Old County Tops fell race – 18 May

Poor weather but an improving forecast was the prediction for the day and the first part was certainly correct. Eventually the rain stopped and the sun almost appeared but visibility remained poor on all the tops, all day. I wasn’t sure about the likelihood of improving weather and so I left my camera in the car and that turned out to be a very good decision indeed.

Final preparations

Kit check

Pike O’Blisco

New Dungeon Ghyll

They must be easily pleased here if a “Room Full of Mirrors” is a Saturday night attraction.

A tough old day it turned out to be, at least for Albert and I. Poor visibility is our excuse for not contouring High Raise and, anyway, there is a great descending trod from near the top. One way or another we were considerably slower to Angle Tarn than last year which meant the cut-off at Cockley Beck was going to be a real challenge. We had little idea just how tight this would turn out to be. Usually when a check-point closes, at the cut-off time, you can’t “arrive” and are timed out – here when the check-point closes you can’t leave. As we reached the road above the check-point two marshals told us the check-point would close in about 5 minutes and as we ran into it we were told 2 minutes, “You must leave within the next two minutes!” No misunderstandings about what was required here. Special thanks are due to the marshals who thrust tea, sandwiches and bananas at us before hurrying us out and on our way. Had I been taking photos on the way round we wouldn’t have had the two minutes, I am sure.

Back up into the low cloud and on our way to Coniston Old Man we found our pairs wandering around lost and although we tried a couple of other times to go seriously wrong we failed each time and finished in about eleven and a half hours to earn our t-shirts.

Huge thanks to Chris Lloyd as well as all the marshals and everyone else involved in making the Old County Top 2013 happen. People think we do it for the t-shirts – we don’t, it is Arthur’s legendary soup that makes it all worthwhile – thanks Arthur.

Belmont Winter Hill fell race – 11 May

“One To Watch” as far as I am concerned, so watch we did.

 

“Warming Up”

They’re Off

Looping The Lakes – 04+05 May

The Rucksack Club May Bank Holiday Meet was a walking tour of the Lake District. Devised and supported by Mike Cudahy with assistance from Geoff Bell and led by Inken Blunk. Setting off into the rain very early on Saturday morning (05:30) I don’t think I was alone in wondering what we had let ourselves in for. Heading north through the Northern Fells we glimpsed patches of blue sky and by Grainsgill Beck the rain had stopped and the sun threatened to shine.

 

 

The improved weather didn’t last too long and low clouds with rain returned to accompany us passed Lingy Hill hut and over High Pike before descending towards Fell Side. A westerly traverse to Green Head gave us access to Trusmadoor and the road through the Back O’Skiddaw to Keswick.

Descending towards Dash Falls

 

Low Clouds on Dead Crags

Northern Fells farm

St Johns In The Vale

Through Keswick to Rigg Beck and Sail Beck to Buttermere for Gatesgarth Pass and Ennerdale before the climb over Black Sail Pass for Wasdale.

At Black Sail Youth Hostel (Tom, Pauline, Helen, Joe, Andy and Inken)

Beyond Brackenclose the route passed Burnmoor Tarn on the way to Eskdale and finally below Harter Fell for Grassguards and the descent to High Moss, the club hut, for a meal and some sleep. By High Moss at 01:50 we had covered about 53 miles and a bit over 11,000 feet of climbing. Day Two was only a few hours away.

Breakfast and a leisurely start a little before 08:30 got the return leg underway. The Walna Scar Road set us on our way to Coppermines Valley, Tilberthwaite and Little Langdale.

 

Coppermines Valley

Little Langdale, Great Langdale and Grasmere for the climb to Grisedale Tarn. Low clouds but little rain all morning became low clouds with a little rain after Grasmere until descending towards Patterdale when rain was blown away and replaced by some sunshine.

Rake Cottages near Patterdale

Sheffield Pike and Helvellyn

The tracks and paths through Greenside Mines took us to the high path around the head of Glencoyne and for Dowthwaite Head and eventually the two miles or so of the bog lying between the A66 and Matterdale Common.

Crossing Sandbeds Moss

Wolf Crags and Matterdale Common

Almost back at the south eastern corner of the Northern Fells

Done (done in) – self, Tom, Andy and Mike

We took about 33 hours walking to complete “Looping The Lakes” with a short overnight break at High Moss. Huge thanks to Inken and Mike for a really great Meet, to Geoff for helping with support and to Rae, Helen, Pauline, Tom, Andy, Joe and John for splendid company for some or all of the 81 miles and 19750 feet of climbing.

Blencathra, Skiddaw and some bits in between – 27 April

The overnight snow was a bit more of a surprise than the heavy showers of rain sweeping over Blencathra when we reached Threlkeld. Originally we intended to go up over Knott Halloo but we have gone up Gategill Fell in snow before and, even with ice axes, struggled to get off the ridge and on to the plateau. With the top of the ridge plastered in fresh wet snow and without axes we would have struggled so Blease Fell first, it was.

Gategill Fell on the right with Knowe Crags ahead

Pauline leaving Blease Fell summit

Halls Fell Top beyond Gategill Fell Top

Pauline approaching Gategill Fell Top

Gategill Fell

Gategill Fell with Skiddaw in the distance

Looking between Blease Fell and Lonscale Fell to Derwent Water

Skiddaw House

Back O’Skiddaw with Blencathra in sunshine

On Skiddaw

After Blencathra we jogged over Mungrisedale Common, up passed Skiddaw House on to Skiddaw where most of the snow had melted. Lonscale Fell provided the way back to track for the Blencathra Centre and Threlkeld. A brilliant day out on what will surely be the last day of this prolonged winter.