28th March 2010
5 Dallam, 2 COLT, 2 Lonsdale runners
Route planned Leg1: Skiddaw, Great Calva, and Blencathra. Leg 2: Clough head, Great Dodd, Watson Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise, Whiteside, Helvellyn lower man, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywagon Pike, Fairfeild, and Seat Sandal.
The weather forecast was good for the morning but windy in the afternoon, so with a clear sky we set off on our longest day to date. Everyone was keen, full of get up and go, for the early rounds one more than others, must be those long legs and springs in his walking poles, we approached the last gate of Skiddaw, last time we passed this gate only one bar was poking out of the snow, this time no problem with snow but the wind was picking up slightly then around 500 yards from the summit the wind was holding me back it was a real fight to summit I hit the lap timer and dropped off the top as quick as I could regrouping a little lower and out of the wind. As I waited I glanced down to my cold legs to my surprise the mist on them had frozen, others were complaining of near frozen contact lenses, Bobby Gee was fighting hard and dirty.
After a little bit of scouting around for the trod, we started the trek to Great calva which was as wet as ever but hardly any wind, was that all Bob had to offer I was thinking. We experimented off Calva with Stuart and Mike S, heading down the lumpy heather everyone else keeping to the fence line then following the beck, my only concern is if river is high come May the crossing will be a deep one, we looked for the other two as we crossed the river and as we climbed, but no sight of them until we reached Long Brow. We maintained our pace across the lower ground the other two headed up Blue Screes, whilst we maintained our direct line to the summit traversing the fell, cutting out as much of the steepness as we could. Stuart and Mike hit the summit first, the rest of us a few moments later but well within the schedule time, the heather route may be slightly quicker but I’m more then happy with the fence route.
With three summits done we had lunch outside King Kenny’s house, said our goodbyes to Mark Bell and started our next battle of the day and what a fight it turned out to be I think Bob was looking down on us saying I’m goner test you boys today lets see if you can step up to the mark.
Clough Head went pretty smoothly hitting the schedule time but the wind picking up and Great Dodd was in the clouds the hoods were up for maximum protection, but still them little darting rain drops hitting your face, all the time the temperature was dropping, all I wanted at that time was my 15 tog quilt cover. We waited a few moment for a re-group, the Lonsdale boys and our stick man were slipping back slightly on the climbs, we pressed on no point chatting it was too windy to hear anything, all the time we were getting pounded by the wind and rain and we were starting to split up a bit but it was way to cold for regroups on every summit. I waited again telling Mike S to regroup at the Helvellyn Shelter, wrong choice I should have asked, if that’s what they wanted to do as later they said they would have dropped off sooner taking the lower path back. The climb up Lower Man then to Helvellyn was desperate I think I must be like a sail every other step I was being pushed over towards the ridge and I couldn’t get that chap who fell off a ridge last year out of my mind. At the Shelter we waited, I put on every bit of extra kit I had, Bob had me pinned in the corner still punching ……..Bob was winning right now I was ready for home. We sat waiting for what seemed like hour, 12 minutes, getting colder and colder we had to get moving again. A group of walkers were heading down Lower man so was asked if they would tell our remaining three we had pushed on.
Still cold and wind chill of what seamed like -20 running was not easy my fingers and feet were numb I was starting to get tired and hungry, I wasn’t eating anything it was too cold and wet for that, all I wanted was to get out of this hell hole. Nethermost proved tricky to find and get off …I was on the ropes again but I fought back again, as we dropped into Grisedale Tarn and out of the clag I started to warm up a bit I filled up on jelly sweets and water soon I was feeling good again with only two summits to go Bob was on the ropes now. Mickey P had had his fill and headed down Seat alone the three tail-enders missed the last 4 Summits and headed to the Lonsdale team bus, which left 4 to finish the leg.
The Men of Iron powered up Fairfield, Stuart and I followed chatting as the wind had dropped for the ascent. As we approached the summit Bob returned with a blast of wind and snow to test me again, no way this time I was in the middle of the ring feeling strong and in control again. The final round was in sight we climbed again for the last time hitting the summit 18 minutes ahead for the day. Time for that Satsuma, I’ve carried for the last three weeks I should have had it sooner. I got a good line off Seat dropping into the welcome sight of the waiting van everyone was back safe.
Overall I did 15 rounds with an angry Bob trying to knock the fight out of me testing me to limits of near defeat, he had me on the ropes a couple of times but I dug in which I will need to come May. Thanks to everyone that came along new and old hope to see you all up there again. The main lesson learnt today is that I need to eat little and often. Time to drop the Joss Naylor training plan.
Total 27miles, 11,200ft ascent, 8hours 23mins, 3.2mph ave speed
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