11th October 2014- Lakes in a Day

Start- Cartmel

I slept in the car at Cartmel and was woken early by the rain. After registration we we're taken by coach to Caldbeck. We got there at 7:50 and we all set off at 8. It started off dry but as we got higher up the first fell it started to rain. After a slight mishap navigationally off High Pike we crossed the river crossing along the temporary bridge set up by the race organisers and then up Blencathra.

Crossing Caldew

After the slog up Blencathra it was the tricky (slippy when wet) descent down Halls Fell Ridge and then to the well stocked aid station at Threlkeld. 

Descending Blencathra

The hard grind up Clough Head followed and then after the Dodds to Helvellyn and over Dollywagon Pike and down to Grisedale Tarn for the ascent up Fairfield. The summit is followed by the long descent to Ambleside.

Descending Fairfield

After some food and coke it was back out to the second half of the race which felt completely different as it was less hilly and more runnable trail. The route follows Lake Windermere for a quite a bit and through mostly woodland area. I ran with a few others and we ticked off the miles together until coming to the final checkpoint at Finsthwaite. After a feed at the check point it was into the dark and a group of us navigated our way to the end at Cartmel the finish after about 13 and a half hours running. A very good route and with great company along the way.

Job done

Credit to Haglofs Lakes in a Day for photographs.

30th Aug-6th Sept 2014- Pyrenees

Friday night, last train to Birmingham and then National Express bus to Stansted and early flight to Lourdes arriving Saturday morning. After a bus to Lourdes to stock up on food and fuel it was another two buses to get to Gavarnie in the afternoon.

Cirque de Gavarnie

My knee had been playing up after the Ridgeway the weekend before so I just did a short walk to the Cirque de Gavarnie after pitching my tent in the campsite. The walk was good despite the clouds covering the top two thirds of the Cirque to Gavarnie but my knees felt fine.

Food supplies

Sunday morning I packed up and got going and I really felt the weight of my pack as I started the first ascent. There was low cloud but as I passed Refuge des Espuguettes the cloud disappeared and became rather hot. After the refuge I took the turn off and after a tiring ascent I made it to the summit of the 2801m peak Pimene and was rewarded with amazing views of the Cirque de Gavarnie and many mountains around.

Views from Pimene

I descended then continued on the Pyrenean Haute Route (PHR) back into cloud and upto my the col, Horquette d'Alans (2430m). After the col there was the long descent into the valley below and it was very hot and I had to take regular breaks due to the heat and the heavy pack.

Back up the valley

At the bottom of the valley was a resevoir and after crossing the dam had a long winding descent into the next valley on a tarmac track which led to a road. Instead of staying at the refuge in Heas I carried on up the PHR to a basic cabane called L'Aguilla where I stayed the night, sharing with a French walker.

The cabane

Monday morning I packed up and started up the PHR in first light and up the long uphill to the col Horquette de Heas which was an exciting col at 2608m. It was a cloudless sunny day so I had great views all day. It was the nabout 300m down before going back up and over Horquette de Chermentas (2439m).

Horquette de Heas

It was then down and a right following the PHR along less obvious paths but had no problems using the Cicerone guidebook and map to navigate. I followed the trail across rougher but more exciting terrain to Refuge Barroude where I ate luch looking over the icy lake Lacs de Barroude.

Lacs de Barroude

After lunch it was upto the col Port de Barroude where I deceided went off route to a couple of peaks, Pico de Barrosa (2674m) and Pic de Puerto Viejo (2742m), both with great views. After the summits it was back down to the col and down into Spain with a long descent which went into a wooded valley which led to the main road and a boring 5km walk into the village of Parzan.

Wooded valley before Parzan

I had something to eat in Parzan from  cafe and bought a couple of things from a supermarket and then headed back up the road before turning onto a dirt trail which issthe PHR/GR11 trail. After a few kilometeres I pitched my tent in a fairly rubbish spot by a stream on very hard and slightly stoney ground.  

The dodgy pitch

Tuesday morning I carried on further up the tarck which was a long steady ascent and as it got higher the scenary got better. The trail turned off onto  rougher and steeper path and then came to a col, Paso de los Caballas (2326m).

