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Saturday 21 February 2015

The Settle hills from Settle - 15th February 2015

Last Sunday's run was significant in that it was Harry's first unrestrained trot out following his knee injury. He'd seen the vet again earlier in the week and, although he still has to keep things steady, his knee seems to be on the mend (which is a big relief because at one stage the vet thought it may have been a torn cruciate ligament which could have meant surgery). Harry can now resume 'steady trotting' but nothing too strenuous and he mustn't over cook it. 

Anyway me and Haz went for a nice 5 mile trot out from Settle, initially following the Pennine Bridleway but then hooking right at Jubilee Cave in the direction of Attermire Scar before scooting over Warrendale Knots, visiting the trig point, and trotting back down to Settle Market Square. Harry loved it!

From Settle - 5.1 miles and 1,165 ft - route on Strava

My usual view when running with Harry

Looking back towards Victoria Cave from Warrendale Knots

A misty view of Attermire Scar

A very happy Harry

Hazzer scuttling down a gully

Haz with brick in mouth - with Sugar Loaf Hill and a bit of the back of High Hill in the background

Reign it in Haz - the vet said steady trotting!

Thursday 19 February 2015

The 3 Peaks (clockwise!) from Horton - 14th February 2015

Okay, with Hester away in Sweden and Hazzer still having to keep things steady due to his knee injury, it was just me out running on Saturday sooooo... I decided to "whiz' around the 3 Peaks from home - this I figured would allow me to spend more of my Saturday time with Harry before and after the run but still allow me to get in a much needed longer run, what with my first proper event of the year, the High Peak Marathon, fast approaching. Of course the very first thing I had to do before running around the 3 Peaks was to take Harry for a two miler around the river so I already had two miles 'in my legs' at the kick off.

To make things interesting, having already been around the 3 Peaks the "normal' anti-clockwise way in January, I decided to go clockwise. As a local can I say that very, very few people go round the 3 Peaks clockwise - its just not done. The fell race, in late April each year, doesn't and neither do any of the massive charity walks in the summer. Any looking up of the route on the internet will more or less take it as read that you are proceeding anti-clockwise from Horton, doing Pen y Ghent, Whernside and then Ingleborough in that order... whether you like it or not. 

Anyway I went clockwise and, despite the track being wet and muddy, it did seem much more 'runnable' going clockwise. I managed to run all the way up Ingleborough and 90% of the way up Whernside for sure but, on the flip side, the descents from both, off of the Swine Tail of Ingleborough and route one straight off the side of Whernside at the trig point, were so steep as to make running down extremely difficult to begin with. The thing that got me most though was the long gradual up hill haul to Pen y Ghent, not helped by my route selection, choosing to take the as the crow flies line through the peat bogs and mires of Black Dubb Moss rather than the slightly longer but (far) better racing line following the Pennine Way most of the time. Anyway mission accomplished and I managed to find my way home.... just in time to trot (in a sluggish way admittedly) another two miles around the river with the Hazmeister.

From Horton - 21.6 miles and 5,728 ft - route on Strava

Sulber Nick heading towards a gloom covered Ingleborough

Ice at the top of Ingleborough

Springtime arrives in Chapel-le-Dale

Looking down the Roman road through Chapel-le-Dale tin the direction of Ingleton

A pond

Heading for Ribblehead off the side of Whernside

Black Dubb Moss

The suction of the bog trying to get my leg out was incredible!

Ice near the top of Pen y Ghent

On the final run in now with a sunburst over Bowland

Friday 13 February 2015

Blea Moor and Whernside from Ribblehead - 8th February 2015

A cracking run made all the better by the first 4 miles all being completely off of any main path or track - here my route was mainly over tussock grass and heather with the odd quad bike track to follow. For sure the trig point on top of Blea Moor rarely gets visited so its great to go up there and be the only human being in a huge chunk of wilderness. 

Going up Whernside from the north side I passed the Whernside Tarns which were beautifully iced up and, by the time I reached the main path near the summit, there was a fair dollop of snow hanging about too. But, best of all, there was a stunning cloud inversion by the time I got the the top ridge line with superb views of Pen y Ghent and Ingleborough poking out through the clouds. Its just great when you fortuously time a run to be at the top above the clouds

From Ribblehead - 9.4 miles and 2,268 ft - route on Strava

Ingleborough and Ribblehead Viaduct

Looking towards Whernside on the way to the top of Blea Moor

Me looking a gumby

Wind blown iced up waves I guess?

Whernside summit viewed from one of the there tarns

Looking towards Pen y Ghemt

The top track on Whernside

Ingleborough

Pen y Ghent and Ingleborough

Route one down off of Whernside

Saturday 7 February 2015

Simon's Seat and Lord's Seat from Bolton Bridge - 7th February 2015

In almost Spring like weather it was a shorts and no gloves run today following the Dales Way from Bolton Bridge, past Bolton Abbey following the River Wharfe all the way to Howgill before scooting up to Simon's Seat and Lord's Seat and then returning via the Valley of Desolation and the Posforth Gill waterfall. A cracker!

From Bolton Bridge - 13.8 miles and 1,994 ft - route on Strava

The Strid looking a bit tame

Let my leg tanning for the year begin...

The Wharfe looking stunning

You could be forgiven for thinking it was Spring

Simon's Seat over looking Wharfedale

Looking back at Simon's Seat from the track to Lord's Seat

Sheepshaw Plantation

Top trees!

Sunburst reflection

Posforth Gill waterfall

Friday 6 February 2015

Malham Tarn Loop from Malham - 1st February 2015

Looking to make the most of the snow while it's about, it was a beautiful run with Hester last Sunday from Malham, via Malham Cove, Ing Scar to Malham Tarn and then returning via Gordale.

From Malham - 7 miles and 1,087 feet - route on Strava

Malham Cove

Some cracking rock climbing at Malham Cove

Where Harry and Hermione pitched their tent

Ing Scar

A shadowfie

Looking towards Fountains Fell

Malham Tarn

Spot the three suicidal sheep

Hester above Goredale Scar

Gordale

Wednesday 4 February 2015

An arctic Plover Hill and Pen y Ghent from Horton - 31st January 2015

Well the Mountain Weather Information Service had the weather for Saturday down as cold with strong winds on the tops and an expected wind chill of -17˚. They weren't wrong. It was also extremely icy, especially on the climb up Plover Hill, so my kahtoolas had another outing as did my brand new ice axe. Fantastic though - exactly what winter running in the hills is all about!

From Horton-in-Ribblesdale - 8.5 miles and 2,340 ft - route on Strava

Up the left end, along the top and back down the right....

The steep bit of the climb up Plover Hill....

..... and the sheet ice cap at just before the top!

Wind blown snow on Plover Hill

A bit fricking windy!

I must admit it felt a 'tad' exposed here

Looking along the ridge towards the summit of Pen y Ghent

Nice drift

Pen y Ghent trig

Just a scoot down and home now!