10.29 miles, 3,135 feet, 3 hours 17 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 2 sides, ascending the first time via Skelghyll Wood, and the second time from Nanny Lane via "true" Baystones and the true top, then going down the race route. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 1,200 feet. A few minutes of drizzle; a moderately strong wind from the south east. Terrain damp/wet and slippery in places. Very few walkers about; no runners seen.
10.08 miles, 2,679 feet, 3 hours 24 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Borrans Road - Stagshaw Gardens - Champion Tree Trail - High Skelghyll - Skelghyll Lane - Holbeck Lane - Low Wood - High Skelghyll - Wansfell Pike - Blue Hill Woods - Blue Hill Lane - Ambleside. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 800 feet. Constant drizzle/light rain. A moderate breeze from the south east. Terrain saturated/streaming/slippery. I only saw 3 walkers and no runners whilst I was out. Despite the rain it was not at all cold, though of course I had all over waterproofs on.
10.18 miles, 2,562 feet, 3 hours 10 minutes: Loughrigg trails. Overcast, with clouds/mist at multiple levels, including in the valley floor in places. More or less constant drizzle. Some brief episodes of weak sunshine. A moderate breeze from the south. Terrain saturated/streaming/slippery, though the Mudtalons coped well. Not many walkers about, but more than I expected given the weather. 4 runners seen, 2 in the valley and 2 on Loughrigg top.
Again, it wasn't cold; I had my second best waterproofs on today.
10.09 miles, 3,167 feet, 3 hours 26 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 2 sides, the first ascent was via Kelsick Scar, the second from Nanny Lane, having gone along the ridge to the true top and "true" Baystones. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,000 feet; initially there were some banks of fog below that, but they soon went. No rain. That breeze from the south has picked up a bit. Terrain saturated and slippery in places. Very few walkers about; 2 runners seen.
10.09 miles, 2,659 feet, 3 hours 19 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including down the race route from the top to the road at High Close, down through Deerbolts Woods to Grasmere shore, and back up to the top via Loughrigg Terrace and the steps overlooking Grasmere. Sunshine, blue sky, and high clouds, as well as, initially, an inversion cloud over Windermere from the valley floor to 600 feet. No rain, no significant wind. Terrain wet/saturated/streaming/slippery. Lots of walkers on the fell; 10 runners seen.
Lots of people in shorts and T shirts, and it was certainly warm enough for that.
The relays were the best I've ever attended yesterday, but then again I might say that being a wharfedaler. I got a job at the top of the holding pen before the start, someone came out of the bog literally as the gun went. After that entertainment I had a run round leg 4, which was a cracking route with some good technical descents that were slippy. The commentary team located in an old knackered Bedford ice cream van included Tindersticks, who clearly knew who everyone was. Harry Bolton was wearing an experimental pair of shoes which he said would be on sale in a years time. After that I got a job shouting at people up at the barns, it was a bit chaotic with numerous legs converging on the same space. I caught a glimpse of the leg 3 map and it immediately became clear why some were struggling, it was very tricky, especially from cp5 onwards. Some pairs were in a total flap, expecting it to be a fully flagged route! All if this chaos earned me a free food voucher, though. BetTed had carnethy as favourites, so those who backed dpfr were quids in.
10.82 miles, 2,522 feet, 3 hours 16 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Clappersgate - Bog Lane - Fishgarthe Wood - Todd Crag - Lily Tarn - Loughrigg Tarn - High Close - Deerbolts Woods - Grasmere shore - Loughrigg Terrace - Loughrigg top - down past the old golf club - Miller Bridge - Rothay Bridge. The main feature of the day was the very strong blustery wind from the south west. Initially there was light to moderate rain, but this gradually faded away. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,000 feet. Some sunshine/blue sky later. Given the forecast and the rain I was surprised at how many walkers were about. 5 runners seen.
Standing up at the top of Loughrigg was rather interesting. At least it was not challenging, dangerous, or impossible, all of which I have seen.
Winds on top of Firth Fell yesterday were a bit stiff. On the tarn loop return you had to lean sideways into it to stop yourself getting blown over to Buckden Pike; then as it gusted you suddenly went sideways 3 feet, and as it backed off you went back the other way 3 feet. I was reduced to a walk when into a headwind. It was blowing about 60 gusting up to 70, if you've ever stuck your head out the window on the motorway that's what it was like.
No Lakes teams in the medals (male open).Originally Posted by mr brightside
Whilst they still dominate the English Champs, there are plenty of other clubs who can give them a run on their day.
11.13 miles, 3,027 feet, 3 hours 36 minutes: Wansfell Pike from High Skelghyll, including the Skelghyll Lane/Holbeck Lane/Low Wood/High Skelghyll loop. Sunshine and clouds, the latter mainly above the high tops. Intermittent brief showers. Terrain wet/saturated/streaming/slippery. That strong wind from the south west persists - it brought down several trees overnight, and there are small to medium sized branches everywhere. Very few walkers about; no runners seen.
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