Sunday 31st March 2013
DW, CB and I plan a long run. The higher fells may be too wintry so we decide on what I think is an LDWA route from Grasmere. A good decision. Leaving the village we climb first to Alcock Tarn and then a rising trod towards Nab Scar. From there along to Great Rigg Man and increasing snow and ice. At the summit we turn, after donning spikes, towards Arthur's Pike then descend into Tongue Gill, (spikes off) then cross the A591 and head up Greenburn.
The valley is followed to Greenburn Bottom from where we ascend to Pike of Carrs and into the snow again. Then along the ridge to Helm Crag (The lion and the lamb). A short descent into Easdale then ascend once more this time on to Blea Rigg. Continuing along to Silver How is hard work as the time and distance begin to tell. The paths are also partly covered in snow adding to the effort.
Then it is decision time. Go for the last summit of Loughrigg or the quick way back to Grasmere. After a brief discussion and some dithering it is on to Loughrigg. I am glad we did but at the time I would have felt no shame in descending.
This is a really good route. A little contrived but that does give the opportunity to shorten it at several places if required.
Russell
Sunday, 31 March 2013
Friday, 29 March 2013
Shipman Knotts
Friday 29th March 2013
Most of today spent doing little jobs and pottering about. Every time I look out of the window I see Shipman Knotts and Kentmere Pike resplendent in their snowy overcoats. Eventually I find time and head up the valley. Parking at Maggs How I follow the race route. Sometimes the snow drifts make this tough going or force deviations. Sunny spells are welcome and the breeze is not too strong. Glad to be out but I am not feeling my best. Icy parches make the descent tricky and I recce a new line. Good for today but in summer the bracken might make it impractical.
Russell
Most of today spent doing little jobs and pottering about. Every time I look out of the window I see Shipman Knotts and Kentmere Pike resplendent in their snowy overcoats. Eventually I find time and head up the valley. Parking at Maggs How I follow the race route. Sometimes the snow drifts make this tough going or force deviations. Sunny spells are welcome and the breeze is not too strong. Glad to be out but I am not feeling my best. Icy parches make the descent tricky and I recce a new line. Good for today but in summer the bracken might make it impractical.
Russell
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Howgill snow and wind
Sunday 24th March
Edale Skyline race cancelled due to the weather so our team decide on a couple of hours in the Howgills. Ably lead by RS. Leaving well prepared we contour under the fells before climbing to The Knott. Then descending steeply into Hobdale Beck is fun. The climb out to Middle Tongue is not. On the exposed ridge the strong and cold easterly wind lets us know our stay here today will be a test.
Once the climbing is done we head for Bram Rigg Top and descend the ridge on firm snow (see pic) to Bram Rigg Beck. We thought there would be some shelter from the wind on this side but not so. It was even worse. Buffeting us all the way back up onto the ridge above Nab and on to Arant Haw.
The final stretch over Winder is a relative pleasure with the wind behind, the last descent is the usual quad basher.
Good to be back and enjoy home made cupcakes. Thanks AB.
Russell
Edale Skyline race cancelled due to the weather so our team decide on a couple of hours in the Howgills. Ably lead by RS. Leaving well prepared we contour under the fells before climbing to The Knott. Then descending steeply into Hobdale Beck is fun. The climb out to Middle Tongue is not. On the exposed ridge the strong and cold easterly wind lets us know our stay here today will be a test.
Once the climbing is done we head for Bram Rigg Top and descend the ridge on firm snow (see pic) to Bram Rigg Beck. We thought there would be some shelter from the wind on this side but not so. It was even worse. Buffeting us all the way back up onto the ridge above Nab and on to Arant Haw.
The final stretch over Winder is a relative pleasure with the wind behind, the last descent is the usual quad basher.
Good to be back and enjoy home made cupcakes. Thanks AB.
Russell
Coniston round
Saturday 16th March
The forecast is not great for today. So DW and I change plans, saving our big day out for better times. We head to Coniston and familiar ground. Or so we thought. Heading up the main path there are spots of rain but as we leave this and turn for Wetherlam we are in snow. Also the first to pass this way today. We break trail happily moving along the ground seeming familiar.
The light is very flat and it becomes hard to define the ground ahead. Soon we arrive at a large cairn. At first I thought it was the summit but not so. It just doesn't look right. We press on. Finally the true summit arrives. Descending we pick up the cairns again but the path is obliterated by hard snow so out with map and compass. On a bearing we stay high to avoid the steep ground. This work well and we find ourselves on the familiar approach to Prison Band.
Again breaking trail, then half way up we meet a party descending. Now with easier going Swirl How comes quickly. As does the main path to Brim Fell. In the cloud everything looks the same, thankfully the line of cairns and footprints combined with our sense of direction keep us on the right route to Coniston Old Man. Retracing our steps then following a couple of pairs of fell shoe prints as we head to Doe Crag. Then on to Brown Pike and our return to Coniston via the Walna Scar Road.
