De Javu vu

Monday 5th September.

Earlier this week myself and Danny Bond returned to the Yorkshire Dales as we had some unfinished business with the famous Yorkshire 3 Peaks.

 Arriving in the Dales at just after 6am Monday we had returned to walk the 24mile route, and this time complete it after I had called a halt to our attempt 2 weeks earlier under monsoon conditions!

 The weather was wet again but much improved on previously.

 Moving quickly, with few breaks and without the flood obstacles we made good time needing only a short burst of jogging to complete the route in a respectable 8hrs 49mins.

Well done to Danny for completing the challenge in poor conditions and for being keen to start again after I had called a halt just a couple of weeks ago.

National next......?

Setting The Bar Higher - Bar Folks Yorkshire 3 Peaks.

 A chilly late September morning and the week started off in good style when I took a group of the 'glitterati' from the Leeds bar scene around the route of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks.  For Ross, Andy, Jenny and Owen this would be their first attempt of the famous challenge, Sam was a member of a group who I'd led on the route last year, Clare had completed the route some years ago whilst still in education and for myself this would my twelfth time.

All smiles as the day begins.

 An early start saw me travel to the Yorkshire Dales with Ross (Shears Yard), Clare, Sam & Owen (Mojo's) and Andy & Jenny (Blind Tyger) for a day in the outdoors. The assembled group were all willing participants and a world away from the view of bar folk as generally up all night and drinking as much as they serve......?

 After stashing water around at points around the route we set out from the 'Old Hill Inn' and made our way towards the first hurdle of the locally named 'Devils Staircase'. The groans that come from every group as they near the steep winding stone staircase were slightly delayed due to the heavy mist but were audible as soon as the ascent became visible. With everybody getting 'stuck in' we were soon above the staircase and making our way onto the gritstone plateau, we then made our way through the mist and buffeting side winds to Ingleborough summit.

Team Mojo get carried away with themselves.

Ingleborough Summit (723m) and no view of Morcambe Bay today.

Leaving Ingleborough

 A brief photo stop on Ingleborough and we headed down the 6mile/10km path through the limestone  landscape and on towards Horton In Ribblesdale where we made use of the conveniences, refilled our water bottles and had a bite to eat, Clare's version of a hard boiled caused some debate!

The mist had lifted and the late summer sun was over head as we made our way up Pen y Ghent. There are a couple of trains of thought as to where the name 'Pen y ghent' originated, in Cumbric language 'Pen y Ghent' may have meant 'hill on the edge or border' whilst a translation in a close Welsh dialect would have been 'hill of the wind'. In my experience I can easily see where the Welsh meaning is close to the mark.

The mist lifts heading up Pen y Ghent.

The path up to Pen y Ghent.

Clare nears the top of Pen y Ghent.

Pen y Ghent summit (694m)

 The walk up to Pen y Ghent summit I feel is often under estimated and can test the legs of those attempting the 3 Peaks route for the first time, this being our second summit it was a case of dig in a get it over, which every one did.

 From Pen y Ghent it is then the long 7.5mile walk to the Ribblehead Viaduct. We stopped at 'Gods Bridge' for a bite to eat and a welcome change of socks (the key to a comfortable completion of the route in my opinion) and the group 'banter' helped the miles go by.

Heading for Whernside.

looks 'like a bridge over Ribble water'!

 We had another brief stop to fill water bottles before setting off on the path up Whernside. Some of the knees and feet were starting to ache on the last ascent but spirits were high and we soon made the summit.

Whernside looms!

The always impressive Ribble Head viaduct.

The long path up to Whernside

Andy & Jenny with some of the locals

Whernside (736m) summit, nearly done.

 From Whernside summit it is a steep and sometimes tricky decent for fatigued legs down to Philpot Farm and onto the Old Hill Inn. Approaching the farm we stopped to speak to two farmers who scratched said they couldn't see the attraction of undertaking the route before informing us the pub was closed on a Monday, much to their amusement but not ours!

Descending Whernside

 All in all a good day which I believe every one enjoyed, some didn't enjoy getting out of the vehicles after returning to Leeds but there has to be a price to pay for completing 23.5miles and 5200ft of ascent in under 12hours, otherwise it wouldn't be a challenge!

