Finally a recce of Leg 1!

After a frustrating weekend looking after a sick P (he's getting better now!), I got out on Monday for a recce of Leg 1. The weather forecast wasn't great but it wasn't bad either so I got up pretty smartish and drove round to Keswick. I didn't start from Moot Hall, as I figured I can sort that wee bit out at a later date, and parked on Briars Rigg. The climb up Skiddaw went well, I took it steady and didn't push it. I'd been told by friends that a good point to aim for was about an hour at the fence line by Jenkin Hill, and I was there in just under 55 minutes. It felt easy going to get to there in that time, which I guess it should do! 

The clag was well and truly down by this point but making it to the summit of Skiddaw wasn't a problem, and I was about 10 minutes under schedule pace at this point. It was on my mind though that the last time I was on the summit of this fell it was 13 years ago in deep snow, and the rest of the route until I hit the summit of Blencathra was going to be new territory. I'm used to being on fells I know in the mist!!

Its funny how I do get apprehensive about navigating in the clag, but really I'm quite capable! I found the line off Skiddaw down to the bridge on the back o' Skiddaw track no problem, and was quite surprised by the well worn trod over Hare Crag and up Great Calva! I know the numbers involved in BG's these days but I still didn't expect such a line! The climb was easy up Great Calva, although I did have a vague worry that I wasn't actually on the summit. Again, times where up on schedule, which surprised me as I had been taking it really (and I mean really!) steady and stopping a lot in the mist to check my nav.

The descent off Great Calva wasn't the nicest as I had been told. But the heather wasn't as high as I thought it might be and crossing the River Caldew wasn't a problem either. I took it steady on the climb soaking in the remoteness that you feel around there, and keeping an eye on the terrain. Visibility was about 20 meters in the clag so the sixth sense came in very handy!!

I think I did go a little to far left in an effort not to drift too far right! But made it to the summit of Blencathra only a little down on the schedule. I'd made a few stops to sort out my layering as I was getting too hot, retying my laces several times (!) and making use of the on-hill facilities! Once on the summit ridge I made the decision not to head down Halls Fell. I have no idea what this ridge is like and the rotten cornices and old snow still latched onto the hillside up there put me off. I'd chosen to run in my old highlanders, which have little or no tread left on them, and were very little use in the hard snow. Maybe this was the wrong decision, I don't know, but I'm always glad not to be a statistic. Descending the main path down Blease fell only took me 3 more minutes that the schedule time down Halls Fell, so I shouldn't have too many problems there. 

All that was left was for a trog down the old railway line back to Keswick, a feed at the Lakeland Pedlar and a wee bit of retail therapy in Keswick!! A great day out only marred by a sore knee on the final run in.

Luckily the knee seems to be better already. I rode to work and back yesterday and it was pretty sore afterwards but strangely not while riding or walking. I've taken a rest day today, to give a bit more of a chance, but I'm hopeful that tomorrow I'll be able to get out again. It feels great to finally get out on a proper recce. I don't count the ventures I've had on Leg 4 as I know that pretty well already. Leg 2 next as that's the other one that I have little knowledge of, but none of it is new territory - just old territory!! 

Stats:

Total Mileage: 17.61, Total Ascent: 6300'

2 runs and night ride

Yesterday I managed to squeeze two sessions into one day. I dashed out a lunchtime for the standard three and a half mile run along the coast, and despite having very tight legs, I managed to coax them into a bit of fartlek work on the return leg. It always sounds pretty naff to me that term but when time is short and you haven't got a structured session to do, a bit of random sprinting for markers always makes you at least feel like you've made the most out of half an hour even if it may not have done you the most good!

In the evening, we went out for a nightride around the local forest. I road over to Gosforth on the road to meet up with the other lads and we headed off into the woods. It was nothing technical or long tonight but good to get out and I felt strong on the climbs, even giving them a fair bit of welly as well. I have to admit though that the planned ride back home fell by the wayside when I got talked into having a pint (or two) and an offered lift back became quite attractive, to prevent a really late night.

Today, with sore quads after three days riding, I couldn't face a hill rep session - I think it would have just been too painful, so I opted for a run out over Muncaster Fell. I was 5 minutes faster than when I last ran this route, but I'm gonna admit that last time is was very icy! This time though I had to contend with fading torch batteries from the last third of the climb onwards. I think that's the second fastest time I've managed on the climb, in just over 30 minutes from the house (must be able to get under 30 minutes, but I normally do this run with tired legs!), but I struggled a bit on the descent through the very dark (!) woods. 

And its a good job we don't have any dangerous wild animals in this country as I saw two pairs of eyes staring back at me at different points tonight, which would have really freaked me if there were bears or something similar in the woods! 

Yesterdays Stats:

Run: Total Mileage: 3.4, Total Ascent: negligible!

