With Martin recovering from the disappointment of the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool (Liverpool won 2-1 incase you didn't know) it was left to Mark and Lee for this weekends training. Having spent all week in Scotland with Polly mountain-biking and completing an epic 43km walk in the highlands, Lee was driving straight down to what is rapidly becoming a base for the Red Harrows - The Knot Inn at Rushton Spencer.
Unfortunately, one of us (OK it was me and yes I am fallible) forgot to bring the camera for this walk which became a source of frustration as today was probably the brightest and clearest walk we've had yet (I promise to continue to beat myself up about it) so sadly no pics in this blog. If you want to refresh your memory, this is the same walk we did at Training Walk #6 - only in the opposite direction tackling The Cloud first.
You may recall that when we last attempted this walk at the beginning of March it was at the time a bit of leap for us (well actually more me). It was a first introduction to doing two 200m climbs back to back over an extended distance - and I don't mind admitting we nearly cut the walk short at the time after it took us 5hrs and 30minutes to cover the 20.7km with 570m of total climb and Lee thought I was having a heart attack.
Since then, training has been going well and my fitness which was virtually zero before starting Trailwalker training has improved dramatically (this week I recorded I'd lost a stone in weight - believe me, I needed to). On the back of this, we had set ourselves the ambitious target of completing this in 4hrs and 30minutes - a full hour quicker than previous.
We set off towards The Cloud gradually climbing through fields full of new-born Spring lambs who seemed totally unfazed by our presence and soon reached the sapping steps to take us to the summit. There was a reasonable group of people enjoying the view today as we reached the trig point in 52minutes (we had targeted an hour) so were pleased to be ahead of schedule.
Descending the steep side we gradually dropped down towards Bosley reservoir and reached our halfway point in 2hrs 6minutes (out target was 2hrs 15minutes) so took the opportunity for a quick energy bar before contemplating the ascent to the top of Croker Hill. This was a sapping climb but this time, there was no need for pauses to catch breath and we reached the summit in 2hrs and 45minutes a good 15minutes ahead of schedule which we were happy with knowing this was the highest point and it was generally downhill from here.
The views as we descended the ridge from Golden Hill were spectacular. We could see Beeston Hill and the Peckforton Hills where we walked last weekend and beyond that The Clwydian range all the way down to Breidden Hill some 50miles away atop which Rodney's Pillar sits. Gun Hill and The Roaches looked dauntingly spectacular in the near distance where we have a 6hr training walk planned in a few weeks time.
We made it to the Knot Inn in 4hrs 24minutes a good 66minutes faster than the last time we walked this double-header. So we celebrated in typical fashion with a couple of pints of real ale and were sooned joined by Mark's wife and support team member Kate and The Junior Red Harrows for sunday dinner. A good way to end the day.
We have no training walks scheduled for this weekend as this Saturday we have been invited to train with the Queen's Gurkha Signals at their barracks in Nuneaton. We're looking forward to it with mixed feelings. It will be good to meet the Gurkha's first hand, share their insights to help us prepare and to meet some of the other teams taking part but we're a bit apprehensive nonetheless!
Showing posts with label Golden Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golden Hill. Show all posts
31/03/2012 - Training Walk #11 - Croker Strikes Back
The weather had certainly broken as we drove to Rushton Spencer this morning. A misty gloom with slight drizzle had descended and had us wondering what conditions may be like at the top of Croker Hill. Martin met us at the car park at the back of the Knot Inn which given he would be driving to Cambridge after our walk to pick his son up from University certainly showed commitment.
We were heading up a route Lee and Mark had walked previously to the top of Croker Hill and then descending it and coming back a different way. On our previous outing, it had taken us 1hour and 50minutes to the top of Croker Hill so with that in mind we set off at a brisk pace. We found it a lot easier this time as the mist wasn't as bad as before, it had begun to clear and the route was familiar from a month ago.
As we climbed steadily from the Dane Valley we could see other local hilltop landmarks coming into view. One of our regular favourites, The Cloud was shrouded with mist and as we looked around we could see The Roaches and Hen Cloud, somewhere we have yet to experience and agreed that it would have to be part of a future training walk at some point. As we cleared the top of Golden Hill heading for Croker Hill, we identified Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest in the distance and thought that would be another good walk extension to have at some point.
We ascended Croker Hill and touched the gates to the BT tower after 1hour and 35minutes - a good 15minutes quicker than our previous attempt. At an average 5.0km/h we were pleased with this, so we broke out the energy bars and started our descent back and into unfamiliar territory.
As we descended through a field we came upon our first group of Scouts heading towards us, the first of many groups we would see as they navigated with map and compass.
It was heartwarming to see so many kids doing this. Realising that Trailwalker has a minimum age of 18 we decided we couldn't recruit any of them for our 4th member and besides, they would probably only show us up.
