weird weather with a capital W...went up to work today and then met Claire for lunch in Carlisle; the wind was biting and it was sleeting gently.
Went for a stroll around town this evening - snow was in the air and was falling; although not settling. Wonder what it will be doing in the mountains?
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Climbing again..
another amazing day in Cumbria...blue skies and sunshine; although we sat outside in Keswick eating our ice-creams with the forecast saying snow on Tuesday - mad!
Back to today; Claire and I decided to have another go at climbing - an reasonably early start saw us at Brown Slabs on Shepherds Crag before the madding crowd. The fact that Shepherds gets the afternoon sun meaning we had a couple of hours as being one of only two parties on this part of the crag.
Brown Slabs (Diff) was first on the menu - the first route that I had led for nearly a year as well. I felt ok on it - it is polished but not to oblivion and I could potter up ( I have done the route several times before) to the top ok(ish). Claire did a really good job of following - the top does steepen a bit and become quite arkward - with a couple of high steps that are easier for me with my longer limbs. However, she climbed really well - using her feet well - and soon joined me on the summit.
After an amble down we found a few more people arriving at the bottom and so staked our climb for Brown Slabs Direct (V.Diff). The start to this was horrendously polished and the gear a bit minimal for the first 30' or so. Once above that; the rock improves a lot, the gear is spaced but excellent and I really started to enjoy the climbing. It was good to feel like a proper climber again; picking my way up a route. After the tree; which is a possible belay the route steepens a lot but the holds are all there and the friction is good...I was soon on the top and watching a bravura performance from Claire. Claire climbed the route faster than I did and showed really good technique. More to the point, she seemed to have enjoyed it as well which is the key thing.
The crag was getting rather busy as the sun had hit - so it was time for lunch and a gear spree in Keswick. With Claire working nights this week, we might need to test her new fell running shoes out!!
Back to today; Claire and I decided to have another go at climbing - an reasonably early start saw us at Brown Slabs on Shepherds Crag before the madding crowd. The fact that Shepherds gets the afternoon sun meaning we had a couple of hours as being one of only two parties on this part of the crag.
Brown Slabs (Diff) was first on the menu - the first route that I had led for nearly a year as well. I felt ok on it - it is polished but not to oblivion and I could potter up ( I have done the route several times before) to the top ok(ish). Claire did a really good job of following - the top does steepen a bit and become quite arkward - with a couple of high steps that are easier for me with my longer limbs. However, she climbed really well - using her feet well - and soon joined me on the summit.
After an amble down we found a few more people arriving at the bottom and so staked our climb for Brown Slabs Direct (V.Diff). The start to this was horrendously polished and the gear a bit minimal for the first 30' or so. Once above that; the rock improves a lot, the gear is spaced but excellent and I really started to enjoy the climbing. It was good to feel like a proper climber again; picking my way up a route. After the tree; which is a possible belay the route steepens a lot but the holds are all there and the friction is good...I was soon on the top and watching a bravura performance from Claire. Claire climbed the route faster than I did and showed really good technique. More to the point, she seemed to have enjoyed it as well which is the key thing.
The crag was getting rather busy as the sun had hit - so it was time for lunch and a gear spree in Keswick. With Claire working nights this week, we might need to test her new fell running shoes out!!
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Fell-'running'...
well sort of...
two lovely weekends here in the Lakes; last Sunday at least was fantastic and Claire and I made the most of it by walking and running around the hills around Hesket Newmarket. We walked up High Pike and then ran/walked around the rest of the circuit - mainly walking the uphills (although I did manage to jog two of them) and running the downs.
Poor Claire's hip hurt on the last leg - so she missed out on some of the flying 1 mile descent of Willy Knot which is the highlight of the round!! However no major damage was done as we were back out this morning.
This weekend has been SERIOUSLY hot - more like June than late March. Yesterday we went for a walk up the Beacon and today we elected to do a run around (and over!) Souther Fell.
The lay-bys under Blencathra were busy and we only got parked with difficulty. Once there, we jogged along to Mousethwaite Combe and walked (rather rapidly!) up it. Once there, we wandered (a little more sedately it must be said!) up to Souther Fell before picking up the descent path and running down to Mungrisedale. Both of us are getting fitter - however uphill running does not yet seem to be within range; especially of Claire who (coming from a country with zero hills) has (probably quite sensibly) never been that keen on the idea.
That being said - I doubt very much that I could have run much in that heat either; it was a very hot day and the valley that runs behind Souther Fell didn't get much wind. We walked nice and quickly up the valley and then ran all the way down Mousethwaite Combe and back to the car - which was excellent indeed.
Next weekend we are away - maybe Scotland or maybe North Wales - hoping the weather holds.
two lovely weekends here in the Lakes; last Sunday at least was fantastic and Claire and I made the most of it by walking and running around the hills around Hesket Newmarket. We walked up High Pike and then ran/walked around the rest of the circuit - mainly walking the uphills (although I did manage to jog two of them) and running the downs.
Poor Claire's hip hurt on the last leg - so she missed out on some of the flying 1 mile descent of Willy Knot which is the highlight of the round!! However no major damage was done as we were back out this morning.