Lago di Urdiceto

I turned off the trail to Lago de Urdiceto and contemplated climbing Punta Suelza but decided to turn back and climb Pico de Las Tres Bogas. There was a climb to another col and then a scramble along a rocky ridge to the summit at 2592m.

Pico de Las Tres Bogas

I then descended back the same way and back over Paso de los Caballos and then a very long descent with a brief uphill over a small col, Collado de las Collas before eventually getting to the bottom of the valley. In Viados I discovered that the campsite had closed so I had to climb upto Refugio de Viados (1760m) where I just managed to get one of the last remaining beds for the night and at 7 Euros a bargain. From the refuge I enjoyed the incredible views of the west face of the Mount Posets.

Posets from the refugio

Wednesday morning, after reading aweather report which didn't read to well for the next couple of days so I decided that instead of following the PHR I would follow the GR11. I head off at first light and came to where 3 streams meet (2080m) where the PHR and GR11 split.

The next valley from Puerto Gistain

I followed the GR11 to the col Puerto de Gistain (2572m), it was still quite early and so by the time I was down the other side and at the Refugio Estos it wasn't even time for lunch, so I had a coke and coffee at the refuge instead. I carried on down the GR11 and decided to take a more scenic path that runs parallel to the GR11 and so I enjoyed lunch with a great view back up the valley.

View back up the valley 

The path rejoing the GR11 where it was another dirst track and I followed this down to the Benasque valley. I then followed the GR11up another dirt track on an uphill section into the Vallibierna valley. I I stopped briefly at a cabane and had a soup and then carried on a bit further where I spotted a good place to pitch the tent amongst some trees

Soup break

Thursday is where I made a poor decision and tried to attempt Aneto from its southern side. I didn't set off early enough and after coming to the unstaffed Refugio de Coronas I turned off on the uphill path to a small lake Thonet de Coronas and from there followed the red marks indicating the way upto the higher lakes which are surrounded by a few peaks including the highest Aneto.

Ascending over Thonet de Coronas

The red marks split off in two directions I wrongly went left but it wasn't too obvious. After the spots dissappeared I spetn a long time hopping over boulders and trying to avoid glaciers. By the time I got back on track I decided not to try and get to the col before the summit, so I headed back down the way I came.

Icy conditions below the peaks of Aneto

By the time I got back down to the valley and the GR11 it was 4pm. I decided to carry on along the GR11 and the gradual ascent upto the beautiful Lagos de Vallibierna where the water was so clear and still.

Lagos de Vallibierna

After skirting round the lake it was up the Coll de Vallibierna ( 2710m) where the weather turned and I had to put the waterproof jacket on for the first time.

Coll de Vallibierna

On the descent the thunder started so I descended quickly and when I could see lightning I ran to a nearby under construction refugio where I sheltered in the concrete shell. After an hour the storm cleared and I decided rather than stay in the leaking refuge I would walk upto Lago de Cap de Llauset where I pitched the tent.

Lago de Cap de Llauset

Friday morning I decided I didn't have enough time to continue along the GR11 to Hospital Vielha and then over the Coll Mulleres so after a brief walk up to the top of Coll de Rio Beuno (2520m), I traced my steps back over Coll Vallibierna and then back down the GR11 through the valley all the way to the Benesque valley.

Bsck down the Valle de Ballerbierna

I stopped at a campsite to eat lunch and dry my socks out in the sun as they had got wet from the evening before. After an hours break I headed up the valley towards Hospital de Benasque and the walk slowly climbed up and was a lot longer than I had expected.  After passing one ugly hotel I finally came to the posh looking hotel at Hospital de Benasque where I bought a can of Fanta and then headed further up the valley.

Path to Hospital de Bensque

It was getting near time to stop and camp, but I carried on uphill towards Portillon de Benasque, hoping there would be somewhere to camp before the col. After a steeper uphill section I was happy when I found there we're a few good flat spots to camp a hundred or so metres below the col. So I pitched up with great views of the Maledeta massif in the background.

Tent with the Maladeta massif in the background

Saturday, my last walking day. It was another nice morning and I thought I would have a look at going over the col Port dera Picada but when I got there I could see that there looked like a good way up the mountain, Pic Sauvegarde next to Portillon de Benasque where I had just came from. So I back tracked and went up towards the col and then turned off and up my final peak, Pic Sauvegarde at 2738m, which had amazing views with mountains in every direction as far as the eye could see.

