Had a look over Brown Knoll yesterday and tried the due west bearing to the fence but this seemed wrong. The flagged route last year was much more like north-west, due west loses too much height which then has to be regained once you hit the fence.
I did a recee on Saturday from Mam Nick - underestimated how much snow there'd be! Picked up the tracks of some Glads (I think) and a couple of walkers boots going up Brown Knoll and ran in the footprints - sure made the going easier! They went far too low but when they hit the wall they followed it up left to the sheepfold, then passed the boundary stone and then hit the summit dead on. I stuck to the main path and then took a left down to South Head and went back round to Rushop Edge on the bridleway (with plenty of snowdrifts!). I think the studs went west as per the flags, then took a right back up to the main path, then back across Brown Knoll as I picked them up again where the track comes in on the left on the way up Rushop Edge.
Were they your studs?
Also did recce from Mam Nick on saturday- graet fun in the snow- waist deep at times.
Made 2 errors. Once at the start when went to cut corner after Lord's Seat. hadn't bothered to get compass out and in limited visibility managed to swing just over 90 degrees to the left (must be that heavier bollack)- nearly managed to drop off wrong side of Rushop edge- made me concentrate after that.
Also saw a few stud marks on my way around- small pair of Walshes plus at least one other I didn't recognise- they seemed to drop lower before the sheepfold on Colborne but then followed a very similar line to Brown Knoll. Came across their marks again near top of jacob's ladder. Don't think they bothered with Grindslow Knoll which I was pleased to hit bang on, not having been out there before.
Didn't find a good line into ringing roger though- went too far, almost past it before angling out onto the top of it. Will have to have a look on a clear day.
Looks like it's a good route to race around- should be fun if we are allable to survive the crush through the gate at the top of the first field.
For anyone who's interested, Swoop and I are planning a trip round the route this coming Sunday, 18th. Meet up at Dog and Partridge, Bridgemont (access just on the Whaley Bridge side of the roundabout at the start of the A6 dual carriageway) for departure at 8:40am or Mam Nick (car park fee £5??) at 9:00am.
The plan is to do the whole route from Mam Nick back to Mam Nick, but without dropping down to Edale from Ringing Roger. Distance about 19 miles, time about 4.5 hours. For me it's about getting in some distance as well as understanding the route better.