I;ve run both routes off Calva and they took similar amounts of time - very little in it. What i think is important and often understated is that i quite enjoyed going down the east ridge and thought the south ridge was an unenjoyable plod.

There's something in the notion that when you know an unpleaseant section is coming up, you instinctively slow down so whilst the timing of the 2 ways off Calva might suggest one thing, it would be interesting to note how it affects the climb up Calva or even the run off Skiddaw! Just a thought...

There is another factor that comes into play, and that is there's arguably less navigation to do coming off the east side. Of course, what would be perfect would be a strip of recently cropped heather on the south ridge so that the shortest route is also the most enjoyable!

Doing leg 2 tomorrow on much needed day off (hopefully the weather will behave). Not too many route choices there, bar way up Clough Head.

Incidentally, I do have support lined up, but if anyone fancies recceing a leg on 30th June this year, that's when i'll be doing my round.

ST