Wednesday 14th December 2011 The Long Mynd Valleys (Recce)

Long Mynd Recce pdf gps file

If Carlsberg did fell runs…..

Consider this as an aspirant fell runner: 11.5 miles and 4500′ ascent. The road runner focuses immediately on the 11.5 miles and equates this to a comfortable half marathon. The experienced fell-runner would probably divide the ascent by the distance and nod sagely. Hang on?? Where exactly is all this ascent fitted in? On my stamping ground (Peak District), to achieve this amount of ascent would require a run of 20 miles+ (albeit with different demands, bog, groughs etc.)

Well, the LMV is a jewel of a run. Nothing much (in terms of physical demand) happens until CP5 at the base of Windy Batch. I had been warned to save my energy for this point onwards by Hel, and like some prescient Macbeth-ian witch (sorry Dave!), as I was taking in the scenery at CP5, Dave F from Mercia FR, galloping past, warned me of exactly the same – “Toil and trouble”, I think! We had a fine natter, both of us fully immersed in the surroundings and atmosphere. Then, nagged by his dog, he left me to it.

Three interesting climbs and three even more interesting descents later – back at Cardingmill and that intense feeling of having done something special.  A fine winter’s day – take nothing for granted in these wonderfully characterful and atmospheric hills; few people, and an absorbing switchback route. Will I be back for the race in 2012? Probably.

East Side Haddon Hill from Ridge (SO 444 957) before drop to CP1

Caer Caradoc from SO 444 957

Lawley (Middle) and The Wrekin (Distance) Looking NE

(Possibly) Yearlet Summit peaking through (Haddon Hill on R)

From CP2 Ashes Hollow: The fine ascending path to Barrister’s Plain

View up Callow Hollow from CP3

Callow Summit looking South

Callow Summit: view to Hope Bowdler, Caer Caradoc, Lawley and The Wrekin

Descent route off Yearlet

Yearlet summit cairn: Barrister’s Plain (the col) , Grindle (L), Round Hill (R)

Yearlet summit cairn

Yearlet summit cairn: Callow peeking over the L shoulder of Grindle

Photos Nokia N8

Monday 12th December 2011 Kinder

Looking up Golden Clough to Ringing Roger

Nether Tor and Ringing Roger

View back down Grindsbrook

The first snow!

What the well-dressed mountaineer is wearing. Note Clarks!

View to Lose Hill and Win Hill

Proper snow

To Lose Hill and Win Hill

Cairngorms or Derbyshire?

Grindslow Knoll (R) and Lose Hill Ridge

Wind weathered rock near Upper Tor

A special ‘treat’ to take Kate (from Queensland) on a quest for snow. The walk was up Grindsbrook and back along the edge to Ringing Roger. Kate borrowed my walking boots, and I forgot my fell shoes and did the walk in my ‘Clarks’! Not recommended..

Photos by Kate: Canon EOS 500D

Sunday 4th December 2011 Lake District : Langdale Photos

Seat Sandal and Fairfield

A cloud covered Nethermost Pike/Helvellyn

Seat Sandal and Fairfield from Dow Bank

Dollywagon Pike

View of the West Ridge of Fairfield

Looking towards Grisedale and Patterdale

Grisedale Tarn and Dollywaggon Pike (R)

Langdale Pikes

Baa!

Langdale Recce

Initial plan was to do Langdale – Helvellyn – Angle Tarn, but deteriorating weather and a wimpy mountaineer altered it to a out-and back Langdale – Dollywagon Pike. Lots of atmosphere, few people, and 16 miles/ 5000′ ascent made for a rather nice day.