Views from Pic de Sauvegarde

After enjoying the views I headed down and over the final col Portillon de Benasque into France. The col was a cool little gap between the rocks with a steep downhill to the lake Boums du Port and the Refuge Venasque where I enjoyed another coke and stocked up on some well needed water as I had ran out a couple of hours before.

Boums du Port

It was then a long winding descent to the Hospice d'France where at a bar I had a beer before heading along a very long boring tarmac road until coming to Bagneres-de-Luchon. After having another beer and a lasagne in a bar, I caught the train to Toulouse where I would fly back to Birmingham the next day.

   

23/24th August 2014- Ridgeway Ultra

Me and Chris got the train to Tring and we're picked up by the organisers and taken to the start. After registering we waited in the sun for the midday start. The race started from Ivinghoe Beacon and we we're off, in a minor panic (from other runners) on the first descent, I lost Chris and didn't see him till the end of the race.

Coombe Hill (12 miles in)

I got into a good rythym early on, walking uphill and running flats and downhill. But it did feel discouraging when my legs started to feel tired before I'd even done 20 miles, but I carried on. The Ridgeway path was quite easy to follow and so wasn't a problem that I hadn't reccied the first half of the race.

Over Fields. Brian Layton winner of the M60 category

We had about an hour and a half of rain (including some hail) but apart from that the weather was pretty much perfect. After a tiny navigation error costin#g about 10 minutes, I made it down to the Thames and followed the trail into Streatly as the light faded about 9 hours done.

Running by The Thames

After a good feed and and kit shuffle (drop bag at Streatly) I headed into the second half of the race with headtorch on. A good march up the first hill got me going again and I was buzzing from the refreshments at Streatly. After several miles me and a few others went wrong, missing a turn which cost us about 20 mintutes after putting ourselves right, which was a bit annoying as I had reccied this half of the route.

Blurred, probably how I felt

Each checkpoint was great with all sorts of food, drink and hot drinks and in the early hours they would keep me going as I would struggle to keep my eyes open towards the end of each section between checkpoints.  Checkpoints we're usually about 9-10 miles apart but the furthest apart was 13 miles and I was really struggling to stay awake and then the sun rose as I was dropping into Ogbourne St George and this gave me the boost I needed.

Morning Sky

After the last long climb to the final checkpoint me and a guy called James walked the last section until the last downhill into Avebury which we ran, coming in just under 21 hours in 20:55. Chris came in at 22:38 and his mum, dad, Emma and I cheered him into Avebury. After 86 miles, I can safely say I was rather exhausted and in need of some sleep.

Finisher's Chris and I

28th June 2014- Lake District 10 Peaks Long

A pleasant morning provided a hint of what the day was going to be like with a dry, cool day and great visibility when the clag lifted from the high tops as the morning went on. We we’re picked up from Keswick FC and taken to where we started at Swirls car park. I felt good goin up and over Helvellyn in the clag and after the first checkpoint up the boggy section to High Raise in the clag.

Ascending Helvellyn in the clag

Descending High Raise I felt tenderness coming no so started on the Ibuprofen. After Bowfell the peaks of Great End, Ill Crag, Broad Crag and Scafell Pike we’re soon ticked off even Scafell wasn’t too much of a problem up Lord's Rake and down Foxes Tarn and then soon found myself on the corridor route towards Great Gable.

Lord's Rake upto Scafell

Great Gable was its usually grind and not much better on the downhill. After the checkpoint it was the long detour to Pillar which despite a few moments of fatigue I was at the summit and then heading back for the Moses Trod path and to the best checkpoint at Honister where I had Spag Bol and a can of coke.

Pillar summit. Great Gable + Scafells in the background

This gave me the energy to get upto Dale Head tarn and then some good running to the checkpoint Nichol End and then to the foot of Carlside Skiddaw. I was feeling alright but that was soon sapped by the steep uphill of Carlside and after that the steep uphill to Skiddaw was very slow interrupted by regular stops for breath. There we’re no rewards at the top as it was very windy and cold and after dibbing in the last summit I managed to run all the way back to Keswick FC to finish in 16:30:08. This was probably the toughest race I'd ever done, but that's no suprise with 73km and 5600m of ascent/descent.

