Training Log Archive: RHF

Friday
Lap of Hallin Fell then Place Fell and Beda Fell
A leisurely lap of Hallin Fell with Dad to start with, really chilled walking by Ullswater. Taking in the views of the nicest day of the week, listenign to the birds, seeing some people out enjoying themselves.

Then left Dad and headed up Place and Beda Fell solo. Felt a bit tired on the climbs so tried to eat a bit. In general a bit more chilled today as the weather was nicer and I stopped to take in the view a few times. Nice route ascending Place Fell up a river valley, past an old mine building then gradually onto the top. Some snow falling at the very top, with good views over the Helvellyn range. Busy on the top of Place Fell, took a few pics then descended. A big gravel path most of the way down to Chapel in the Hause, stopped here for some lunch.

Didn't use the poles today & felt a bit more tired, potentially due to end of week? Nice & quiet on Beda Fell. A diagonal line up to the ridge line and I kept stopping to look back over Helvellyn which was starting to clear up. The ridge seemed to go on for a long time and I was trying to not be too late. Took quite a few pictures to document the day. Good descent down the ridge into Martindale and a crawl back up to the car. Completing my 10th and 11th Wainwrights of the week and now have 60 left to go. Been some testing weather this week but I have still been able to get out every day and enjoyed exploring some new areas. Definitely would like to return to the top of Haweswater another time. Fun week with Dad, worked pretty well doing some walks together and then me heading off for some hills by myself. Think we both worried a bit (with him waiting and me trying to get back on time). Fortunately was fairly good at estimating how long I'd be and had no major dramas!

Thursday Langstrath valley, Eagle Crag and Sargent's Crag
Headed over to Borrowdale for a change of scene. Dad hadn't been there and I've not explored it that much. Came up with a route where we could do some low level walking together and then I could head into the hills. We headed up the Langstrath valley to Blackmoss Pot. I'd last been here on a sunny July day for my Silver Dofe, people were sunbathing and we went for a swim. A bit bleaker and colder today. It was a little rainy and pretty windy.

Had been eyeing up the direct slope but it looked a bit rough and tricky. So Couldn't cross the river here at Black Moss pot so we descended the valley with Dad, crossing over then departing ways and I headed up Greenup Gill. I headed up towards the hanging glacial valley below Eagle Crag and Sergeant's Crag on an easy track. Then a fairly good line to the top. It was a bit icy in places with overnight snow on the ground. A bit rocky on top of Sergeant's Crag then headed towards Ullscarf (orignally planning to contour below High Raise). The wind had picked up and it was driving sleet into my face. On hindsight, should've stopped earlier to get the ski goggles on (and have them more accessible). Got some of the way round, conditions were deteriotating, I felt a little cold and so descended out of the worst of it. Put the goggles and spikes on and some new gloves. Decided agaisnt Ullscarf due to the conditions and the time so descending into Greenup. It was a really cool glacial valley, absolutely full of moraines and drumlines. Not seen them that good before. Shame I didn't stop for a photo. On the path down caught up an older guy ahead and we descended together. He had about 10 Wainwrights left and we had a good chat.

Wednesday above Haweswater
Weather has been pretty mixed all week eith heavy winds and rain coming through. In general, has been slightly better than forecasted and after yesterday's run and walk around Aira Force decided it was time to get out for a proper hill walk. Dad got a bit worried and was questioning if I really wanted to get out. Took the drive round to Haweswater and headed up the long lonely road past the reservoir. It really is a deserted valley (now). Getting to the top of the valley and it did look like Scotland. Really grand glacial landscape. Definitely worth coming back and exploring the corries and ridges up to High Street from here. Set off with Dad for a bit before heading up to Small Water solo. Put on gaiters half way (full waterproofs already on but dripping into my boots!) and then assessed the situation at the tarn (changing into thicker gloves). It was pretty windy, wet, big snowy patches on top and I'd left the axe in the car. I decided to skip Harter Fell and drop down and around it. It seemed a bit unpleasant up there and I knew I would do it another day on the Kentmere horseshoe.

Descended back to the wall and headed along it. Halfway got to another wall and deer fence. Spent a while figuring out how the gate worked! Then cut across the rocky slope to Gatesgarth Pass. It was a big track and just put my head down (partly due to the driving wind and rain). Top of the pass again reviewed the situation. It had cleared up a bit and I felt like I was doing alright. Nice views up the valley. So I continued to the bonus boggy Wainwrights of Grey Crag and Tarn Crag. Contouring down across long grass then straight up. At this point saw my only people of the day just above me. Pretty bleak on the "tops", changeable visibility and not that interesting.

Dropped back down to the top of Mosedale and then settled into the slog of a climb up Branstree. Some snow by the wall made it a little more interesting! Flat top then some interesting cairns and a survey post just below the summit. Crossed a couple of larger snow patches before reaching Selside Pike. Sheltered on the summit for a little bit and then descended down the ridge to the old corpse road. Hard to imagine the corpses being taken through here 250+ years ago! Then a steep drop down to the reservoir and Dad just starting to wonder where I'd got to. Felt completely damp but not that cold.

Great Mell Fell fell run
Another poor forecast, a little tired and Dad didn't want to do very much. Thought I'd get up this small awkward fell and then we spent the rest of the day exploring Aira force and brother's water. Very wet underfoot, power hiking up through the trees (a bit like orienteering), quite a nice wood then exposed to the conditions on the top. Lots of wet grass and some mud, should've probably tightened my shoes for the descent (once wet). No views! 23 mins up, 10 mins down

Steel Knotts and Hallin Fell
With Dad on our Pooley Bridge based week. Forecast was for rain coming in early afternoon so hoped to get out to beat it. Planned an an easy loop taking in Steel Knotts, up the valley then along the ridge. In my new long sleeve base layer and messing around with poles (two then one then two again for Hallin). Base layer was good, poles were alright. Not sure what difference they made but they seemed okay. Dad found it tougher going than I did, potentially due to carrying his camera gear. The views were good and we had the fells to ourselves. Saw a group of 5 and sumitted Steel Knotts just after them, one went ahead of the others and it looked like it could be Wainwrights completion. Took their photos and had a chat with them. Then a slow descent back to St Peter's church. Dad was flagging and his legs were shot. The weather was coming in a bit and I got a little cold. Did a quick up and back of Hallin fell solo. Working well with the double poles, didn't take long to get to the top. Huge summit cairn/obelisk but didn't hang around as it was getting bleaker and Dad was waiting.