Not a great forecast, very windy and heavy rain coming in later....we vaguely have a B plan !
5 of us set-off from the ODG carpark in Great Langdale (Kath, Russ, Caroline & Tim) and head along to Stool End Farm to where the race starts.It is already windy as we run along the valley, we look up at the grassy shoulder and even think about just a recce of this, but we press on.
We make good progress up the Band and cut off to the right on the Climbers Traverse. before it contours under the crags, we cut left up a line of scree on a cairned trod and eventually, over some boulders, to the summit plateau. The cloud is down and once at the summit we trust Caroline's compass bearing to take us towards Ore Gap and on to Esk Pike.
A brief stop at Ore Gap to put on more clothes and then we push on, the wind at the summit is gusting strong and after a quick regroup and discussion we decide to head back down to Ore Gap and descent to Great Moss. A sensible choice, the Sca Fells would not be pleasant today and, more to the point, dangerous !
We follow a good grassy line to Great Moss and re-join the race route for the climb to the top of Stonesty Gill. Then across towards Cold Pike to pick up the main path towards Red Tarn and then to Blisco. From here is one of the key navigation sections of the race, we decide to try the race route (Blisco Dash & Langdale) to avoid the crags and then cross the path and head to the grassy shoulder. I don't manage this as well as I would like, too far right and have to back-track; I think I prefer my direct route, even with the craggy sections.
Fast running then leads down the shoulder, across the river and to the finish line. Once back at the carpark, time for coffee and then a beer....why did we sit outside in the cold when we could have sat in and listened to the folk music ?!
'why did we sit outside in the cold when we could have sat in and listened to the folk music ?!' - because your nuts!!
ReplyDeleteWe were on Gilercombe Butress & then Pillar Rock, it was pretty wind up there, big gusts as we were ontop of Pillar Rock, Mike had his hat blown off.