Potter tarn potter.

Friday 29th April 2016

The weather has changed. A lot of snow about and it is cold and breezy. Opt for a short potter down the river and up to Potter Tarn and Gurnal Dubbs then straight home. Good to be out for a bit but it took some effort to work up the enthusiasm.

Russell

Red Screes - Fairfield

Wednesday 20th April 2016

A beautiful day and I am off work. Over the past few weeks I have really wanted to head to the northern lakes but until the A591 is repaired I really can't be bothered to drive around. So I find myself at Kirkstone Pass. I sit a while to contemplate my options. Decide to head towards Fairfield via all the summits on the way. Going out I take in High Bakestones. A loveley spot.

The breeze is cold and gets stronger but after turning for home it is behind me and I am fine in shorts and T shirt all day. The climb back up to Red Screes slows me. Really need to get fitter.

Back at the car it is positively hot. Head straight home. A bacon sandwich awaits.

Russell

Winter League 2016 finale

Elterwater race is my seventh KWL race this year and so I will earn my medal and mug at the presentation. This is a fantastic and proper short fell race. Again not the best start for me and a tough climb, but I have a good descent and enjoy it in the end. 

On to Arant Haw race on presentation day. A beautiful sunny day a great race. Usual story for me. Hard start but get going after 15-20 minutes. Find it hard to pick up and run after the steep climbs. Again a great descent and get a few places by good route choice. Lovely tea and cakes followed by presentation. It has been a few years since I last did these races and definitely enjoyed them.

Will have to decide about next year. Would be good to do them again and improve!

Russell

Glenridding, Raise, Glencoyne.

Thursday 14th April 2016

I set off with a vague plan to do a 3-4 hour run somewhere from Glenridding. Even though I have plenty of time to organise myself I still manage to forget any food and a map. The food issue is solved by stopping at the Glenridding shop. As for the map, I will have to rely on my failing memory.

I start by visiting two summits that I have never been to before. Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike. Halfway up the pike I am in the mist. Then it is decision time. I was going to head towards Helvellyn but that now seems a bit optimistic so the next objective is Sticks Pass. I take a break here to contemplate my options. 

I chose to turn left and head for Raise. It is much colder at the top. Back down to the pass and up to Stybarrow Dodd. Decision time again. Hartside springs to mind. Having no map it is memory time. I know it is approx east so out with the compass and off. Soon the ground steepens and I know I am a bit far north. Adjust course and am quickly on the right trod. This is a great piece of running, especially in the Dockray Great Dodd race. 

At Hartside I have to navigate my way back around Glencoyne Head to the col below Sheffield Pike. What I had not realised is that the run towards Hartside from Stybarrow turns towards north, therefore my thinking that I need to head south is confusing. So I end up not running far enough back south east before going south. Then following the slope of the land. This leads me to drop down by a beck near Scot Crag. I know there is a trod that contours around Glencoyne somewhere below me. It is just a case of heading down and hoping I don't drop over a crag. I end up on a grassy spur that takes me nicely there.

The run around the head of the valley is great and then it is down to Seldom Seen and back to the car. The Strava packed in just as I hit the Glencoyne trod which was a bit annoying. It seems to happen now and then.

Russell

Blisco not so dash.

Tuesday 29th March 2015

Day off and we are in Langdale for various reasons so head up Blisco. Cool and breezy but the weather improves and the spells of sunshine are welcome and give great views. Good to be out again.

Russell

Coniston reverse

Clockwise Coniston round

A day off and what a beautiful day it is. I decide on the Coniston fells and a route I have not done for a while. Reverse of the race route. It is shorts and T shirt weather and the climb up the 'Old Man' is hot. The rare shade is welcome. Above Low Water the patches of snow are frozen solid and it cools a little. Stunning views from the top.

I walk and jog my way over Brim Fell to Swirl How. Descend Prison Band. This is awkward going. Much better to ascend. Heading for Weatherlam there are a few patches of snow to negotiate. After a few minutes to take it all in I head off down. Pleasant running, much better than coming up this way. The clear waters of Church Beck look inviting but cold. I resist. 

Russell

Two evening runs.

