So the Helm Vet Ladies Billy Bland Challenge is fast approaching and I join Marie and Amanda, plus Chris, Billy and Lindsay, on a recce of Leg 4. Logistically this leg is never that easy to recce, we decide to park at Honister and run around Moses Trod and through Beck Head, and then the long rough descent to Wasdale. We are already in need of refilling bottles from the beck, it's a hot day, and water is very scarce on route.
It takes the best part of two hours just to reach the start of the leg and then the 600m climb up Yewbarrow awaits us.....great ! It's had work going up here, the sun is beating down, we are guzzling our limited supplies of fluid and there is no breeze. But we climb well, and are pretty much on schedule at the top.
Then we're onto Red Pike, another long climb and even hotter. But all goes well, then out to Steeple and we pick up the trod under Black Crag to Wind Crag and climb to the summit of Pillar; a huge and impressive mountain. It's a long way to Kirk Fell and I lead us on a detour to find much needed water......boy that's refreshing.
Kirk Fell, then the big climb up Great Gable, that's a hulk of a fell, and soon the lower summits of Green Gable, Branbreth and Great Knotts pass. Then it's just a steep descent the Honister and much needed tea and coke.
A cracking day out, a long and tough leg but a very worthwhile recce.
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