This weekend has been SERIOUSLY hot - more like June than late March. Yesterday we went for a walk up the Beacon and today we elected to do a run around (and over!) Souther Fell.
The lay-bys under Blencathra were busy and we only got parked with difficulty. Once there, we jogged along to Mousethwaite Combe and walked (rather rapidly!) up it. Once there, we wandered (a little more sedately it must be said!) up to Souther Fell before picking up the descent path and running down to Mungrisedale. Both of us are getting fitter - however uphill running does not yet seem to be within range; especially of Claire who (coming from a country with zero hills) has (probably quite sensibly) never been that keen on the idea.
That being said - I doubt very much that I could have run much in that heat either; it was a very hot day and the valley that runs behind Souther Fell didn't get much wind. We walked nice and quickly up the valley and then ran all the way down Mousethwaite Combe and back to the car - which was excellent indeed.
Next weekend we are away - maybe Scotland or maybe North Wales - hoping the weather holds.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Back on the hills...
I know I haven't posted for a long time - I have simply being so busy to do much out on the hills at all. However, spring has hit Cumbria this weekend; with spring like temperatures to boot.
Claire and I took the opportunity to do a quick walk/run on the fells around Mungrisedale. Neither of us (especially me) is remotely fit enough to run up Bowscale Fell yet; however we still managed a fast walk. The weather was so good that it was just base layer weather and I could have gone in shorts rather than Ron Hills. From the top, we ran most of the way down the path that drops from near the summit and took us back to the car - it was really good to be running again and hopefully this is the precursor of a good spring/summer,
Claire and I took the opportunity to do a quick walk/run on the fells around Mungrisedale. Neither of us (especially me) is remotely fit enough to run up Bowscale Fell yet; however we still managed a fast walk. The weather was so good that it was just base layer weather and I could have gone in shorts rather than Ron Hills. From the top, we ran most of the way down the path that drops from near the summit and took us back to the car - it was really good to be running again and hopefully this is the precursor of a good spring/summer,
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Part 3 of the Scotland Feb trip..
After breakfast in the hotel Claire and I drove up the Glen and past the Cluanie Inn. We parked at the same place we had parked for the ascent of Carn Ghluasaid - which was our initial objective; followed by some exploring of the hills beyond it.
The walk up the stalkers path was very hot - with next to no wind again - quite devoid of snow until we got to about 2/3 of the way up. The path then went up a steep snowfield in which steps had been made - however the steps were wide apart. Claire found this not to her liking - so we took a detour (which to be honest was not much easier at one point - although I forgot to mention this til later!!). Luckily, others had been this way and we were able to rejoin the main path. As we'd climbed Carn Ghluasaid on the xmas trip - and encountered driving windblasted snow on the way down, we elected to avoid it and head for the belach between it and Creag a' Chaoruinn. This also allowed a nice lunch stop - as the sun came out and had cleared the mist from both hills. This was to be the pattern all day - every hill we arrived at the summit of had the mist cleared by the sun; whilst the previous hill was shrouded in mist. Needless to say - this made the day truly splendid; helped by the grandeur of the hills.
Another benefit of the clear weather was that it allowed us to pick the best line to the summit - and avoid the cornices which were quite large in places..There were several on the way up to Creag a' Chaoruinn; and lots more on the steep climb to Sgurr nan Conbhairean (the daddy of the day at 1100+m). After another stop on the summit to admire the view and have some food/drink we descended a quite narrow and awkward ridge (MUCH harder than what Claire had wobbled down yesterday), with considerable aplomb and made the short ascent to the top of Drochaid an Tuill Easaich. This took the days ascent to over 1000m, which was pretty good going for the two of us who have not done much recently for a whole host of reasons. It also has a south ridge which is a lovely way to complete the horseshoe. The descent was long and quite steep at times, angling SE towards a river crossing that Claire bounded across like a gazelle....We dropped to the road and I hiked the mile back to the car sans anything except the car-keys - and hike I did having failed to get a lift.....
A quite amazing day - not bad for 40% chance of clear munro's -just wish I hadn't forgotten the camera (left it in the hotel room). Claire had her camera - but not her lead to get the photo's off so will have to wait til we get home.
The walk up the stalkers path was very hot - with next to no wind again - quite devoid of snow until we got to about 2/3 of the way up. The path then went up a steep snowfield in which steps had been made - however the steps were wide apart. Claire found this not to her liking - so we took a detour (which to be honest was not much easier at one point - although I forgot to mention this til later!!). Luckily, others had been this way and we were able to rejoin the main path. As we'd climbed Carn Ghluasaid on the xmas trip - and encountered driving windblasted snow on the way down, we elected to avoid it and head for the belach between it and Creag a' Chaoruinn. This also allowed a nice lunch stop - as the sun came out and had cleared the mist from both hills. This was to be the pattern all day - every hill we arrived at the summit of had the mist cleared by the sun; whilst the previous hill was shrouded in mist. Needless to say - this made the day truly splendid; helped by the grandeur of the hills.