Well done all!

Yorkshire 3 Peaks - A Tale Of Nine Virgins!

 Saturday April 20th saw me join a team of 11 other Mountain Leaders to help guide a total of 115 people around the route of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks.

 As anyone reading my blog reports of previous Yorkshire 3 Peaks outings may of guessed it is my favorite long distance UK day route and I have the greatest respect for anybody undertaking the 38km & 1500m of ascent (23.5miles & 4950ft in old money!) that is required to make the complete circuit.

Heading off Pen-y-Ghent for the long walk to Whernside.

 Meeting at 06:30am on a chilly but bright Yorkshire spring morning I introduced myself to Grace, Hugh, Jonothan, Kirsty, Neal, Paul D, Paul K, Rachel & Robert, the lucky people who had been assigned to me and would make up group 6 for the day. We had a brief chat about safety, kit, any illness or injury I should be aware of and level of previous hill walking experience, which was limited with none of the group having attempted the route before - Yorkshire 3 Peaks virgins!

 Setting off from the 'Old Hill Inn' at Chapel-le-Dale we made our way to Ingleborough, which would be our first of the 3 peaks, as I chatted to members of the group about the day ahead and their individual reasons for wishing to complete the route. I made it clear that my priority was to help everyone complete the route safely rather than in a race against the clock, and as we reached the foot of the 'Devils Staircase' it was obvious from the look on some of the teams faces my reasoning for setting a 'steady' pace had become clearer!

Approaching the 'Devils Stair Case'.

 Negotiating patches of compressed snow which hung onto the upper section of the ascent we made our way onto the stony plateau and over to the summit point. A quick photo and a rare opportunity to be able to look out to Morecambe Bay on the horizon before we set off down the seemingly never ending path to 'Horton-in-Ribblesdale'.

Ingleborough - 1 down, 2 to go!

Crossing the famous Yorkshire Dales limestone.

 Pausing for a quick water & toilet stop in 'Horton in Ribblesdale' the support team informed us we were making good time and currently at sub 9.5hr pace. Whilst pleased to be making good time I was cautious that if we maintained that pace then there was a chance of running out of steam over the latter stages of the route, plus it wouldn't make a very good impression if I couldn't keep up!

 Skies were clear and it was beginning to warm up, "It's always like this in the Yorkshire Dales" I informed team 6. I did get the impression some were not totally convinced however.

Bright skies over Pen y Ghent.

The steep climb to the summit of Pen y Ghent can't beat team 6!

 Another very brief pause at the summit and we were off again heading for Whernside, which summit to summit was 18.5km (11.5miles) away, and though clearly visible seemed to take an age to appear any closer! Making use of the new rerouted 3 Peaks path which crosses Horton Moor and so avoids the deep bog which has claimed many a persons footwear, we continued on to the tea & cake refreshment stop at 'Old Ing'.
 Still together as a full group I was pleased to see everyone in good spirits and encouraging each other as we set out on the just less than second half of the route.

 Members of 2 fellow '3 Peaker' groups joined us as we reached the B6479 and began walking on the edge of the foot blister inducing tarmac road towards the arches of 'Ribblehead Viaduct'. We must of resembled an overgrown school outing snaking along in single file to the oncoming traffic.

Group meeting at Ribblehead Viaduct.

2 down 1 to go says Hugh, or its a one man peace protest?

 Encouraging the team to take on food and water before the long ascent to Whernside, I took the opportunity to pass on some facts about the local environment which I could see the group found extremely interesting.......

 The rigours of the challenge started to make an appearance on the long ascent of Whernside (it's not everyday most people embark on a 12hr, 23mile hill walk!) with blisters, sore joints and fatigued muscles causing problems for people from various groups within the event. One of our group was now battling bravely on despite a knee problem and I had stopped to do running repairs to the badly blistered feet of a member of another group (who we had 'swept up' along the route!).
 
 Most of group 6 were continuing strongly so after ensuring they would be accompanied by another group leader I sent the group on ahead to have a good chance of completing the route within the 12hr point.

