Training Log Archive: RHF

Kayaking on Derwent Water out to and around St Herbert's Island.

Belaying and seconding up two short Diffs and V Diffs at Upper Sheppard's crag

Grasmere to Keswick over Ullscarf and the High Seat Ridge with John
Tarn Crag, Ullscarf, Armboth Fell, High Tove, High Seat, Bleaberry Fell, Walla Crag
Another quality day out in the hills with John. A couple of great mountain marathon-esque route choice legs (Tarn Crag to Ullscarf, then Ullscarf to Armboth Fell) and then over the boggy and tussocky moorland back to Keswick. Very peaty and boggy leading from High Tove to High Seat. John ended up waste deep in water at one point. Of all the glorious fells in the Lakes, why have I been up High Seat and Bleaberry twice this week? Answer: because I have dragged John round some grot in the last 4 years in my quest and he hasn't complained! Always amazed how keen and supportive he is to do silly routes for me to pick up Wainwrights. Potentially more keen than I am! On the way up High Tove, we debated the options. I most fancied heading down to Derwent Water, but was persuaded to continue and stay high back into Keswick. Remembered I had jelly babies and had a load and felt really strong descending High Tove. Some fun descents off Bleaberry and Walla Crag.

Rosthwaite fell, Glaramara, Allen Crags and Esk Pike

Another great day out in the hills. Partially with John and Louise. Got dropped off at Stonethwaite so we could get the ascent kind of in the sun. A steep climb up from the campsite through the woods. Path on rocky steps the whole way up. Then got to the ridgeline which actually was a undulating contoured rocky mass the whole way up. A bit tricky to nav to the summit of Bessyboot/Rosthwaite fell (using both Harvey's and 1:25 OS) but hit it spot on. Would definitely be tricky in race conditions or at night! Then kept wiggling up to Glaramara. Spotted John and Louise just below the top and had lunch with them. They skirted round the rocky summit and we scrambled up it. Pretty wet and greasy so took our time.

Undulating onto Allen Crags, not really much height gain or loss. Rocky in places, I enjoy this kind of mountain area. Hard to comprehend how these landscapes are formed. Would've been great for O. Stopped again and then we headed up Esk Pike. Took us 40mins up and down from Esk Hause with a bit of a recee of the line off. Pretty rocky on top and great views over the Scafell massif and towards the Gables. Back at Esk Hause we debated a plan and whether we wanted to go up Great End. Elected to descend and leave it for another day. This was the right call as the descent was fairly good going but took us longer than we expected. A nice descent down the river valley was quite attractive then along the bottom of Seathwaite. Our lift had gone so we ran the last few hundred metres to the road and just made the bus.

Wish I'd worn my zip offs, worn ankle socks, t shirt and remembered my hat!

North Western fells with Nicole and John
Sale Fell, Ling Fell, Graystones, Broom Fell, Lords Seat, Barf, Whinlatter Fell.
Nicole had wanted to try this route for a while. It was a leg of Steve Birkinshaw's Wainwright round and looked double as a fell run. Took two cars and dropped one at either end. A bit overcast with rain forecast to come in so we got out in the morning.

A very steep start up the first fell, could definitely feel the calves burning and was wondering how we'd all get on. A lovely gradual grass descent to the road got us into the swing of things. Alright up to Ling Fell. Had been concerned about the route from Ling Fell to Graystones, elected to cut left slightly to the parallel fence boundaries. It was a bit wet the whole way but not too bad. Not major bog. Graystones was a fairly easy descent and we'd all settled into it by this point. Graystones summit is one of those silly Wainwrights where the top isn't his summit, so I went to all of them. Easy going to Broom Fell and Lords Seat. A great descent down to Barf, my kind of slope angle and enough to concentrate on but easy to run.

A bit wet heading back to Whinlatter forest. A bit of hesitant map heading through the woods, a fairly descent downhill track then back to the open area. A great trod from here all the way to the actual summit and then onto the Wainwright top. Thus giving us 7 fells in 3 hours, and about 10 minutes faster than Steve was on his round (he was 6 days into his record though!) Returned to the woods and descended most of the way down a twisty mountain bike track. A great fell run and morning out. Had tired legs before I started so was happy to get round.