High Peak Marathon

[Nick Smith]

After several years of trying, finally got a team in! Our team is 4 HPM novices - are there are any threads/web pages discussing route choices, navigation tips, etc? I've just read through all 132 pages of this thread (!) hoping to find some.

Any advice welcomed, especially for Lost Lad to Bleaklow summit, which is the section we're least familiar with, and obviously the hardest to run & navigate successfully.

Many thanks

[IanDarkpeak]

After several years of trying, finally got a team in! Our team is 4 HPM novices - are there are any threads/web pages discussing route choices, navigation tips, etc? I've just read through all 132 pages of this thread (!) hoping to find some.

Any advice welcomed, especially for Lost Lad to Bleaklow summit, which is the section we're least familiar with, and obviously the hardest to run & navigate successfully.

Many thanks

Simple really
reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie reccie ......

once you are happy then reccie some more.... nothing beats time over the ground.

There's a facebook page also...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/6165...40496/?fref=ts

[Nick Smith]

Thanks Ian, yes, going to do a lot of reccies, but as I found with the BG, you can spend a lot of time hunting for a trod that is 'common knowledge'. I'm already on the Fb page.

[mickoh]

Hi - managed a recce over the New Year from Sheepfold Clough round to Swain's Head and we tried to find a route up Foul Clough after I had read something about a line up there on an old race review/report on the internet that I can no longer find.

There are plenty of trods/small paths criss-crossing the direct line up to the top of Margery Hill but nothing I that seems to go in that direction and the going is fairly rubbish through the heather for this to be much of a decent line

Does anybody know if there is any benefit in going up Foul Clough as opposed to round the edge - it seems slightly less of a climb but b*gger all else

[IanDarkpeak]

there is a path all the way from SFC to Cut gate Cp however there are lots of small junctions and some less obvious ones than can save you time or send you the wrong way. if in doubt stay on the edge and hand rail.
there are trods that go straight to MH but why do you want to take a top in that isn't in the race

[Nick Smith]

Going to do my first winter recce of Cut Gate to Bleaklow this weekend. Any nav tips? Do people ever drop down off Outer Edge and follow the valley path along the river, then back up to Swains Head?

[backtothefells]

Going to do my first winter recce of Cut Gate to Bleaklow this weekend. Any nav tips? Do people ever drop down off Outer Edge and follow the valley path along the river, then back up to Swains Head?

Do NOT do it by yourself. If the bog monster gets you, you will find it hard to get out. Seriously, don't do a solo.

[IanDarkpeak]

Going to do my first winter recce of Cut Gate to Bleaklow this weekend. Any nav tips? Do people ever drop down off Outer Edge and follow the valley path along the river, then back up to Swains Head?

After Steve has scared you for a good reason after you pass cut gate look on the map for Bull clough, you cross it before the climb up to outer edge. avoid the path where it crosses BC either go right or left 50m for a dry crossing

Yes some have gone down. if you get a really good line it works out the same, a bit more sheltered but more climbing??In very bad weather it would give you a more sheltered route but if you don't know when to head up for Swains it could cost you a lot of time.
Those that have reccied it usually stick on the top>

I'll be at the top off up cutgate at about 10.00am, I'm leading a reccie of the straddle

[ydt]

After Steve has scared you for a good reason after you pass cut gate look on the map for Bull clough, you cross it before the climb up to outer edge. avoid the path where it crosses BC either go right or left 50m for a dry crossing

Yes some have gone down. if you get a really good line it works out the same, a bit more sheltered but more climbing??In very bad weather it would give you a more sheltered route but if you don't know when to head up for Swains it could cost you a lot of time.
Those that have reccied it usually stick on the top>

I'll be at the top off up cutgate at about 10.00am, I'm leading a reccie of the straddle

Time wise about the same, as you said Ian. In very wet conditions with a strong westerly gale it might even be better to take the river path but this would be against the spirit of the event as it would miss out the most desolate and challenging section of the watershed.

[IanDarkpeak]

Time wise about the same, as you said Ian. In very wet conditions with a strong westerly gale it might even be better to take the river path but this would be against the spirit of the event as it would miss out the most desolate and challenging section of the watershed.

isn't that the point....