The start of 2024

 It kicked off on 1stJan at my orienteering club's annual New Year Cracker.  A fairly low key event where controls are not too technical- ideal for me. There was lots of fast running terrain too so the only issue was deciding how much I could manage in the allotted time and making sure I was not late back. It went well in good weather and I had fun. Afterwards I went for a walk run out onto Helsington and Scout Scar to meet Bob. 

I have kept my promise to myself of attempting more Night Orienteering- in terrain, not just the Street O. I don't find it easy but I am sure the concentration and practice will benefit my nav and keep the skills from being lost altogether. It is so easy today to simply load up OS maps on my phone and press the little button that says You are here! The first event went quite well even though it followed a fairly tough day on the Coniston Fells.

It was cold but dry and although hesitant in the forest at times I did not get lost. I missed the next event despite my over ambitious hopes of fitting it in after an Ultra race but made the following one. Again this was on a new area to me, a big disadvantage compared to many of those running. I made a complete hash of CP1 thinking the map looked easy. In my defence I became muddled in part because the line led me to CP4 which in the dark and my haste looked like 1. By the time I had wandered about trying to make it all fit I was starting to panic. Once sorted the rest of the event went well on a lovely and so much milder evening. Two events in one day as we had our club handicap in the morning in very chilly weather and on some very icy paths. With luck I will make the event next weekend too.

Bob is celebrating a big birthday this year and so has set himself some challenges. It will mean many days in the Lakes and not wanting me to be left out he suggested if he could do 80 Wainwrights @80 I should do double my age and collect 126. Never one to refuse a challenge I have made a start. We had sort of planned a flying ski trip but when the weather looked dry and bright we binned that and took the van to the Lakes. 

First stop Coniston in some very frosty weather. The views were superb, Bob got to see a beautiful broken spectre 

and I bagged 7 Wainwrights with some running and a great deal of power walking.  

I was hoping tired legs would let me run more slowly and carefully that evening at the Night O. An easier rest day saw us exploring the Ravenglass estuary and parts of Muncaster Castle grounds before heading up to Wasdale.  Van parking is no longer easy here and given the forecast we booked onto the campsite. This allowed an early start up Lingmell. 

It got a bit sketchy from then onwards with poor visibility, strong winds, icy ground etc but I made it up Scafell Pike seeing only 3 other people in a couple of hours. No photos of these early bits! 

By the time I was lower and near Esk Hause conditions improved so I included Great End even though I saw very little. 

By Styhead things improved considerably and so I went up Great Gable. So glad that I did as the 360 views were amazing! I thought about Green Gable but was concerned there may be ice in Aaron Slack and so simply reversed my route and doubled back to find Bob. 

This gave me some extra miles and allowed us to return to Wasdale together. Another 4 added to my tally. 

We then moved to Ennerdale. I had planned a nice clockwise tour for the van. It is always a quiet valley and this trip was no exception. The dark skies made for awesome star gazing and we stayed two nights.

The pull up to Caw took less time than I expected but wow was I greeting by cold one the top. A fierce wind on the ridge as I battled towards Haycock. Then turning south to Red Pike the wind dropped and I even found somewhere to stop and eat before returning to the wind and Scoat Fell. It wasn't as bad on the exposed ridge to Steeple and the ice was no issue. 

I spotted Bob coming off Haycock and ran back to meet him. I guessed I had time to make it to Pillar and although the track after Black Sail hut would be a bit annoying it would be a safe way to end the day if the light started to fade. 

At least the descent to the hut was easier than on L100- legs much less tired and I could see where I was going! Another 7 bagged and back long before dark. 

The next days forecast was less good and an easier day was on the cards. A short drive via Cockermouth for some essential shopping and we were still in Buttermere quite early. We set off for Rannerdale Knotts together. 

Bob then headed back down the valley and I power hiked up Whiteless Pike. 

It took very little time but my legs were tired, I didn't have much gear with me and clag showed no signs of moving off the higher tops. In dobbed O shoes I had a wonderful jog downhill all the way to the van.  A short day but 2 more notched up.