Nightride: Total Mileage: 16.16, Total Ascent: 1920'

Todays Stats:

Run: Total Mileage: 6.7, Total Ascent: 1650'

at the pace of a 4 year old

After a reasonably lazy week last week (2 rides to work and back and no running!), the weekend wasn't much harder with a walk on Saturday with a 4 year old and a 2 year old. We had friends up with their little ones. I'd like to be 2 again! 

P and I did head out for a road ride on Sunday, over the local Corney and Birker fells. Its not far this ride but it always hurts. Two big climbs with a few small steep ones thrown in for good measure!! 

Stats for Saturday: Total Mileage ~ 3, Total Ascent ~ 100 feet !!!

Stats for Sunday: Total Mileage 30.5, Total Ascent 5600 feet

I rode to work and back today, seeing three deer feeding in one of fields on the way home. We've seen deer here before so it must be a favourite feeding spot for them.

I know that last weeks lack of exercise was mostly not by design and probably wasn't a bad thing anyway given the hard week before, but it's been mildly frustrating. Hoping to get back into the grove this week. We've got a night ride planned for tomorrow night and I'm gonna make sure I get in at least one hill rep session - maybe Wednesday evening, and maybe a speed session as well, before this weekend. 

No lights needed!

I have had a couple of rest days since Saturday. Sunday was chosen as one, partly due to a disparaging forecast of snow in the afternoon which meant neither of us fancied the planned drive over to the east of the Lakes for a mountain bike ride. We'd have had no problems getting there and ride would have been fun but it looked like getting back may have been an issue. House decorating instead. In the end we did have some snow, but it turned to rain at dusk - another damp squib!! Monday and Tuesday were more of enforced rest due to a couple of big stressful work days.

But I dusted off the commuting bike and rode to work and back today. We surprised a buzzard off its kill at the roadside this morning, and it flew up onto a fence post and sat there defending its hard-won meal. It was so close I could make out the details of its eyes! These have to be the special moments that make enduring the wind and rain on some days all worth it! 

Riding home brought more 'moments'! The sun was shining in a nearly clear blue sky as I headed home, and as it sank to the horizon it dipped behind some thin strips of cloud. It then reappeared again casting the most beautiful alpenglow onto Great Gable, Yewbarrow, Seatallan, and Buckbarrow. It really did take the breath away. The sun dipped behind another thin bank of cloud before reappearing again and casting a deeper alpenglow over the lower hills in the foreground. After the last two evenings moon-rises, this was another spectacular view.

Today was the first day of the year I didn't need lights to ride home... spring's acoming! 

Hopefully I will get in another good stamina session at the wall tonight. As I'm focussing on running at the moment, my climbing is taking a bit of a back seat. However this doesn't seem to be affecting my grade! I have lost stamina recently, no doubt, but I have been climbing the same grades consistently - OK I'm not getting any better but I'm not doing enough for that!! After May huh!!

Long Gully & Lord's Rake on the Scafells

One from today, from the top of Long Gully, Pikes Crag.

One of P's photos from Friday.

A fantastic day out on the Scafells today in great snow! I had originally planned to recce Leg 1 on the BG today, but yesterdays trip up Kirkfell and P's reports from his day out yesterday meant that it was definitely not fell shoe only conditions up there. So I decided to keep P company and do something together. 

We headed up from Brackenclose up Hollowstones to Pikes Crag and went up Long Gully (Grade I) first. The snow was deep in places but is was good and icy most of the way up. We were a bit concerned over whether there was a cornice on the top, but luckily there wasn't. I was feeling pretty rusty to be honest, having worked out the last time I wore crampons in anger and actually did a graded winter climb was probably about 10 years ago! We traversed around the top of the Pike and descended to Mickledore, and down to the base of Lord's Rake. 

The cloud was down on the tops at this point but it was very atmospheric and so quiet. There was only a gentle breeze, enough to knock spindrift around. There were few people out - a couple of teams on Scafell Buttress and a few others around in the gullies, but very quiet really! 

We then headed up Lord's Rake to the shoulder on Scafell. I have to be honest here and say I found it pretty tough going mentally. I'm not one for soloing and seeing my ice axe arrest skills were probably last tested 10 years ago, the ascent from the fallen boulder onwards took a fair bit out of me. I've not had to concentrate like that for a while. Once we made it to the shoulder I was pretty relieved, but so glad to have done it!

I wanted to have a look at the gully that drops off the side on Scafell on Leg 3, just to see if it was snowed up, but only the top was banked out with snow, and the rest looked like frozen scree. Considering how good that scree run is in warmer conditions, it wasn't that inviting so we came down the shoulder into the back of Brackenclose. 

