Skiddaw, wind and rain

23rd Feb 2012

After my successful outing at the end of the previous week and the obvious progress of my injury recovery, i decided a little more training was in order. My friend Ronnie and i thought that as the weather was forecast for low cloud and storm force winds, it would be prudent to stick to safe trails with plenty of ascent. Skiddaw in the northern Lake District at 931 metres fits this profile just nicely so Skiddaw reps it was.

Now i’m not a big fan of reps up any hills and i find the idea positively boring but needs must. We set off on the first climb and i was soon lagging behind Ronnie, no change there then. By the time we got half way up i had already decided this was a stupid idea. However i was committed to at least one repartition as failing to reach the summit is really not an option. By 600 metres we were getting into the cloud and the wind was beginning to pick up a little, the temperature was dropping so waterproof jackets went on. On reaching Skiddaw little man the wind has risen to storm force and the rain was driving sideways across the summit, walking was “fun”, running was out of the question. We pushed on over little man and up to Skiddaw summit at 931 metres and decided to hide in the shelter for a break from the wind. 30 seconds later we were on our way down again.

It is quite surreal emerging from the fog, behind us the summit of Skiddaw was covered in a dense cold fog, heavy winds and driving rain, below the sky was clear and Keswick opened out before us.. The descent down to Keswick is genuinely dreadful, a punishment for those who have been bad and by the time we reached the bottom my knee was hurting and i felt sick. I was definitely no going back up again.

A quick bite to eat, some ibuprofen and we were in the mood again, more punishment was in order, the second repartition felt a good deal easier and i was getting into the mood. Ronnie pushed on ahead a little leaving me with my thoughts and in no time we were putting the waterproof jackets on again ready for the wind and rain of the summit. Even the descent was easier the second time around. Although we were both out of fluids by the time we reached the bottom we decided a third repartition was necessary.

It was a long drag up to the clouds for the third time and the wind was very unforgiving on the summit but we found time for a 20 second video. Ronnie had to cling to a rock to avoid getting blown away in the strong gusts so we headed back across to Skiddaw little man and back down the drag to Keswick.

It took us 6hrs and 50 minutes to do 26 miles and 10,600ft of ascent, a great day out and some good climbing in the legs. Sleep comes easy when you have had a good day.

Cumbrian traverse reccie pt1

18th March 20012

I decided that some walking would be a good test of progress with my injured knee so took a trip to the Lake district with a view to walking the first half of the cumbian traverse.

The Cumbrian Traverse is a south to north, high-level traverse of 21 Lakeland peaks involving some 35 miles and 12,000 feet of ascent. It starts at Broughton mills in Dunnerdale and finishes at the Moot hall in Keswick, taking in some of the finest views in the country.

Great Stickle - 305m

I set off in good spirits at 9.30am and soon got into my stride, Great stickle is easy at only 305 metres.

Stickle Pike - 375m

I then pressed on to Stickle pike, Caw and white maiden, gradually gaining height along the way, the ground was getting harder and the paths were covered with ice, at this time my phone decided to die so no more pictures. Next was Brown pike and Dow crag, looking south from here i could see Old Man of Coniston with a thin covering of snow and a thick covering of walkers.

It was really quite busy for such a cold day and i was glad to get on my way and distance myself from the crowd. 

Caw - 529m

I pressed on to Swirl How, the highest in this half at 802 metres, Great Carrs was next followed by a steady jog to the ridge overlooking the Wrynose Pass, i stopped here for a quick coffee and watched the world go by, across the pass i could see Cold Pike and Pike O Blisco in the distance, the sky was clear and the air clean and crisp. It doesn’t take long to get cold when you stop so i pressed on down to the pass and chose my line for the climb up the other side to Cold Pike.

Looking towards Old man of Coniston from Caw.

It looked a long haul but i was soon on the summit trying to decide which cairn was highest, there is only a metre in it so i touched both. The final descent of the day down into Langdale Valley was covered with ice but sticking to the grass was an easy and safe option.

Old Man of Coniston (not my image)

My partner met me at the Old Dungeon Ghyll with hot coffee and a sandwich, 5hrs & 40 mins – 17 miles and approx 7,000ft of climb. A good day out and the knee was ok.

Don't stop me know i'm having such a good time....

Stop a runner from running and some thing has to give so despite still suffering with a patellar injury i went for a short run today, its been 2 weeks since i last ran. 3 miles and i felt very strong on the only climb, it was great to get out in the fresh air. 

The moors look great in the snow and a recent rain shower soon froze to leave a layer of ice over everything. The grass crunches under my feet and the rocks glisten in the sun light, the cold hurts my cheeks and my fingers went numb but it was still good to be out there running. 

The trails have frozen foot prints from a brief defrost which makes them treacherous but fun, it takes a great deal of focus (and luck) to stay upright and it feels more like "fell mincing" than fell running but this just adds to the pleasure. Today i would have paid good money to have been able to run further.

A days training amounts to a 3 mile run, an hour on the bike and an hours yoga, my only solace. Perhaps i will sit on the swiss ball and watch a film, the rest will do me some good and save my old limbs from further torture. Kay sera sera.

And that dogs staying in his kennel.