It's a hot one!

Is this the future?

SLMM

6th and 7th July 2013

Corney Fell

It had all been a bit of a rush getting ready for this event. A few things left until the last minute. However DW and I find ourselves on the start line of another SLMM Bowfell course. I ask myself have I taken on more than I can manage this time? 

Too late as we get our control sheet and start to mark up the map. Then into the first short steep climb to White Hall Knott. A small hill with more than its fair share of gorse bushes. From there we basically head north towards Devoke Water, then east to Green Crag. All is going well. A steady pace, I hope DW is happy with this. I am out to enjoy and not compete. Turning west we pass north of Devoke Water over Rough Crag and onto the day one finish at Stainton. I feel in good shape and have been much worse at mid camps before.

We have plenty of time to organise ourselves and enjoy a fine evening. I do not sleep much as it is very warm and close. Eventually the morning comes. Not being in the chasing start provides us with plenty of time to eat and pack up. We get the control descriptions early and plot our route. All looks good until the final control at the small tarn below the summit of Black Combe. The sting in the tail perhaps.

The distance to the first control on Yoadcastle summit is deceptive and also deciding which of the many  bumps is the right one provides a small challenge. We get it pretty much spot on. Some don't. After the next couple of controls we start a long section along the west side of the map. 9K or so in a straight line but plenty of dipping in and out of gills and becks. We stay high to avoid the worst but the long contouring begins to irritate my left ankle. I had given it a bit of a tweek earlier (not unusual for me). The up and down stuff was much kinder to it if not anything else. 

Then en route to the last two controls before the climb to Black Combe we encounter the heather. Trying at first it becomes increasingly energy and morale sapping. As we round each bump, ridge or spur I hope to see lovely short green grass but it never comes. Then when finally in site of the control we have to descend into Millergill beck and climb out the other side, still in the heather. My will to just put one foot In front of the other is tested to the limit. I contemplate sitting down and just crying for a bit. But DW has pressed on and I must follow. I take a short refreshing break in the stream and try to establish a rhythm.

The combination of the time out, heat, lack of breeze and lack of sleep all combine to make this a weary ascent. Other teams around are in equally bad shape and I see two where the stronger partner is carrying both packs. As nice as this seems I could not do that as I would feel I had failed in some way. But once we reach the main path to Black Combe and the last control the end is literally in sight. Just the small matter of descending 500 meters to the finish. In a straight line. The last part being through bracken getting taller and thicker all the time.

Joining the track for the last couple of hundred meters to the finish my legs wobble for a moment before DW encourages me on and we run to the finish. Soak in the river, change and eat. A relief to just finish but like runners do, once recovered, we have to look at the results. We had gained 6 places since the overnight camp to finish 17th. And we're 13th on day two. An indication a think of just how hard that finish was for everyone.

Would I do it again? Ask me in 6 months.

Russell