It's not a great forecast but KA and I decide to recce this race route, although neither of us will probably get to race it this year. It's not as cool as it looks and we soon build up a head of steam climbing to the left of Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn.
Visibility here in not much ! We climb up the back of Pavey Ark and then KA leads us on a bearing to what would be the checkpoint on Thunacar Knott. Another bearing fro here takes us to Martcrag Moor and a descent to cross Stake Pass. We follow the BG route up through Rossett Pike and then OCT route to Angle Tarn and Esk Hause.
The trod below Esk Pike is wet and trudge, despite it being dry for months...KA manages to go in ankle deep...messy Duck ! Then up to Ore Gap, visibility is still poor so we follow the main path to Bowfell and down to Three Tarns. Decision time, we nearly opt to head down the Band but decide to push on, just in case either of us do race. But again we follow the main path rather than trying to find the trod around the back of the Crinkles.
We find the main summit (and checkpoint) easily and then head towards the Bad Step, however, we skirt this on an intricate path that we both know. Then a contour and good running towards Red Tarn and the last climb of the day to Pike O'Blisco. The trods from here are obviously, it was Three Shires just a week ago, down to the cattle grid, campsite and back to ODG.
We're out for a long time, but we had both been out yesterday and conditions were not ideal and we needed to concentrate.
Then to Chester's for a late lunch.....delicious.
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