Quote Originally Posted by Hank View Post
I looked at BS and think it must be the quickest way if, as you say, you can solo it quickly and your pacer(s) can too. I reckon though that after 12+ hours running and the likelihood of the rock being wet, it's too risky for the big day. I don't want to use rope, so it's Foxes Tarn or LR/WWT for me. Lords Rake was fine... the chockstone is still there and there are a few other big rocks near it, but it looked stable enough and there's plenty of space on the sides to miss any slide. Deep Ghyll was probably worse in terms of looseness underfoot, but not dangerous. I did 29 minutes from top to top and was by no means pushing it.
I 100% agree with Hank. I was up on BS a few weeks back and decided that although I think I'd be happy to do it in good conditions, it would be a different story in potentially wet and claggy weather and there's also the tiredness factor - to say nothing of how your pacers feel about it. It will be LR and WWT for me with Foxes Tarn as a back-up route.

I did a Leg 3 support earlier this year and the route employed was what I think is called "Foxes Traverse" or "Climbers Traverse", where you drop down towards Eskdale as normal for the FT route, however you hug the bluff and get onto an outcrop/shoulder that means you don't have to lose as much height and join the gully much higher up. It's OK in dry conditions (it was), but could be a bit dodgy if wet or you don't have a head for heights.

Martyn