower down.

[alwaysinjured]

Doesn't Naismith equate 1000ft ascent to 1.5 miles, which for the BGR gives just over 100 miles (assuming 63 miles, 26000ft).

If take 500 feet per mile as a conversion, add that to the miles and multiply by 5 minutes you get a number which is very close to the lakeland fell race records - IMHO closer than the comparison at 700 feet - so I reckon 500 feet is a better conversion, and is the number I use to translate my own flat performance to fell with fair accuracy. But then maybe I am a cr*p climber!

I would be interested in an elite fell runners view of that

In any event it does not alter the fact that from the OP - 2 miles in 24 minutes on good track on a good descent gradient is probably too slow to make sense of the BG generally.

To verify that statement take the section from sergeant man to harrison stickle - assuming high raise - sergeant man - thunakar - harrison which is level with 100 -200 foot climbs and descents

That is a distance of 3 miles and on the accepted schedules that I know of is targetted at 7 min, 14 min , 8 min - which is around 30 min and 6 miles per hour.

On that basis taking 24 mins for the descent past skiddaw house - a net loss of at least 700 feet? on good track and good gradient is simply not fast enough for 2 miles

PS - I dont have the schedules so all of that is from memory - hope it is right.!

Anyway the proof of the pudding.

Lets see others take that descent at what they feel is stage 1 BG pace and see what time they do.

[Baggins]

So where do you enter the field?

The gate

Just left of the layby ( and before the gate) you can step over the fence: it is easier, shorter and faster.

I don't mind going through a gate marked private into a field but feel uneasy about going over a fence

Bill

[Wylie Coyote]

.... But then maybe I am a cr*p climber!

I would be interested in an elite fell runners view of that

Maybe you are!!