Training Log Archive: ba-ba

Slobby day and last bit of travel home.

Ramsey Round leg 1 (Grey Corries).
Drafted by Perry to help his mate Jamie Lawler (who it transpires was introduced to Fell Running by Hannah's dad when a kid in Whitby) as we were in the area at Sludo's
The weather forecast on Thursday was shocking. Friday's was better but still not great. Driving to Glen Nevis the rain was horrendous but once there it stopped - until we set off up the Ben at 3am but at least it was just persistent drizzle and clear - until about 900m when it clagged in. Gained a bit of time on his 23.30 schedule, but Ad and I, laden with heavy packs given the weather, were blowing a bit.

Finding the CMD arrete was interesting in dark, drizzle and 5m visibility - we could have been anywhere - and the wind smashed us as we neared CMD itself. Thankfully it was starting to get light but we lost 15mins which was actually quite good given the conditions. From this direction Aonach Mor is a big fucking lump, conditions improved until we were nearing the summit when the wind hit again.

Jamie was moving really well and smashing the downhills. An ill-timed pit stop coming off Aonach Beag meant I lost their line and spent my time coming down a horrible grassy terrace and dropping way behind. Thankfully the clag had cleared now and I hammered over the next 3 Munros and eventually caught them after more than an hour of chasing.

Now it was Adam's time for a pit stop and he then had to chase on for about an hour - there was a period when Adam was using Jamie's poles on the uphills to try and catch him up, not Jamie to save his legs, and we werent together as a 3 for about 2.5h. Stopping to get anything out of the pack condemned you to a big chase and packs were now filled with heavy wet gear - reminding me that I have not missed OMM training in the slightest.

The last few peaks were in clag, the climb up the penultimate hill after the drop to Stob Bam was soul destroying but the run down to Fersit was good fun. 8h to Fersit, gained on every split except CMD. Jamie finished in 23.20.

Great to get my first taste of the Ramsey. It's different gravy to the Bob. Very mince down hill and on the rock - a mixture of tired legs from the last week and heavy pack throwing my balance out (and being a bit more of a fanny now). Had a moment questioning if I am actually a rough tough fells man and not a soft townie but got over thay, but Scottish hills are quite different. Glad to get some views and enjoy some nice hills amd ridges, but looking forward to exploring this area more in better conditions - I was just along for the ride today and had no idea where we were going, amd was glad Adam amd Jamie knew the ground well.

C • good work 2

Easy jog on trails at bottom of Loch Garry.

Liathach. Cracking stuff.
Irocs

Pissing rain and good day for a rest day.

Ben Alligin with Hannah. Atmospheric moving must early on, claggy summits then everything cleared as we scrambled over the horns. Cracking.
Irocs

An Tealach traverse. I'd been really excited for this and the start boded well with sun and it felt like higher cloud would clear. Only it didn't, with mist coming in at 800m and then sinking to about 100m. I got a view of the Lochan from the bealach between the 2 Munros but it didn't quite display the grandeur I was after! Drizzle started shortly after Lord Berkley's Seat - I could at least see that looming through the gloom but was wierd to look down and know there was exposure but not see it. Took a slightly duff line off Sail Liath and touched down on some scree that wasn't responding as I'd expected. One to revisit in better weather but still a good day out.
Irocs