10-11th January 2015- The Spine Challenger (DNF)

After arriving by train in Edale, Friday night was not a relaxing as there was registration, a stringent kit check, a delayed race briefing and a late pub meal. Then trying to sleep in a hostel dorm writhe with activity as fellow racers, packed kit, checked kit and went through their pre race rituals. After a few hours sleep, I was up at 4am to get ready, have breakfast and get to the start back in the village.

The start was 6:30am on Saturday and was only spitting in the village  when we started. But it didn’t take long for us to get the full effect of the weather as we we’re hit on the first little ascent in the valley, by very powerful gusts and hail. We then had a bit of respite until climbing Jacobs Ladder and we we’re then hit by the mega winds all along the Kinder Plateau ridge, including a soaking from the uphill waterfall of Kinder Downfall.

Kinder Downfall (or upfall)

Despite the wind it was clear day, so navigation was easy and I was down at Snake Pass at 9:47 and then started the climb up Bleaklow. The wind hit again at the top, but the descent was sheltered from the wind and was easy going down to Torside which I got to at 11:28 and was going well. I contemplating changing my wet socks but decided to get Black Hill out of the way.

After the long steady ascent upto Black Hill, my feet we’re soaking from the stream crossings just before the last uphill section, so I was glad I had waited to change my socks. It was windy again at the top so I pushed on downhill and at the road crossing, I changed socks by the brave marshall who was enduring the cold winds. After the short break I pushed on trying to get warm again.

After Black Moss Reservoir I crossed the A62 at Harrop Dale at 15:49 and was pleased with my progress so far. I was feeling good over Standedge but coming up over White Hill I had my first low, so before the M62 crossing I ate a pasty in hope of some extra energy. It took a while for it to kick in and to feel okay again, but I made it over Blackstone Edge now in darkness and past the White Horse pub by the A58 at 20:37.

Great visibilty on Standedge (but bloody windy and cold)

The long flat section past the reservoirs to Stoodley Pike meant some quicker miles were made, but I was having issues with my headtorch, so I ended up buddying up with two runners to the monument and then ended up doing the final section with a strong walker called Mick. About two miles from the checkpoint my headtorch really started giving up, so made do with little light till the end, trying to stick closely to Mick. At this point the leaders of the full race passed us, including the eventual winner Pavel Paloncy, and they were flying. There was a horrible decent into the checkpoint and a sore knee that had been bothering me for about 10 miles, really started to bite.

I got into the checkpoint at 45 miles at about 22:30 on sore wet feet and with a sore knee. I knew my feet would be fine after some rest and some looking after, but wasn’t sure about my left knee. I had something to eat and tried to sleep for a couple of hours with my feet up. At about 00:30 I hobbled downstairs, realising that my knee was a big concern, so I made the decision that another 63 miles on it would probably mean many months recovery and the races and trips I had planned for the coming year would probably be written off. So just after midnight, despite my feet feeling a lot better and feeling all good apart from the knee, I told a marshall I was dropping from the race.

This is me and many others coming out of Edale at the start

I spent a lot of time at the checkpoint waiting for a lift to the train station in the morning. I got to talk to a lot of other racers and learn a lot as well as get to know some people I will no doubt see on future races.

I thought I would feel more disappointed by this DNF. But I feel I made the correct decision and that from the lessons I’ve learnt from this race, I could improve my chance of success on future races, including similar races and the Spine Challenger 2016. The lessons learnt for next year, include

·         Pack more socks

·         Carry the spare headtorch and more than enough batteries

• ·         Book the whole Friday off and get to Edale earlier to avoid the stress of doing every thing in the evening.
• ·         Make the most of the drop bag. Mine was 7.5kg, the limit was 20kg. So pack 2-3 times more spare clothes, food, batteries etc than required.
• ·         Buy and pack some goggles (not just sunglasses), a lot of people had to retire from the race from a blindness caused from the extreme winds drying the eyes out.
• Thanks for reading and anyone who followed my progress during the race, hopefully in 2016 I will be more successful.

28-29th December 2014- Lake District Northern Fells

I slept in a car park on the A66 Saturday night by Scales Farm and woke up early enough Sunday to be able to start walking at first light. The valleys we're free from snow, but above around 400/500m snow clung to the tops. I ascended Mouthswaite Combe and then at the pass I decided to bag my first easy hill, Souther Fell.

Souther Fell 

I then headed back toward Blencathra and followed the path to Scales Tarn. There we're now quite a few people on the hills and several also going upto Sharp Edge. I put my crampons on and axe out and then started on the ridge. I made it 20 or so metres and then after a hairy bit and then getting stuck in traffic that I wasn't feeling upto it.

Climbers on Sharp Edge

So I back tracked down to Scales Tarn and then ascended Blencathra from the easy path up. The early bit of cloud had now cleared and it had turned into a beautiful crisp sunny day and from the summit of Blencathra there we're stunning views across the whole of the Lakes, Dumfries and Galloway to the north and the Pennines to the east.

Looking over Blencathra (Derwent Water behind in the distance)

I then descended north-west down to Roughten Gill and then briefly onto the bridleway in the valley before ascending Lonscale Fell and getting back onto the snow. Apart from all the people on Lonscale Fell it was perfect and I had more great views in all directions. I then carried onto Skiddaw and at this time people we're starting to head off the hills, so by the time I got to the top of Skiddaw I was the only one there.

Looking back over Lonscale Fell (Blencathra left, Helvellyn right)

I descended north off Skiddaw following the fence to Bakestall and then down Birkett Edge to the bridleway by a small waterfall called Whitewater dash. At this time it had gotten dark and I followed the icy bridleway using my headtorch till I found a decent enough place to pitch a tent.

Skiddaw summit

It was a cold night out, but I had plenty of warm layers on and my very warm sleeping bag, so I was able to get a decent nights sleep. On Monday the morning I packed up the tent in the dark and by the time I had gotten my things together it was getting light. It was clear as I headed up Great Calva and I had a cloud free summit, with little clag over Blencathra and Skiddaw.

Great Calva

I walked north-west following the fenceline and then when it turned I headed off north instead and descended to a pass below Knott. There was still a fair amount of snow on these hills, despite from a distance it not looking like much.

Knott, much to look at

As I ascended Knott I came into cloud and after the longer than expected walk to the top it still hadn't cleared so I took a compass bearing east to find my path north over to Hare Stones. From here I followed another compass bearing to follow the broad ridge through the thick clag, using my GPS occasionally to check my course until I reached Carrock Fell.

Carrock Fell

At first I couldn't see anything from Carrock Fell, but after a bit of food, the clag disappeared and I had the great visibility I had the day before. I then walked a rough south-westerly course into the Caldew Valley where I followed the river to try and find somewhere to cross. I walked about 2km passed a weir looking for a shallower place to cross. But after no luck, went back to the weir where 300mm high water soaked my feet, despite managing to keep them dry until now.

Blencathra from Bowscale Fell

With wet feet, I warmed them up with a pathless slog up a snow capped Bowscale Fell. The temperature was noticeably dropping so I carried onto Bannerdale Crags while admiring the view of the northside of Blencathra. After my final peak I headed down into the valley and followed the paths I started on back to my car.

Happy New Year