Another benefit of the clear weather was that it allowed us to pick the best line to the summit - and avoid the cornices which were quite large in places..There were several on the way up to Creag a' Chaoruinn; and lots more on the steep climb to Sgurr nan Conbhairean (the daddy of the day at 1100+m). After another stop on the summit to admire the view and have some food/drink we descended a quite narrow and awkward ridge (MUCH harder than what Claire had wobbled down yesterday), with considerable aplomb and made the short ascent to the top of Drochaid an Tuill Easaich. This took the days ascent to over 1000m, which was pretty good going for the two of us who have not done much recently for a whole host of reasons. It also has a south ridge which is a lovely way to complete the horseshoe. The descent was long and quite steep at times, angling SE towards a river crossing that Claire bounded across like a gazelle....We dropped to the road and I hiked the mile back to the car sans anything except the car-keys - and hike I did having failed to get a lift.....
A quite amazing day - not bad for 40% chance of clear munro's -just wish I hadn't forgotten the camera (left it in the hotel room). Claire had her camera - but not her lead to get the photo's off so will have to wait til we get home.
Scotland - part 2
leaving the Victoria Bridge car-park, we had a good run to Fort Bill where we stocked up with some supplies before driving off to the Kintail Lodge Hotel at Shiel Bridge - where we stayed after xmas. Even driving down the Glen in the early evening - it was apparent that the big snowfalls had not hit this part of Scotland - that and the pathetic people in the South East see a snowflake and hit the panic button...It was also apparent that conditions were a LOT better than last time we were here....
And so it proved.....
tbc
And so it proved.....
tbc
Two fabulous days in Scotland..part 1
Claire and I headed back to Scotland on Fri night to celebrate the end of half-term, as well as both of us not feeling like total death.
An interesting drive saw us just make Tyndrum lodge by the 9pm deadline - so we got supper!! Claire managed to upgrade our room, so we had lots of space and could sleep.
The forecast for Saturday was not great - 10% chance of cloud-free Munro's; however the facts on the ground (as George W. Bush would say - or his speechwriter would write for him), with reasonably visibility and no wind at all. The latter was something that was to stay with us all day..even on top of Stob A' Choire Odhair it was totally still. To get there we drove to Victoria Bridge, parked and set off along a good path for 1 1/2km. At what is apparently the Glasgow M.C Hut (which might hold two anorexic climbers [assuming it didn't fall down]), we turned up the Glen along a path that was apparently prone to being wet. It was not at all bad to be honest - and we kept a nice slow, steady plod up the glen. After a 11's stop for shortbread, we left the path on a stalkers path that the book had told us was there. It made what a was a very steep ascent bearable - once we hit the snowline we could follow the tracks of the fit people in front of us - including the hard-core duo who had biked from Bridge of Orchy to the Hut (on two of the crappest mountain bikes ever seen!!!!) which led us to the summit. To get there only 10 mins out from guidebook time was good - given the SMC guides are clearly written by those who do Iron-Men Triathlons to warm down! - but what was even better was the weather. The light wasn't great - however the clouds were above the summit, so we got a lovely view into the Beinn Dorain range as well as over the Stob Ghabhar. We could also look north to the rest of the Coire Ba range; including the slops of Meall a' Bhuiridh which we had climbed after christmas.
Descent was by the same route - Claire coping pretty well with some steep snow on the way down; and the section on the estate track was a really good way to stretch the legs at the end of the walk.
An interesting drive saw us just make Tyndrum lodge by the 9pm deadline - so we got supper!! Claire managed to upgrade our room, so we had lots of space and could sleep.
The forecast for Saturday was not great - 10% chance of cloud-free Munro's; however the facts on the ground (as George W. Bush would say - or his speechwriter would write for him), with reasonably visibility and no wind at all. The latter was something that was to stay with us all day..even on top of Stob A' Choire Odhair it was totally still. To get there we drove to Victoria Bridge, parked and set off along a good path for 1 1/2km. At what is apparently the Glasgow M.C Hut (which might hold two anorexic climbers [assuming it didn't fall down]), we turned up the Glen along a path that was apparently prone to being wet. It was not at all bad to be honest - and we kept a nice slow, steady plod up the glen. After a 11's stop for shortbread, we left the path on a stalkers path that the book had told us was there. It made what a was a very steep ascent bearable - once we hit the snowline we could follow the tracks of the fit people in front of us - including the hard-core duo who had biked from Bridge of Orchy to the Hut (on two of the crappest mountain bikes ever seen!!!!) which led us to the summit. To get there only 10 mins out from guidebook time was good - given the SMC guides are clearly written by those who do Iron-Men Triathlons to warm down! - but what was even better was the weather. The light wasn't great - however the clouds were above the summit, so we got a lovely view into the Beinn Dorain range as well as over the Stob Ghabhar. We could also look north to the rest of the Coire Ba range; including the slops of Meall a' Bhuiridh which we had climbed after christmas.
Descent was by the same route - Claire coping pretty well with some steep snow on the way down; and the section on the estate track was a really good way to stretch the legs at the end of the walk.
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