Large summit, Skiddaw

24-25th May 2014- Brecon Beacons

I left the car in Pencelli at 11am on saturday morning and started walking through lanes and fields till I started to ascend more rapidly up open access land. It was very hot and sunny and I was glad I had factor 50 on. I walked over the first small hill then started ascending Wynn Rydd??? passing several horses on the way.

Two of many horses

From Wynn Rydd the views to the west provided a preview of what was to come. I rejoind the path and walked up the hills on the way to Pen y Fan, including Fan y Big and Cribyn

Looking at the hills which lay ahead

The closer I got to Pen y Fann there were more and more people about and when I got to the summit of Pen y Fan I didn't hang around as it was rammed with people including people dressed if they we're going for a day on the beach and morons you would expect to see on a reality tv show like 'The Valleys' (never watched it). 

Pen y Fan

I then walked over Corn Ddu and then down to The Storey Arms as quick as possible to get away from the crowds. Once I crossed the road and started heading up Fan Fawr there was no one around, just sheep. It was a tough ascent and in the heat it was hard work. I made it to the top cairn and then over to the trig point and then had a little break enjoying the views and solitude.

Trig at Fan Frynych

I then headed down into the valley and after cooling my feet in a stream I headed up Fan Llia. After coming to what felt like the top I then headed back along the Beacons Way and after the trig at Fan Frynych I walked a bit till I decided to make camp.

A very pleasant evening

It was a pleasant calm evening and after the sun went down I got a vvery good nights sleep. I woke Sunday morning and it was looking like it would be another dry, sunny day. I started walking at 7 and followed the Beacons Way back to the Storey Arms and then up the path to Corn Ddu. There were a few people about but it was nice to not have crowds on Pen y Fan as per the day before. 

Pen y Fan in the morning (no crowds)

I retraced my steps and did all the same hills again, Cribyn, Fan y Big etc. I wanted to go quicker but I was sloeed down by a poorly toe which was making quick descents a bitpainful.

Looking back to Pen Y Fan

It was a nice day, but a bit windier,  but that gave some relief from the heat. I made it hack down into Pencelli and it was very hot without the wind. I made it back to the car before midday and it was a shame to leave with such good weather.

Cheers

3rd May 2014- Malvern Hills Ultra

It started a cold frosty morning around 2 degrees, but clear and the temperature rose so it ended up a long hot sunny day. Me and Chris arrived at Holt Castle, registered and we started with another 80 or so runners at 8:30 It started with some lanes and a couple of woods but then a nasty bit on the main road to the checkpoint at Martley.

The Start

From Martley the route got a lot better as it joined the Worestershire Way and included some small but tough hills including Ankerdine Hill and a few other hills before coming into the second checkpoint after 17.5miles. From here it would be a lot more up and down till the next checkpoint at half way. After the second checkpoint me and Chris ascended together up North Hill and after a punch point I enjoyed a good running section and then ascended Worcestershire Beacon.

Run to the Hills

I then enjoyed mainly downhills to the checkpoint at The Malvern Hills Hotel and after a refuel and restock of water I carried on, retracing my steps on the Out and Back course, passing Chris on the way out of the middle checkpoint. After a couple of miles on the hills, I realised I'd left my map at the last checkpoint so I buddyed up with a very good runner called Louise. I was a bit worried about keeping up with a UTMB finisher and three time Ironwoman.

Coming into the midway checkpoint

Louise managed to keep me going at a good pace. It was easy to the next checkpoint but it was a long one to Martley and I had a couple of tough moments including the ascent up Ankerdine Hill. We made it to the checkpoint in Martley and after being fussed over by the ladies at the checkpoint. We endured the last 7.5miles to finish the race at Holt Castle, where Louise was awarded the trophy for first female finisher. I congratulated several other finishers and me and Chris's wife Emma cheered him as he finished, looking releived to have finished. I have to admit I was fairly wrecked to and my feet we're very sore, but thats no suprise after 52 miles and 8000ft ascent.