The boys are back in town.....out with Russ and Craig. We decide on the Grisedale Horseshoe Race Route, Craig has a map (that's worrying !) but none of us know the exact route (that's also worrying). The forecast was for some rain, a little wind and cool; I decide of 3/4's and a Helly, plus pack but the boys decide on shorts and bumbags !
There are lots of comments about this being a tough race....Craig, it will be ! We head off from Glenridding, through the campsite and a steady climb towards Birkhouse Moor and the Hole 'n Wall. Then drop to Red Tarn and a steep climb to the summit of Catstye Cam (CP 1). Then a traverse of Swirral Edge, shorter than expected and we are soon at CP 2, the summit of Helvellyn. Despite it being a Bank Holiday we have the summit to ourselves.
Then on past Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon and drop to CP 3, the East end of Grisedale Tarn. A long steady climb from here to CP 4 on St Sunday Crag, I aim to run the ridge and manage this. We descend via the IHR route and then find the gully and the zig-zag path (which Russ and I used on this years SLMM) to CP 5 at the barn. Now we start to make it up and we get it wrong, big style ! We head through the river, this is right, but then straight up, very steeply through head height bracken, this really is not fun. Eventually we hit the main path and follow this to the stile just before Hole 'n Wall, where we think CP 6 must be !
We then retrace our outward route, all the way back to the start / finish. Take and cakes at the car are welcome. A longer day out than expected and, CP 6, well that was in a very different place to where we thought.....some 200m lower and probably well clear of the bracken !! We live and learn !!
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