Day Off!

The snow that settled on sunday night meant work was a no go on Monday. Time to play in the hills! First we revelled in the day off, and had a leisurely breakfast (still up early) got some more DIY done and then headed out for a gentle walk up through Miterdale Forest. We checked out some of the boulders we've spotted hidden around and even found evidence of chalk on one! Once out on open fell it was bitter in the wind. We trotted over to Irton Pike which has to be one of the best view points in the area. The fells were clagged to the east, and snow was down to sea level.

Harter Fell

Wasdale

Staying Local

Busy day in and out of the sunshine, on sunday. The snow had all but melted off the lower slopes in the valley so P and I grabbed a few hours bouldering at the Fisherground - 5 minutes from the house. It was beautiful in the sun out of the wind with snow clad fells surrounding us. No one else was out to play, so we had the boulders to our selves. We saw a Green woodpecker sitting on one of the rocks which is an unusual sight! We then returned home for a brew, and headed out just before dusk for a short run, covering 4 miles with some fartlek. I then followed all this up with a good couple of hours yoga. we also got some DIY done.

The evening was then improved by this:

Plan B

Woke up Saturday morning to a dusting of snow and decided to go with Plan A - bouldering at Carrock fell round under the slopes of Carrock fell, Blencathra. The further north and east we drove the more snow there was, and it was obvious that there was too much to go with Plan A. But we carried on, off the A66 and up the snowy road to Mungrisdale, all in order to prove to ourselves that yes it was actually too snowy! A sweet three point turn on the single track to turn around and we headed to Keswick. We had no map or compass or real walking kit, but had enough to see us up Skiddaw and back via the tourist path - plan b.

The top third from the fence below Low Man was clagged in, but we saw glimmers of blue sky above from the top and a few seconds of clearing to see the fields out below. We didn't hang around, and trotted back down again, being treated with this view on the way down over Derwentwater.

Circle of Light

Went for a run up Whin Rigg after the work in the dark, following the circle of light my torch threw out ahead of me. It was mostly frozen up through the forest and well frozen on open ground to the summit. Turned the torch off at the top for a few minutes and watched the moon poke up above the eastern fells. Magical. Wasn't the fastest ascent or descent but felt good and strong.

washed out

Sunday, P and I drove over to the Duddon to go mountain biking. Parked up at the church in Seathwaite, and headed up Walna Scar to the intake wall. The very bottom of the track was scored by a deep trench presumably caused by the heavy rains of the last few weeks. Made the transition onto the track a wee bit trickier than it use to be! Headed through the quarries, between White Pike and Caw (not too much of a bog fest), and down the rutted trails to Stephenson Ground. From there it was up and along to the top of Kiln Bank Cross. We were overtaken by a bunch of lads on scramblers, which made the going a bit tougher! They cut the ground up making it slippier and muddier.

From Kiln Bank Cross we headed over and down to Birks Wood, then back round and up to Kiln Bank Cross, and down Park Head Road. Now Park Head has always been a tough proposition near the bottom with babies heads from hell, but now its impossible unless you're into trials riding I reckon! Washed out is not the word. A shame as now I'll never ride it clean!! Back to the car and home for tea and cake!

Winter running

Woke up to clear blue skies this morning and as I can't climb with this sore elbow decided to head out onto the local fells for a run. I haven't really seen the hills in daylight for well over a week and haven't been up on them for too long. Parked up on the Green in Wasdale and headed out towards Lingmell Nose and round and down to the tourist path up Scafell Pike. As I neared Lingmell Col I could see that there was a lot more snow up there than I had really thought! Still a good new-ish pair of X-Talons was gonna be no match for the snow. I was asked by a group of blokes on the way up if I was climbing the mountain on my own, when I said yes and mentioned they were my local fells I got a stunned silence!

Pikes Crag in morning sun

I was within 50m of the pike summit when the cloud rolled over and that was the last view until I descended back into the valley 3 hours later. After a quick stop on the pike summit, I headed towards Esk Hause passing many groups of walkers huddled around maps looking confused. I have to admit it is very comforting to be able to head out on the hills in cloud without pondering the map every 50 paces. The bowl beneath Great End past Esk Hause was well banked out with snow and the path was well obscured. I was hoping to drop out the cloud by Styhead but no such luck.

Beneath Esk Hause

The climb up Gable was quiet, and I saw very few people. I paid my respects at the FRCC war memorial on the way past the summit. I heard over 600 attended the service last sunday. Only a handful or people up there today. I then dropped off down to Beck Head, and pushed on up to Kirkfell summit, meeting some friends out for a walk with their dog. It was quite cold standing around chatting in the stiff northeasterly, so we headed off in opposite directions and I plunged off down Kirkfell nose to Wasdale Head. I love this descent! Finally a view too.

I just love night riding!

Despite the sore elbow I couldn't resist the invite for a local night ride Tuesday night with a few guys from work. The moon was a beautiful pale lemon crescent in the sky with a thin haze around it. The riding was wet, muddy and cold and I enjoyed every minute of it. Felt really good on the bike despite the lack of riding and general exercise recently. I'd been for a short run the day before in heavy rain and the legs felt heavy to begin with.

