Did I say the contrary?Originally Posted by nikalas
No.
Did I say the contrary?
No.
With a few exceptions, most of the BG is on established paths and these are likely to have been cairned by walkers over the years. There are also one or two paths that are infrequently used by walkers but are recorded in guides such as Wainwright's and are also marked by small cairns - the route from Langdale Combe to Rossett Pike is one such, it's also used in part by the Langdale Horseshoe race.
At a rough guess there's the following:
large parts of the Skiddaw - Great Calva - Mungrisedale Common section;
the direct line up Clough Head;
the direct line from Grizedale Tarn up Fairfield;
the descent to Dunmail from Seat Sandal;
the climb up Steel Fell;
the rakes on Bowfell
The ascent of Yewbarrow
I've seen cairns on Clough Head and the Rakes on Bowfell, I've seen reflective wands on the section up Great Calva. There could be more these days.
Personally I think the route is now well enough known that extra cairns aren't needed. I think that those that mark the starts of non-walker sections should be removed - there's enough erosion on the Bowfell rakes as it is, without encouraging more traffic than the BG itself generates. The contender and/or their navigators should know the desired line well enough that they aren't reliant on locating a small pile of stones that may or may not be where they think it is.
As for BG himself having more of an adventure and doing it for fun. Well he did set out with the intention of extending Eustace Thomas' Lakeland 24hr record that had stood for 12 years.
Hi Al
1) As mentioned earlier a cairn is a pile of stones, it's not like an Alpine marker with paint and a possible number so how do you know the cairn you are looking at marks your route. The only way I can think is if you are already on that route, if so why do you need a pile of stones to tell you the way.
2) Heard on Kinder- a guide leader telling her group that the cairns marked the way back to EdaleProblem was they were walking away from Edale at the time
3) If you move rocks from there natural area (to create a cairn)you are causing erosion in 2 ways.
i) Exposing the area to the elements
ii) Creating a follow me attitude for other hill users. This brings a higher footfall to a concentrated area which wears down the surface exaggerating the erosion. Taking this to the next step once the path has expanded you step to one side thereby widening it
In some areas of Scotland you can walk/run all day with out getting near or seeing a path until you get near a summit.
It's difficult to see how removing cairns in the Lakes or the Peak could help as most paths are so well established due to the number of people in the hills but the true wild places need looking after and unless they are a marked Cairn(on a Map) I would knock it down
Hope this helps
spot Onhi Al
1) As Mentioned Earlier A Cairn Is A Pile Of Stones, It's Not Like An Alpine Marker With Paint And A Possible Number So How Do You Know The Cairn You Are Looking At Marks Your Route. The Only Way I Can Think Is If You Are Already On That Route, If So Why Do You Need A Pile Of Stones To Tell You The Way.
2) Heard On Kinder- A Guide Leader Telling Her Group That The Cairns Marked The Way Back To Edale
3) If You Move Rocks From There Natural Area (to Create A Cairn)you Are Causing Erosion In 2 Ways.
I) Exposing The Area To The Elements
Ii) Creating A Follow Me Attitude For Other Hill Users. This Brings A Higher Footfall To A Concentrated Area Which Wears Down The Surface Exaggerating The Erosion. Taking This To The Next Step Once The Path Has Expanded You Step To One Side Thereby Widening It
In Some Areas Of Scotland You Can Walk/run All Day With Out Getting Near Or Seeing A Path Until You Get Near A Summit.
It's Difficult To See How Removing Cairns In The Lakes Or The Peak Could Help As Most Paths Are So Well Established Due To The Number Of People In The Hills But The True Wild Places Need Looking After And Unless They Are A Marked Cairn(on A Map) I Would Knock It Down
Hope This Helps
I did hear a tale a little while ago about a certain runner building a small pile of stones at the start of a particularly cunning line on a race - I also heard that a rival took great pleasure in dismantling it and reconstructing it in just the wrong place........
I thought it was just me that did that...
Is this the same w@nker who sheltered some OMM competitors last year, then turned on the race organisers for attempting to turn the Lake District into a morgue?!
Maybe business is slack again at the slate mine?
His chocolate factory's doing fine though.
On the theme of cairns!
I took 3 friends out into t'fells last weekend, 2 of them for the first time ever.
When we got to the top of the first peak (Yewbarrow coincidentally), the first thing that the 2 newcomers did was to pick up a rock & place it on the summit cairn. I didn't ask why, nor did they pass comment on their actions!
It must just be an inbuilt subconscious thing (to some people).
I'm not a big fan of cairns, as it's already been said, it's just a pile of rocks (& if yer lost, it could be a pointer to anywhere).
As regards the BGR, I've helped with pacing & although it's definitely do-able, it is a big ask & a huge day out.
Having a crack in July, but not planning on having any strobes nor neon lights though....
Cairns are here to stay! Unless we do away with people.
And it is as inevitable as night follows day that the route of the BGR will get more and more "visible" and all the carping is just another boring version of the fell runners' version of "it wasn't like that in my day".
And it will get worse when my book on the BGR route for non-fellrunners, on the lines of Wainwright's Coast to Coast book, is published.
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