As for yesterday - I had to dash off last night to clean up before a pub meal! I had great fun coming down of Beckhead as the path down to Gavel Neese was banked out with virgin snow, great for lopping down, and easier on the feet and shins which were really hurting by then. I pretty sure this wasn't too bad a day for a rest day! I was slow going up Kirkfell, I bet my heart rate wasn't above 130!

Stats for yesterday: 3.75 miles, 2385 ft

Stats for Today: 4.35 miles, 3100 ft

(both with big boots on!!)

Kirkfell on a friday afternoon

I couldn't resist taking the afternoon off and making the most of the sunshine and snow. 

Having ridden to work and back on Wednesday and got a good 2 hour stamina session in on the wall in the evening, and having done a brutal hill rep session on Brantrake last night (4 x 6-7 minute uphill efforts) I was supposed to have a rest day today, but P had taken the day off to go find some snowy gullies to climb and I couldn't join him 'cos of meetings this morning.

So I decided that a walk up Kirkfell wouldn't be too much! I dug out my old plastics as that was what my crampons where set up for and the ice axe. Left work at lunch and dashed up Wasdale. I had forgotten how much I'm used to fell shoes and not big boots anymore. The pain!! Nothing to do with hill reps last night - all to do with my inflexible calf muscles and ankles and the steep solid ground!

It was a slow trog up the nose, with only patches of snow. I didn't see any other prints even on the summit. The cloud was billowing up from the north, but it was a beautiful sight. I had decided that this had to be a short afternoon and not turn into a big trog, as is my want!! So I bimbled down to Beckhead and then down to the valley again. 

More soon... 

Whin Rigg in the snow

Managed to control the urge to ride in again, and save my legs for a run in the snow this evening. Walked the 4 miles in and out of work along the coast, and then headed out this evening for a run up Whin Rigg. It was eerily quiet up in the forest as it was sheltered from the wind. I got to the first snow about half way up the climb through the forest, and it gradually got deeper the further up I went - except for the wind blasted slopes where it had been stripped off. 

I was elated to find no footprints at all once out on the open fell - but that was all a little premature as I then came across several sets, before they veered off again, having not stayed to the path. So I had the joy of making the first prints most of the way up and then following them back down again! It wasn't as clear as I had hoped as cloud had come across the moon, but it was lovely up there nonetheless in the snow!!

Was only slightly slower on the ascent than normal, but significantly slower coming down hill, due to a low headtorch battery and very worn Montrails. They are the only shoe I could possibly have run in tonight due to my blisters but have seen many better days!

Time to get a new pair!

Stats:

Total Mileage: 6.16

Total Ascent: 1700'

well everyone else has got snow..and so have we!

I didn't think we actually get any snow in the village being so close to the west coast, but we woke up this morning to about an inch in the garden. A quick change of plan from road bike to mountain bike and I was only about 10 minutes late to work. Good job I'd put my night light batteries on to charge last night! 

Fantastic ride in through the snow, there was even a light dusting on the beach! It was a shame that I didn't have a camera on me. My legs felt pretty heavy after the weekend, which is never a good sign when I have a tail wind and I'm wheel sucking. It didn't bode well for the ride home in the afternoon. Disappointingly the snow melted a fair bit during the day but it was still a lovely ride home. And I was right, it did hurt. Very heavy legs and generally I felt pretty tired. Perked up a bit when I was swooped over by a buzzard. It was as close as I've ever see one, which was a great sight!

Results are up from the Kinder Trial.

worn out finger tips and blistered feet

Great weekend away in the Peak visiting friends. Touched gritstone again for the first time in a few months as P and I got out bouldering on Saturday. We headed to Burbage South edge to avoid the wind as much as possible and it was really quite pleasant tucked up against the edge. Unfortunately, the holds were ouzing moisture when touched so the harder problems weren't is quite so good nick. Wandered down to the boulders and pootled around on the Brick, Cobra etc. Considering I'd not been bouldering on grit for a while, I felt quite in tune with the stuff. Managed to walk along the Cobra traverse for the first time ever without working it and also got up Pockman for the first time too!! Plus a few other 4's and 4+'s. Got close to a couple of 5/5+ too, but my fingers and toes were just a little too cold! Maybe distance makes the grit mind stronger!!

Today I raced in the Kinder Trial in Hayfield. Wasn't sure what I felt like, with sore hands, shoulders, stomach, hips ... well everything ... from yesterday, but I had a good race and came in 3rd Lady!! I was never going to beat Jackie or Karen, so the question was whether I could just keep ahead of all the others!! It was another great route from the LuvShack although my feet are just a wee bit blistered. My walshes are not giving my feet a good time anymore. Left Hayfield in a beautiful winter wonderland...wish we had snow here!

Stats:

Total Distance: 11.23 miles

Total Ascent: 3506 feet