We started early so it was not quite dark when we left the house, and rode up to Irton Fell to meet up with everyone. Once the faffage was over, it was a muddy descent down to Sleathwaite, along by the side of the Ratty to Muncaster Mill, over to Fell Lane, up Fell Lane and down to the golf club, along the track to Muncaster Head farm, along Irton road, up Miterdale and back through the woods, quick cheeky trail through the woods and back home for tea.

Followed this with two days on the road bike to work, and a yoga session in the local village hall. Starting to feel a bit trimmer again!

Dodgy Elbow

Whether it was the extreme ceilidhing, furniture moving as we’re going to decorate, or more climbing that has been the norm recently, but my right elbow is decidedly painful! It doesn’t feel like a tendon problem, although I had serious tennis elbow in this joint a few years back. This does feel more like a strain or trapped nerve. Ice, anti-inflammatories and rest are now prescribed. Got to decide whether a trip to George the Physio is a good idea…

Back to normal?

Well, that’s that excitement over and done with! Now its back to earth with a bump: normal house chores, DIY, oh… and getting out on the fells again! Although the weather is doing its best to discourage us. Two days back to back on the bike to work have blown a few cobwebs out, and awoken memories of last winter with icy roads on Wednesday morning. A few tense moments crossing icy patches from the day before’s rain.

Thornthwaite Crag & Hartsop Dodd

Over in the south eastern Lakes for our Ceilidh, P, his Dad and I snatched a shortish walk up on the hills before festivities began. After a large wonderful brekkie at the Eagle n Child, and one aborted attempt at driving to Kirkstone Pass (warning light on in the car!) we set off from Kirkstone Pass, up onto Thornthwaite Crag, down to Hartsop Dodd and then back around and down to Kirkstone again. A clear day with some cloud building in the south and west, which obviously was putting rain down in places. We managed to miss all but a few drops.

View towards Helvellyn from Thornthwaite Crag

High Street

Ceilidh

Prolonging the wedding a wee bit further we had a big party this weekend in Staveley, at the Hawkshead brewery. Wilf’s did the food and Striding Edge provided the dancing. Fantastic night and only one injury reported from one of the extreme ceilidhing gang – a torn knee ligament. Rather a severe injury for a party! Sunday disappeared in a haze of tea, cake and chat. It’s now all over bar honeymoon number two – in the spring/summer. 

Round Derwentwater Run

Timing is sometimes poor. I’d booked the Thursday off work to do a few organising type things with the aim of at least a medium length run in the afternoon. I just happened to pick a biblical rainfall day! Despite the hint of a promise of a drier afternoon, it never materialised, and it just hooned it down all day! I eventually got to Keswick and after aborting my original plan of running up high, and of parking at Stormwater Bridge (the river was looking decidedly close to its banks) I changed to plan B, parked nearer the centre of the town, out of reach of the river and went for a zig-zaggy trail run around Derwentwater. Covered 12 miles in the end, at a slower pace than I intended. I couldn’t cross the top of the lake near the Lodore as the lake and river had made a break for it, so had to run down to Grange on the road. Many of the paths were deep with running water, and the air was thick with rain. It felt good to get out though and loosen the legs.

Bouldering – Wimberry

A slightly curtailed day out at Wimberry Boulders due to steadily increasing amounts of drizzle. Ali came out to boulder with us, and pushed me to do things which is what I needed, thanks lass!! Followed by tea and cake at Jo’s before the drive home!

Tanky's Recce

Saturday morning, Wardy and I caught the train into Manchester and then back out again to Marsden to run the whole of Tanky’s for a recce. Various things have always got in the way for him so he has still not been initiated into the annual bog fest that is Tanky’s. We had good clear weather only slightly spoilt by a southerly headwind for the entire route. We trotted steadily up Wessenden to the Isle of Skye road. It seemed strange to be heading up there at a steady pace, as I have only ever run that section actually in the race. We bumped into two fellow recce’ers Steve and Paul at the road crossing, but as they were still faffing and only heading to the Snake we left them too it!

It was a pleasant trot up to Black Hill and Soldiers Lump. The streams were so low compared with normal December levels it felt decidedly weird! After Soldiers lump, I showed Wardy the direct line down into Little Crowden Brook, along which we found this little monster! 

Wardy was so close behind me he followed me straight in. I managed to haul myself out but he needed a helping hand to extricate himself!! The brook at the bottom of the descent didn’t provide much of a cleaning service to us either!

After crossing the road at Crowden we checked out the Lawrence Edge line. Not sure we got it spot on, but it has to be faster than the Wild Boar Clough route! Up and over Bleaklow and down to the Snake to check the new wooded section out off road. Have to say I’ve never had a problem regarding running down the road, but I’ll go with the decision. The only issue I see is that the path down through the woods is already incredibly eroded due to all the recces. I’m not sure it’ll take the hammering year on year! Got a great line up Seal Stones – its amazing how little tweaks to known routes can still provide gains, and then up and over Kinder. We politely ignored the notices about shooting across the centre of the moor, and came away unscathed, to drop down to Grindsbrook and into Edale. We timed it so perfectly that a 10 minute wait at the Station was all we had to catch the train back home.

I did feel the pace a bit at times, but realised that 3 runs in 41 days was going to mean that I felt the pace! A bit of work to do before the race itself but as my priorities have been elsewhere, I’m pretty happy about that, and it was a great day, peat bogs n all.