Quote Originally Posted by Swiss Toni View Post
2 weeks to go and i've got all the route choices sorted in my head apart from one...

I'm still torn between going up Fairfield via the track behind Grisedale Tarn and the out and back climb/descent - or - the zig-zags down then going up via the Tarn outflow and the trod going towards Cofa Pike.

One is further with less climbing and on good paths. The other is more direct and on good paths down and reasonable trods up.

I'll be doing this in the dark by the way.

I've done both, but only the more direct route in the dark. My gut instinct is to take the wider, more runnable descent and traverse around the tarn. It also has no nav issues, esp when you leave the top of Fairfield as you return the way you came!

Still not sure.

Any thoughts?!

ST
listen to Little Binnion ... pick good pacers and trust them.

Jamie and I were saying only last week that neither of us have ever been on catstycam .... now, how weird is that! may just add in a small detour

Seriously though, re dollywaggon - fairfield, I can't say I've ever timed each route, but I think I'd always go straight off dollywaggon, round the tarn and then up and down the same line on Fairfield. I just think there's less room for error navigationally, especially as you say you can re-trace your steps off Fairfield. I think the only reason for going off dollywaggon via the zig zags would be if the ground was icy, as this is a gentler descent.