Training Log Archive: RHF

Wasdale Head to wasdale hall YHA via Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Scafell, Slight Side, Illgill head and Whin Rigg

Hitched a lift up the valley then jogged over to Lingmell. A long gradual up with a couple of false summits. Talking away and the climb past okay. In the clag on the top and for the next couple of hours. Quite cool and atmospheric in the mist and rocks. Across to the Scafell Pike path and saw a couple of people on the way up. Didn't feel too difficult but a bit of loose rock. Got to the summit with a trig pillar and large summit cairn that you could climb onto. Only a couple of people on the summit which was good! Didn't really feel any more touristy than other hills. Feeling good at this point, descending it was very rocky and was quite slow progress to Mickeldore. Had to check we got the right direction. Quick look at Broad Stand which did look intimidating. Don't think I'd fancy it without a rope, even in dry conditions! Skirted down to Lords Rake, the downhill was loose scree and I was feeling a bit cold. Lords Rake then the West Wall traverse were pretty loose, damp and slippy. Hadn't felt that like mountaineering since being on Skye, especially with the low visibility. Popped out near the top for my completion of the English 3000ers! Over and down to Slight Side, quite atmospheric in the rocks on tops. Then a diagonal line down towards the tarn and pass. Felt good to be running a bit again as up to this point it had been too up or too rocky to run. Stumbled upon a plane crash wreck. Very steep up to Illgill Head and Whin Rigg and along the ridge. John started flagging a bit at this point so I pushed the uphill a couple of times to see how he was doing! Very runnable along the ridge but a bit of uncertainty where the tops were! Getting a bit tired by the end of it and then a steep down to the hostel. Not too hard going but a bit slippy in places. Watch almost dying for a lot of the second half, the battery is nowhere near as good as it used to be. Out for about 5 hours which is a decent day, reckon with a quick break and some more food I could have kept going. Happy to be done and it was a good lengths day. 6 new Wainwrights in 20km with a wide variety of different terrains and sections. Steep and rocky in the first half and then more runnable second half.

Yewbarrow run and Bell Rib scramble
Long journey up with a couple of small stops nearer the end for fuel, toilet and changing. From the car, straight up the ridge. Calves felt like they were working hard, which I tried to use less. Followed the wall and then onto the scramble (grade 3). It was a bit windy and a few sections felt out of my comfort zone. Didn't feel like elegant scrambling! One awkward move where we had to traverse around a rock. Then onto the summit. Gradual rocky descent on the BG line to Dore Pass then more runnable to the car. Quite good views from Yewbarrow and the weather held.

Lunchtime Lakes with Shaun
Felt strong and felt like we were going faster than we were. Not sure if in general that felt good and was a boost to confidence. Hopefully the legs won't feel too tired after like they occasionally are. Left hamstring has been feeling tight and like I could twinge it.