I was wrong

[chickenfeet]

No ill effects from running yesterday so today I went at it pretty hard. I did my usual stairs and weights routine first thing and went for a run at lunchtime. I did 4km mostly at a pretty good clip though I was flagging a bit towards the end. I'm still struggling to shed the surplus though.

Comments

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

Well done! I was thrilled to manage 3k the other day, and then got sick.

[violetsaunders.livejournal.com]

I am thinking of climbing Scafell Pike in May - having not done any serious mountain walking in a long time (one high mountain in Spain 2 yrs ago but got a train to wihtin 1000 feet of top) - otherwise many years back. Cannot decide whether it is sensible or not (other half had a stroke last year).

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

The lemur and I did the second highest peak in Yosemite a couple of years ago. Actually the vertical climb from carpark to peak is only a thousand or so feet more than Scafell Pike but the start is at 9000 feet or something so the altitude makes a bit of a difference. I don't remember Scafell Pike as being particularly arduous by the normal route from Wasdale. Just deadly dull! I think the last time I was up that way we climbed Scafell via Lord's Rake and then took the Broad Stand route to the Pike. Not that I'm suggesting that that's a good idea.

Still, I'm no good at guessing what other people will find hard going or not. Last time I was working in England one of my Toronto colleagues was over for a couple of weeks. He is younger than me and a serious mountain biker so I figured he'd be pretty fit but he struggled with the North Ridge of Tryfan, Bristly Ridge and the round of the Glyders which I thought was a bit of a doddle. So it goes.

[violetsaunders.livejournal.com]

We'll be going from Langdale, via Great Gable - views from the top look impressive - so I hope it won't be too boring. I found Snowdon boring - but then the top was in cloud! When we walked in Yosemite (with two youngish children)it was very snowy still (about this time of year)- so we didn't go for any peaks (we saw two more seasoned hikers edging their way up the half dome). We did the high falls walk (stunning) and a couple of others.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

We'll be going from Langdale, via Great Gable

Do you mean from Borrowdale? In any event Great Gable is a fun mountain.

I found Snowdon boring

All the regular walkers' routes up Snowdon are boring (and BTW Snowdon is probably a tougher proposition than Scafell Pike). There are good ways up Snowdon but only the route via Crib Goch is accessible to normal hikers and then only in good weather. The best ways up Snowdon need a bit of climbing experience. My favourites are using the East or West terrace of Clogwyn du'r Arddu to bypass the steep slog up from Clogwyn station on the Llanberis path. They are the regular climbers' descents from Cloggy and OK in the dry for anyone with any climbing experience. Perhaps the best way though is one of the Trinity gullies in good snow conditions. Easy solo winter climbs but they go straight up the middle of the North face and come out right by the summit. Great fun in the right conditions.

[violetsaunders.livejournal.com]

I don't know the Lake District that well (which is why we are going) - but langdale is to the east of Scafell towards Ambleside.

Good to know about severity - except that I walked up Snowdon over 25 years ago!

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

but langdale is to the east of Scafell towards Ambleside.

Indeed it is but Great Gable is to the North West of Scafell. A route from Langdale to GG to SP would involve crossing Sty Head to reach GG and then retracing one's steps to Sty Head for the ascent of SP.

[violetsaunders.livejournal.com]

I think that's right - GG is an optional detour from the 'main' walk - but we'll see. At the moment I am just trusting my son who did the walk a year or so ago with friends. His aged parents are literally following in his wake...!