On & on & on & on & on ascending Whernside.

The final stretch from Whernside summit, Ingleborough in the distance.

 Over Whernside and onto the steep final descent I pointed out the views to the Southern Lakeland Fells and the wind farms of Morecambe Bay. Although outstanding views by any body's standards, it was obvious they did nothing to distract from the pain and discomfort felt making every step by my small band of walking wounded.
 The relief was obvious as the going flattened  out on reaching Broadrake and the final 1.5km to the finish line. Gently encouraging my (now more than slightly broken!) team that they still could make the finish line within the 12hr point we broke into an uncomfortable jog over the last 300metres through Philpin Farm. Although resulting in burst blisters, a strong contender for the dodgiest walk prize and more than a few loud expletives I was delighted that they battled on to cross the finish line with just seconds to spare!

 With the other members of group 6 having completed the route approximately 30 minutes earlier we had an impressive 120% completion rate (having collected an additional 2 members), and all within the 12hr challenge time. 

Group 6 well earned refreshments on completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks!

Summary - I would have to say I felt quite fortunate to have been allocated a group of randomly selected people who came together for the day and were motivated, got on well, encouraged each other throughout the event, listened to advice and safety information, tried to control their laughter when I slipped in mud and pretended to be interested during my local environment talks!
 
 Well done to Grace, Hugh, Jonothan, Kirsty, Neal, Paul D, Paul K, Rachel & Robert of Group 6!

Yorkshire Day Yorkshire 3 Peaks for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

 Ey up! As everybody knows August 1st each year is Yorkshire Day when Yorkshire folk celebrate all that makes 'God's Own County' great. This year I helped a group made up of staff from a number of Leeds bars display the famous Yorkshire folk's generosity by walking the route of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

 The 'Charity Fundraising Deam Team' was (in alphabetical order of bar and no particular order of individual ability or level of suffering!)  - Johnny & Rosita (Distrikt)/ Alan (Lounge)/ Sam (Mojo)/ Kash (Sandinista)/ Si & Harry (Sandinista & Smokestack)/ Andy & Jeff (Wax Bar) & myself (Lounge/Sandinista/Sela/Smokestack & Wax!).

N.B  I am aware that the Yorkshire 3 Peaks was the subject of a previous Blog but thought as this is a description of a group challenge it was worth spending the (not insignificant due to my keyboard skills!) time relaying the story of the day to anyone interested.

Leaving Pen y ghent on the long walk to Whernside.

  Leaving Leeds at 06:00hrs we made the 45mile trip along the A65 to Horton In Ribblesdale to begin the route at 08:00hrs. We started the route eventually at 08:30hrs after the usual messing about getting ready and last minute toilet requirements!
 A typical Yorkshire summer day saw us enjoying low cloud, strong winds and a high chance of rain! We made our way along the road to Brackenbottom before making the turn to head up the incline towards Pen-y-ghent where after 5 to minutes a few faces started to look a bit concerned at what lay ahead! Making quite good time we made the summit point of Pen y ghent 1hr 15min after setting out where the strong Southerly wind assisted us display the White Rose flag!

On the shoulder of Pen y ghent.

"Ey up, 'appy Yorkshire Day tha nos!"

   Taking a detour from the conventional route we descended following the 'Pennine Way' towards Horton-In-Ribblesdale before taking the alternative '3 Peaks Challenge' route that is to be opened in 2013, this enabled us to miss the dreaded boggy section  where it has been known for things to get sucked off - usually just boots or trainers by the mud unfortunately!
 Low cloud hid the view across to Whernside which wasn't a bad thing as we were now a couple of hours in and walking thru the first consistently wet, muddy ground which found a couple of pairs of footwear less than waterproof and with most of the group being '3 Peaks virgins' in the realization of possibly another 9-10hrs to finish the route!!

Descending Pen y ghent on the Pennine Way (still enthusiastic!)

Kash measuring the distance by one smoke a mile!

Could of used a rubber dinghy over them rapids!