A very enjoyable run.
Russell
The forecast is not great for today. So DW and I change plans, saving our big day out for better times. We head to Coniston and familiar ground. Or so we thought. Heading up the main path there are spots of rain but as we leave this and turn for Wetherlam we are in snow. Also the first to pass this way today. We break trail happily moving along the ground seeming familiar.
The light is very flat and it becomes hard to define the ground ahead. Soon we arrive at a large cairn. At first I thought it was the summit but not so. It just doesn't look right. We press on. Finally the true summit arrives. Descending we pick up the cairns again but the path is obliterated by hard snow so out with map and compass. On a bearing we stay high to avoid the steep ground. This work well and we find ourselves on the familiar approach to Prison Band.
Again breaking trail, then half way up we meet a party descending. Now with easier going Swirl How comes quickly. As does the main path to Brim Fell. In the cloud everything looks the same, thankfully the line of cairns and footprints combined with our sense of direction keep us on the right route to Coniston Old Man. Retracing our steps then following a couple of pairs of fell shoe prints as we head to Doe Crag. Then on to Brown Pike and our return to Coniston via the Walna Scar Road.
A very enjoyable run.
Russell
Saturday, 2 March 2013
Black Combe race
Saturday 2nd March 2012
Always a good way to kick off the racing year. If you have not already done 10 Winter League races. Back to the usual start and finish as the fields were relatively dry. My warm up felt OK but the race start was terrible. Heavy legs and hard work but I am determined to keep running until the steepness of Seaness prevents it.
I deliberately set a steady pace to the summit of Black Combe, perhaps too steady as I feel out of place in the field. In the mist now but I get the right line around to White Combe and gain a few places and a few more down to the fodder rack and river crossing. Now the real work begins. Surprisingly I feel better than I thought I would. I start to gain on the group ahead but am passed by 4 or 5 runners. However I 'dig in' as they say and by the summit I feel good and have caught then all up.
The mist has come right in now and I ignore everyone else and take my own line back to the main path. This works well as I pass all but one without even seeing them. I chase this runner all the way down slowly gaining. Approaching the finish I finally catch them and although crossing the line behind them my better dibber technique enables me rightly or wrongly to be placed ahead of them in the results ( sorry Anna).
My time is 5 minutes slower than I would like but that is usually the case these days. But I am still relatively pleased. The pie peas back in the village hall were very welcome. And all for £6. This really in one of the best races in the calendar.
Russell
Always a good way to kick off the racing year. If you have not already done 10 Winter League races. Back to the usual start and finish as the fields were relatively dry. My warm up felt OK but the race start was terrible. Heavy legs and hard work but I am determined to keep running until the steepness of Seaness prevents it.
I deliberately set a steady pace to the summit of Black Combe, perhaps too steady as I feel out of place in the field. In the mist now but I get the right line around to White Combe and gain a few places and a few more down to the fodder rack and river crossing. Now the real work begins. Surprisingly I feel better than I thought I would. I start to gain on the group ahead but am passed by 4 or 5 runners. However I 'dig in' as they say and by the summit I feel good and have caught then all up.
The mist has come right in now and I ignore everyone else and take my own line back to the main path. This works well as I pass all but one without even seeing them. I chase this runner all the way down slowly gaining. Approaching the finish I finally catch them and although crossing the line behind them my better dibber technique enables me rightly or wrongly to be placed ahead of them in the results ( sorry Anna).
My time is 5 minutes slower than I would like but that is usually the case these days. But I am still relatively pleased. The pie peas back in the village hall were very welcome. And all for £6. This really in one of the best races in the calendar.
Russell
Helvellyn and the Dodds
Saturday 23rd February 2013
DW, CB and I head for Threlkeld to do the race route.
Although a reasonably nice day in the valleys the tops are in mist and still have snow. The climb up Clough Head seems harder than last time but I can only go at my pace. I am finding more and more that the start of runs is harder and it takes a while to get going.
After Great Dodd the snow and ice increases and at Lower Man we don Kahtoolas. A good decision. They make the return so much easier, especially the descents. There were a few Mountain Rescue call outs on Helvellyn this day.
I work as hard as I can but still get left behind on the climbs. Nice of the others to wait for me. Soon we descend back to Newsham and things warm up. Coffee and cake courtesy of DW very welcome.
Russell
DW, CB and I head for Threlkeld to do the race route.
Although a reasonably nice day in the valleys the tops are in mist and still have snow. The climb up Clough Head seems harder than last time but I can only go at my pace. I am finding more and more that the start of runs is harder and it takes a while to get going.
After Great Dodd the snow and ice increases and at Lower Man we don Kahtoolas. A good decision. They make the return so much easier, especially the descents. There were a few Mountain Rescue call outs on Helvellyn this day.
I work as hard as I can but still get left behind on the climbs. Nice of the others to wait for me. Soon we descend back to Newsham and things warm up. Coffee and cake courtesy of DW very welcome.
Russell
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