A cozy night below Rannerdale Knotts didn't really have the van in the correct place for the next day so we moved to the NT Buttermere car park.  I decided to start with Haystacks and not to bother with Fleetwith Pike in case it was icy. This would also allow me time to continue along to Starling Dodd and beyond if all went well. The weather was great again- cold, very cold but dry and beautiful views. 

 Haystacks took a bit of time with all the little scrambles and false tops but I made it back to the col in time to meet Bob in Scarth Gap. We parted again and I hurried off up High Crag. I had still seen no other people until a fell runner came flying towards me. The ridge to High Stile was interesting in strong winds but the going was good on frozen ground and as I reached the summit the clouds cleared giving me great views as I wondered around the several summit cairns. 

It was too cold to linger for long so I was soon on my way to Red Pike. By now I was dropping slightly and the weather was improving. I raced off over to Little Dodd on wonderful grassy paths. I found a sheltered hollow to eat and even catch the sun before moving on again to Starling Dodd. From here all the tops are wonderful rounded lumps covered in grassy paths. They suck me in and make me wish I could just run and run all the way to the coast. 

Not today though. I explored Great Bourne and then picked up the bridleway that links Ennerdale and Crummock Water. I got wet feet here but I had expected this. It seemed too early to head back so I flogged across the bog until I reached drier paths up Melbreak. It is ages since I have been up here- on the DH memorial Buttermere race with a bashed face after a fall on Whiteside edge. I wondered if I might see Bob but now had no signal to see how far he had got. After a direct line temporarily got me crag bound on Scale Knott I was soon low down by the lake on big paths.

I had very wet and muddy feet so did not loiter even though the cafe looked enticing. I was back in the van changed and with the kettle on when Bob appeared. A quiet night on Newlands Hause finished off the day. Unbeknown to us the next day had an amazing temperature inversion but we were committed to an errand in Keswick and the journey home. A pretty good week.

Saturday 13th saw my first Ultra of the year. It was the inaugural Bowland Ultra. A very early drive in the dark led me thanks to Google maps by some interesting roads to Slaidburn. Runners were struggling with the pay and display machine but it did accept my card even though the time would run out at 3pm. Ah well- who would be checking on a wintry day in January just before dark- hopefully nobody. 

I introduced myself to Seth the RO as he had asked about being in the Runfurther series. Too late for this year but you never know in future. 

Soon I was through kit check and chatting to friends.  I knew most of the route if not in detail at least well enough to not be anxious. It was cold but dry. 

A 8am start meant no need for torches as Seth on his bike led us out of the village and to the first road junction. A rollercoaster of mostly ups led to the Salter Fell road. 

This huge gravel shooting track heads north towards the Lune valley and I knew it from several runs including the Witches Way. We were soon heading into cloudier skies with mist at the junction where we turned west. I had been making good time and the gravel was less nasty than expected with a fair bit of soft ground to use. I could still see Claire up ahead and was running with Bridget. I should have realised the pace was a bit fast for me but all felt OK.

It was shame not to be off track and plodding up Wolfhole Crag but permissions had been tricky on the shooting estates so it was shooting tracks for lots of kilometers here and it seemed to take a long time to pass below Ward Stone and reach the turn for Abbeystead. Again lack of permissions sent us on a little detour of lanes before we reached the village hall. I spotted Claire and had no longer been able to keep up with Bridget- yep- too fast too soon and I was going to pay for it! This must have affected my mood as I really disliked the next section. There was some road running but nothing near as much as I felt at the time. I guess my Bowland runs are usually all off road and it was a shock. By Oakenclough I had had enough- a real low point as I dawdled along the tarmac.  At this point I knew there was no hope of me finishing in time to recover and drive to the Night O. Strong words and some food improved things and by Stang Yule I was a bit more cheery as I ran to Bleasdale village hall. I knew I needed to stop and eat here. Paul T caught me and passed me but hey ho. This was the only part of the day where we had any rain- blustery showers as I plodded up to Fiensdale Head. I was now back on familiar running routes and happier. The descent to Langden Beck is a bit gnarly and I had opted for comfort not grip and so was cautious here. Marshalls had kindly flagged the river crossing although I knew the way.