Wansfell and Loughrigg

I am on my own for a few days so after work on the Friday I head to Ambleside and dash up Wansfell. I work hard all the way up but am not quick. I think my time to the summit is approx equal to my best total race time. Work to be done.

On the Sunday I head to Ambleside again. This time it is Loughrigg. From Brathy up to Lily Tarn along and down to Loughrigg Tarn then straight up to the summit. Returning via the LSH race route. A good run and very enjoyable. No one around. I really like these evening runs.

Russell

BGR leg 3 part recce

BGR first half leg 3

I join the Helm ladies BGR recce. My intention is to get some time out and help if I can.

Leaving Dunmail we are soon onto the snow. This lasts all day. I am not sure how useful it was as a recce but we did get a couple of helpful references and plenty of map and compass practice. It was great to be out on the tops and in good company. Thanks DW KA for tea and cakes afterwards.

Russell

2016 so far

So 2016 dawns and I need to get off to a positive start. I decide that some racing is probably the best way to get motivated and gain some fitness. Therefore I plan to do enough Winter League races to qualify for the prizes. Not that I will be winning any!

First up is Scout Scar. I just want to run all the way and not embarrass myself. It goes to plan. I don't worry about position or who is ahead of me. Finish OK and more importantly enjoyed it.

Next up is Whitestones. This has been one of my favourite KWL races. I even finished 6th one year. But that only tells you something about what KWL used to be like rather than my racing ability. The start for me is bad because it is a fast sprint into a uphill section. However I keep pushing and once up the climb I get into my running and slowly pick of runners ahead of me. By the finish my legs are gone because the boggy ground really takes it out of you.

On to Birkrigg Common. A very runnable runnable course with a steeper start and finish. The underfoot conditions are very slippery on the day and I have the wrong shoes. Not a valid excuse. I run as hard as I can but the result is not what I wanted. Still, another one down.

Cunswick Scar is next up. I did this last year and felt terrible. Today goes much better and I run well. I have a bit of a battle with a couple of other runners and come out on top. When the results come out I am a little disappointed. Only 30sec quicker. There was a bit more of a hold up at the gates but I thought my time would be much better than that.

My fifth race is Sedbergh School. Not done it before. Basically three laps of a cross country course with a nasty 'water jump' to negotiate. The first lap really hurts and I think it is going to be a bad day. However I pick up and pass a few runners and have a good race.

I have to miss Cautley because of work. No bad thing you might say. So it is on to The Helm. Two laps of very familiar ground. That does not make it any easier! It is tough and also very warm. Never my favourite. I had had a run around Coniston on Thursday (see later post) and did not feel good, perhaps I am feeling the effects.

Next is Elterwater in two weeks. I need to do it to get all my league counters in. Luckily it is a race I like.

Russell

Staveley River Kent and Gowan today.

Just a few pictures from today.

Eagle & Child beer garden.

Almost off the scale.

River Gowan causes land slip.

Barley Bridge weir disappears.

Scary!!

Run. Run. Swim

Start of the week was the Monday night run with YP's group. A steady hour around the muddy and wet footpaths of Kendal.

Wednesday was training on The Castle. A variety of reps. I hope everyone enjoyed them.

Friday is swimming night. I have been going for a few weeks now and building up the time.

Tonight was a warm up 2 lengths, then 4 and then 4 more. Then a main swim of 30 minutes doing 46 lengths. Then 10 more and then a final 4 just to round it of to 70 lengths.

Hope is that the swimming will help the running. Time will tell.

Russell

Cloudy and Blowy Howgills

Monday 23rd November

Wanted to get out for a few hours very steady today but that didn't work out. I was in Kendal first thing so decide to head to Sedbergh rather than turn back to the lakes. The temperature was hovering around zero and light winds. I was optimistic of a good day. However the summits were all in cloud and once I gained some height the wind started to blow. Things were rather unpleasant so I cut my run short. 

I climbed up the path between Winder and Crook. Bypassed Arant Haw and headed up Calders. It was here things turned turned nasty. 

Calders summit.

So decided to dash to Calf and then return. Visibility was about 50m but I manage to find the trod back under Calders, it is straight into the wind and the snow is wet.

Calf summit.