 Taking a 10minute lunch break at the road junction at 'Ribblehead Viaduct' allowed a couple of the group who had been enjoying a more leisurely pace(?) to stroll in to find most of the group having a bite to eat, whilst Si nearly pulled his hair out when failing to buy a cup of well earned tea as the guy in the tea van was over run with orders for 2 bacon sandwiches at the time - multi tasking hasn't yet reached the Yorkshire Dales!
 The long steadily rising route to the summit point of Whernside saw the group spread out as some of the team started to feel a few aches & pains in the old joints whilst others went thru troughs in energy levels.
   Up to this point we had been lucky escaping the heavy showers that had been forecast but could see dark clouds on the horizon!

Settle to Carlisle line with Ingleborough on the horizon.

Crossing the aqueduct on the steady long climb up to Whernside.

Approaching the half way point of the route on the way up Whernside

Dark clouds are gathering over Whernside!

2 down and 1 to go sheltering from the wind on Whernside.

 Leaving the summit along the 'whaleback' shaped Whernside until the path to 'Philpin Farm' and on towards 'Ingleborough' turned, we could see the heavy dark skies moving in. As we carefully made our way down the steeply descending, knee burning, rough stone steps the heavens opened soaking us to the skin within seconds and turned the path into a slippery mess.
 The rain continued to pour down which had a notable negative effect on team moral. On reaching the road that runs in the valley between Whernside & Ingleborough I decided to give a bit of a 'pep' talk and gave everyone the option of packing it in and calling a taxi to return to Horton In Ribblesdale, funnily enough everyone wanted to go on and complete the route. I'd like to think it was my moral boosting speech that inspired everyone to go on and nothing to do with the £40+ cost of a taxi or the potential persecution from the rest of the team for not completing the route!

 Those who had completed the route before knew full well what was in store as we made our way to Ingleborough and I received a few 'doubtful' looks when I described the route as a steadily rising path with a bit of a 'steep bit', I may of slightly understated the 'steep bit'!
 As we made our way towards what is nicknamed 'the Devils Staircase' the rain started to ease and the cloud lifted revealing the path in front of us, I thought I heard one or two profanities muttered though it could of been the wind?

Clouds still hide Ingleborough as Rosita models the full waterproofs look.

There's a 'bit of a hill' lurking in them clouds!

Kash decides to dance his way up?

  Taking a break at the foot of the 'Devils Staircase' to have some food and water we watched as Andy & Jeff headed up the steeply rising stairs alike 2 horny school boys trying to impress a girl on a school trip! The rest of us set off at more leisurely pace as the monsoon started to draw to a welcome close with the summit of Ingleborough and our final peak a very welcome sight.

Andy & Jeff head up the 'Devils Staircase'.

On ward and upward!

The rain has stopped but there is still a bit of a 'breeze' as Andy flies the White Rose.

  Now all that was left was the little matter of the 5.5mile walk back down to Horton In Ribblesdale to complete the circuit. This section is personally by far my least favorite due the fatigue on already aching limbs and sore feet, as well has having to pick your way carefully thru the slippery limestone section and muddy patches waiting to take your feet from under you.
 On the positive side the weather had definitely turned for the better with the cloud lifting sun breaking thru to give views across to Pen y ghent over the finish line!

Pen y ghent in the distance as the team cross the limestone pavement.

Sam & myself + blisters stride on.

A quick break in on the famous Yorkshire Limestone pavement.

Alan takes in the view across Ribblesdale to Pen y ghent.

Home stretch.

Kash, Alan & Sam make their way along the final mile.

  Back in Horton In Ribblesdale approx 11hrs after setting out it was a welcome change into dry clothes and foot wear and for some a much needed visit to the toilet facilities.
 We then decided a celebratory drink at the local pub was in order where we had a chat and a laugh about the day whilst the landlord seemed not comprehend the idea that to make money you need customers in as he sighed and stomped about whenever somebody approached the bar!

The 'dream team' full of smiles on completion of the 25mile charity fundraiser.

A very broken man!

 Up to date the group has managed to raise over £3000 for the Yorkshire Ambulance with more still to be added to this total. Despite the somewhat damp period of the afternoon everyone completed the route in good spirits and with good banter - same time next year.....?

                                                www.justgiving.com/YorkshireDay