 I was soon passing Langden Castle (it is NOT a castle) and on my way along the river to Dunsop Bridge. Another food stop and some some cheery words from Graham who was spectating set me on my way to Whitendale. 

The shooting fraternity were out in huge numbers and I had to step aside for lines of posh 4B4 vehicles going in both directions.Then near the waterworks bridge I had to squeeze past a dozen parked along the usually gated bridleway. As I left this and took the contouring path to Whitendale Farm they were shooting non stop.  I knew that from here it would be pleasant running and paths over Dunsop Fell  and then down to the lanes leading back to Slaidburn. I had been on my own since seeing Paul at Bleasdale but that was fine. It was just getting dark as I approached the village but I had made it without needing my head torch. Personal service from the RO saw me swilling tea and tucking into food very promptly. I was surprised to find that Claire was not 1stF and that an unknown to us woman had shown Phil a clean pair of heels! 

I still got a prize- 4thF and 1st FV. Lots of chat and more tea followed as various friends also finished. I needed my torch to find the car and decided to ignore Mr Google and follow my nose to Dunsop Bridge and home. A tough day out at 8hrs 58 and almost 43 miles. After a day or so my feelings about the race changed and I might do it again. Seth cannot help the awkward land owners, it is a great set up for charity and food banks, plus he needs a route that will work in the worst weather we could get in a Lancashire January.

The weather then became even better- cold and bright. 

So a day on Darwen Moor where I kept clean dry feet thanks to frozen ground and then a trip to Langdale mid week. It was an interesting drive through the valley on Tuesday afternoon as no buses were running and the snow plough and gritter had not arrived yet. We made it and managed to blag a spot on the Langdale NT campsite. 

It was cold and icy but not quite as cold as the previous week. Early Wednesday saw me set off in microspikes along the valley floor. They were needed all day and in fact the lowest paths with compacted snow turned to sheet ice were the worst. 

I had a wonderful day from Rossett Pike, out and back to Allen Crags before heading over Esk Pike, Bow Fell and Crinkle Crags. It was tough going with a crust of snow that was firm in places but in many dropped me through to knee deep soft snow. The unpredictable nature of this made running or moving fast a bit dodgy. I took masses of photos and kept stopping to admire the views. It was very quiet until I met a few people who had come up the band. From the Crinkles I struck out for Cold Pike and then decided I just had time to take in Pike O Blisco. With some footprints to help guide me this was actually a more pleasant descent than in the dry last autumn. I was back at the van well before dark and soon cozy.

Day 2 saw a trip on the other side of the valley. I was a little anxious about the ice on the path up Stickle Beck but it was fine. Stickle Tarn and Pavey Arc looked spectacular. I toyed with the idea of Blea Rigg but the Wainwright point is quite a long way down and the deep snow was sapping my energy. I made it over Sergeant Man and headed off to High Raise. Again my stops to admire the views and take photos were many.

 From here it was a snowy wander over to Thunacar Knott, the top of Pavey Arc, Harrison Stickle and then the rocky dumpy scrambly lump that is Pike of Stickle. This last top was actually easier in the deep snow. Sadly it was not yet 1pm and other than Loft Crag I had nowhere else to go. I should have done Blea Rigg after all. 

I dawdled on the tops and visited every little cairn wanting to stay high and in the sun for as long as I could before heading gradually down to the New Dungeon Gill car park. Back at the van by 2.15pm I made a sandwich and sat in the sun until chilly I decided to venture back up the path to meet Bob. Another amazing two days with 7 more Wainwrights for me on each one. We stopped off on Helsington above Kendal for one last play in the sunshine on the way home- 

Scout Scar and Cunswick Scar.

Lowest paths were very icy but most of the fellside beautiful and great views back into the Lakes and the Howgills. Wow days that make you glad to be alive and out there- mountains snow and sun-= good for the soul.