Tour de Helvellyn

[Toreador]

They still managed to get yesterday's forecast wrong though - low cloud with 30% chance of cloud-free summits turned out to be a cloud-free day (which we spent sitting around doing very little!)

So glad the event happened before the thaw started!

[Don't fear the sweeper]

What we needed on the Sticks Pass...
Attachment 5441

[LM]

The white out over Sticks was definitely the highlight for me, followed closely by the section past Grisedale Tarn. The lowlight was when the wheels fell off on the track through the forest above Thirlmere, I just wanted to sit down and go to sleep. Some pasty and painkillers kept me going until we turned uphill again and everything suddenly seemed much easier. After that it was all enjoyable again until I lost concentration right at the end and we went for an unplanned detour

I too found the forest track very hard, I can do ups and downs no problem but long stretches of running does my head in. Luckily it was undulating so we walked the ups and ran the flats and downhills. Once we got to Dunmail and started the climb up to Grisedale Tarn I was happy again. The view of the tarn made it all worthwhile.

[stumpysmith]

aye a good day and well done to all who got to the line start. cracking soup at the end with a cuppa made it all worth while ,almost. weather behaved its self too and gave some great views. sticks pass was the highlight of a top day out. a cock up/ laziness of not checking map on askham on the return cost us a chunk of time but otherwise went pretty much to plan.would have liked to keep high level a bit more but otherwise couldnt fault the event. kit check was thorough : have you got food, yes a sarnie, what sarnie you got, jam , ok enjoy your day. classic :-). it was good to meet nee bother and put a face to a name, and eat his xmas cake too.........

i hope you enjoyed the sarnie and the soup.
cheers
stumpy (chkpoint 3 and kit check bloke)

[Toreador]

Luckily it was undulating so we walked the ups and ran the flats and downhills.

I was walking the flats and downhills as well!

[stumpysmith]

Well done all involved and hope the soup went down well? Congrats to the backup team and the White Lion at Patterdale for their help. And well done for you all turning out to
make it all a good day out.
Any comments please pass them on rather than posting on here. That can be done as well for all to read if needed and constructive.

Pics can be found here
https://picasaweb.google.com/1170288...K78i47dwYrOpgE

Please credit them if you use them.

A few notes from my point of view as kit checker and safety marshall at Chk 3
kit checks at this type of event are essential even if its a jam buttie iam looking at.
please bring a survival bag as stated as a blanket is not really the best thing. Thanks to 2 competitors for their honesty and sharing. Think about you and fellows safety.
I enjoy the low key nature of this and the rest of www.nav4.co.uk events. and therefore respect the runners who have been vetted for this harsh winter ultra. There will be a planning meeting for the next events and a few thing ironed out for next time.
Please keep in touch and have a happy xmas

Cheers

Stumpy
blog http://aim-adventureinmind.blogspot.com/
twitter @aimcourses

[Rich1]

A brilliant day, thanks to everyone involved. We even managed to achieve our target, ie finishing Some photos: http://climbing.me.uk/Tour-de-Helvellyn/index.html

Looks like a great event - respect to whoever was wearing shorts. Showed the pics to Mrs R - she was concerned about the risk of frostbite in the upper thigh/lower groin regions!!

[LM]

Fantastic pictures, thank you. One of the guys running went on to do the Stoop yesterday, now that is some going.

[Tom R]

It was a great day out. Nice cake and soup at the end and a pastie on the way round! Grand :-)
Finished in 9 hours so cant complain

[Toreador]

The winner's blog:
http://team.inov-8.eu/2011/12/tour-de-helvellyn.html