I return via Arant Haw and Winder. Then take the longer descent (west) rather than head straight (quad killing) down. It has warmed up to 5 degrees and nice to be out of the wind.

Arant Haw summit.

Winder.

So not exactly what I wanted but good to be out for a couple of hours.

Russell

Stickle Bivvi

Friday 2nd October 2015

It has been a fantastic week of weather and tonight may be the last clear night for a while. DW proposes a wild camp / Bivvi at Stickle Tarn. We head up from the ODG at around 5pm, arrive at the tarn and dump our sacks. Then head for an ascent of Jacks Rack. Really enjoyable and good to be moving on this type of ground. At the summit we catch the last few rays of sunshine then head down to set up camp. We find our spot above the tarn with a view down the Langdale valley.

After food etc we are early to bed. There is no moon to start with and the stars look amazing. 

When morning comes the sky is clear. We breakfast and await the sunrise.

Pavey Ark looks maginificent.

Reflection on Stickle Tarn.

We take our time to enjoy the morning before packing up and heading down. The valley is still misty.

A really fantastic experience that I hope to repeat over the coming months.

Russell

Langdale Pikes

Tuesday 29th September 2015

Couldn't let this spell of great weather pass without getting out. My only problem was deciding where to go. Eventually pick Langdale and a climb out of the valley that I have not done since my rock climbing days over 25 years ago. 

I park near the New DG and take the path south of Dungeon Gill up Mark Gate. Memories of toiling up here in the afternoon sun with a sack of climbing gear and then running back down as darkness was coming to catch last orders in the pub.

As the path levels out below Loft Crag I take a faint trod and contour below Gimmer Crag, around the toe of the buttress and scramble up the west side of the crag. It is a brilliant piece of rock and I pick out the lines of past glories. Kipling Groove, Springbank, F Route, Equus. 

Can you spot the climbers?

I scramble up the rest of the gully and head for Pike 'O' Stickle. Then back to Loft Crag because I have never actually been to the summit before. The views are fantastic.

Then it is on to Harrison Stickle. Thunacar Knott and Pavey Ark. I descend the gully east of the crag and then cut back to the shore of Stickle Tarn. I am tempted by Jacks Rake but decide to leave it for another day. Instead I run around the tarn and then cross the shoulder of Harrison Stickle and descend to Pike Howe then back to the car. 

Ben Nevis 2015

My 15th Ben race and I know it is going to be the toughest. I am totally unprepared. No good racing or training leading up to it. It is just a matter of getting through this one. The weather is great for tourists but not for me. Loveley and sunny but I know it will be too hot and I will suffer. 

The start is steady but as we take the lower cut offs through the zig zags I begin to feel it. From then on I seem to be going backwards. Lots of runners pass me, one is concerned for my welfare. Then after we leave the main path and turn towards the Red Burn and half way I hit rock bottom. I stop for a drink in the burn and eat some sweets. The thought of giving up there and then is seriously considered.

A few others around me appear to be struggling equally but decide to push on to half way as we are in danger of missing the cut off. I don't know if it was this or the refreshments but I do recover slightly and  decide to push on. I know I can keep moving, it is just not so quick. The group I am in do make the cut off and start the long grind to the summit. I find a rhythm an hold my place in the line. This is a relief and I begin to think I might just finish. I have often found the second half of the ascent easier than the first.

The breeze when it comes is cool and refreshing. The leaders pass us on their way down. It seems that every year I am a little lower on the mountain when they come. Familiarity does not make the climb easier. It is a long way to the top. Nor will it lessen the pain of the descent. It is however a great relief to turn and head down. I go well to half way but then the grassy bank really does the damage and from then on I feel like I am hobbling along, quads screaming at every step. I try to avoid any big steps down.

Dropping down the steeper cut offs is real agony, I concentrate on not tripping up. Something I have done several times at this stage. I make it to the road in one piece and sort of jog hobble to the finish. I vow to be fitter and better prepared for next year should I get an entry.

I look a lot better than I feel.

Russell

Kilnsey Crag

Tuesday 1st September 2015

The famous Kilnsey Crag Race. I have never been able to get the time off work to do this before so I am first timer this year. MC has come with me and we are both a little nervous. We have heard about the 'chimney' descent so walk the course to check it out. It is indeed a steep scramble down with ropes positioned to assist if needed. 

Before the start several runners, previous winners etc are announced and made to parade up and down in front of the crowd. Then it is go and the mad sprint out of the field. As I can no longer sprint I am much nearer the back than the front. The race is so short it has to be flat out from start to finish. I hold my place in the field with MC a little way ahead. Once on the summit plateau I pass a few runners then a few more on the descent.

Annoyingly I am held up in the chimney and the scree below by a runner in the wrong sort of shoes. I easily pass him on the grassy descent but then more annoyingly he sprints past me 10 yards from the finish. MC finishes 30 seconds ahead of me, as I was sure he would. I would like to go back next year an do a bit better.

Russell

Fairfield

Tuesday 30th June

Fairfield Horseshoe. It's still the same only today in near 30degree heat I suffered and got sunburn.

Russell

Fisherfield 6

May 2015

So the time finally came. After passing this way a few years ago on the Highlander MM DW and I had planned to return and do the Fisherfield 6. It has taken a while but now it's happening. At that time there were 6 munro's in the round but one has been demoted (by about a metre). Nevertheless anyone doing the round should not miss it out. It is part of the round regardless.

I am not going to go into too much detail about names and route taken. That would spoil it. There is plenty of information out there if you want it. Our plan was originally to camp and avoid any crowds at Shenavall Bothy, however on the walk in from Corrie Hallie it rained a lot so the bothy was a welcome sight. And quiet. Just a couple of Cape Wrath Trail walkers going in opposite directions. They also got a fire going which was great.

We planned to stay in the bothy the next night before walking out so no need for an early start. The first climb of the day is inevitably the biggest and typically Scottish. Towards the summit we were greeted by a strong breeze and a bit of rain that felt like hail. No views. We press on donning waterproof trousers. The weather was forecast to improve and did so throughout the day, ending in a beautiful evening.

So one down (not now a Munro) and five to go. It was quite a long way to the second summit and a bit of a bouldery climb. The breeze turned to a vicious wind on the top and through the decent but did not bother us after that. The second Munro is the highest and the climb steep but it went well. I had been concerned about my fitness but so far so good. We take a break on the summit. Views improving. 3 to go.

A couple of the descents are as bad as the climbs, bouldery and care needed. But the climb to the third Munro is mainly grass and pleasant. We don't linger here but take a few photos on the way to the 'Tennis Court'. Now comes a big drop to a large col and the lowest point of the round. Inevitably followed by a big climb (which I strangely enjoy) to what is regarded as the remotest Munro and one with possibly the finest views. I cannot argue with that. Only 1 to go.

The Tennis Court

The big climb.

On the descent we have to negotiate a snow patch. It is soft and no real problem. Decision not to carry spikes and ice axe just OK. The final climb is the shortest but a bit scrambley and rocky, we are soon on the summit and feeling good. The breeze although slight is still cool so after the obligatory photos we start the long descent. And it is long.

Final summit

Back at the bothy new residents are in and eventually we have another fire. Next day again a leisurely start and walk out. Drive to Avimore and a well earned all day breakfast. A very good trip.

Oh and they were DW's last Munros. 

Russell

Helvellyn

Monday 8th June 2015

A day off so a quick trip up Helvellyn from Swirls and back down via Brown Cove. Somewhere I have not been since my first ever winter climbing experience 36 years ago. Still a couple of snow patches hanging on the east faces. Great views Brucie.

Russell

St. Sunday and Paper Bridge

Tuesday 12th May 2015

I wanted to go and see the red Paper Bridge in Grisdale so park in Patterdale and head up to St Sunday crag via the Ian Hodgson Relay route. Going is slowed by the very strong wind. A bit of a battle really. I continue on to the col below Fairfield and then descend via the grassy ridge we had the pleasure of climbing up on the SLMM last year. STEEP. The ground is very wet in Grisdale but I enjoy the running down to the bridge. A lot of people are there and I have to wait for an opportunity to get a shot with no one in it. A quick crossing of the bridge and I head back down the valley to the car.

Russell