The only slight confusion on the walk back was where a footpath ran through a farmyard and the farmer appeared to have done as much as possible to remove markers and make the route as uncomfortable as possible. Once off the Gritstone Trail,we ran out of the steady stream of Scouts and the path became very scenic, taking us up and downhill, through fields and woodland back towards Rushton Spencer.
We arrived back at the cars in 3hours and 50minutes, a good 30minutes faster than we had expected overall. A celebratory pint was called for in the Knot Inn, though Martin with the drive to Cambridge to follow restricted himself to a quick Coke. Salivating at the pies being served up, a plan was hatched for future, longer training walks where a small break might be in order - sorted.
The total climb today was 497m which was less than was expected with a total distance of 17.88m at an average speed of 4.7km/h but at 27.8m/km this was one of our toughest yet. The stats for this walk are here.
Total team distance walked so far in training (not including some individual stuff by Lee and Martin) is 471km with 9521m of climb (Everest weighs in at 8850m) and we've been walking for 7 days 3hours and 28minutes.....and counting! There's still a long way to go - but we're happy with the way the training is going so far. Now, about that 4th member......
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| Approaching Golden Hill |
We were heading up a route Lee and Mark had walked previously to the top of Croker Hill and then descending it and coming back a different way. On our previous outing, it had taken us 1hour and 50minutes to the top of Croker Hill so with that in mind we set off at a brisk pace. We found it a lot easier this time as the mist wasn't as bad as before, it had begun to clear and the route was familiar from a month ago.
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| The Cloud in er....cloud. |
As we climbed steadily from the Dane Valley we could see other local hilltop landmarks coming into view. One of our regular favourites, The Cloud was shrouded with mist and as we looked around we could see The Roaches and Hen Cloud, somewhere we have yet to experience and agreed that it would have to be part of a future training walk at some point. As we cleared the top of Golden Hill heading for Croker Hill, we identified Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest in the distance and thought that would be another good walk extension to have at some point.
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| The Roaches and Hen Cloud imposing in the distance |
As we descended through a field we came upon our first group of Scouts heading towards us, the first of many groups we would see as they navigated with map and compass.
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| Croker Hill - we can see it this time! |
The only slight confusion on the walk back was where a footpath ran through a farmyard and the farmer appeared to have done as much as possible to remove markers and make the route as uncomfortable as possible. Once off the Gritstone Trail,we ran out of the steady stream of Scouts and the path became very scenic, taking us up and downhill, through fields and woodland back towards Rushton Spencer.
We arrived back at the cars in 3hours and 50minutes, a good 30minutes faster than we had expected overall. A celebratory pint was called for in the Knot Inn, though Martin with the drive to Cambridge to follow restricted himself to a quick Coke. Salivating at the pies being served up, a plan was hatched for future, longer training walks where a small break might be in order - sorted.
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| Lee and Martin contemplate carrying on to Tegg's Nose |
Total team distance walked so far in training (not including some individual stuff by Lee and Martin) is 471km with 9521m of climb (Everest weighs in at 8850m) and we've been walking for 7 days 3hours and 28minutes.....and counting! There's still a long way to go - but we're happy with the way the training is going so far. Now, about that 4th member......
03/03/2012 - Training Walk#6 - A foray into The Peak District
It was nice to see Lee was awake, breakfasted and dressed when Mark picked him up at 8am (we said we'd keep ribbing him for being late once didn't we?). We drove the short distance from his house to the car park on the Staffordshire Way in Rushton Spencer (conveniently close to the Knot Inn, purveyors of fine ales but I digress...)
The weather forecast had suggested rain, brightening later and judging by the look of the sky it looked like we might be in for a right dumping. Mark donned his waterproof overtrousers as a precaution (more on this later...) We thought we'd try the MapMyHike iPhone app but unfortunately there was absolutely zero mobile signal so no live tracking this time.
At the point of leaving the car park, the mist had come down quite quickly so we couldn't see the mast on Croker Hill (our second hill) in the distance. Golden Hill, was the first target so we set off at a decent pace enjoying the gradual incline.
Descending down to the Dane Valley Way and the River Dane itself we spotted three buzzards ominously circling (surely they didn't think we'd be lunch?) before crossing a feature labelled as a 'conduit' on the map.
Looking like a mini-canal we assumed it was something to do with conveying water from the reservoirs towards the Macclesfield Canal itself, though it didn't look too well maintained.
We reached Bosley at 2hrs 30mins which was bang on our timing. Bosley Reservoir is owned by British Waterways and was built to supply water to the Macclesfield Canal. As we walked the perimeter path there were plenty of fishermen lazily sat at the side of the lake enjoying the sunshine which was starting to appeal given that my waterproofs were now causing me to sweat and becoming uncomfortable so time to get rid. No easy task, propped against a low wall, removing gaiters then boots all covered in mud. A good 10 minutes lost before getting going towards the dam.
The weather forecast had suggested rain, brightening later and judging by the look of the sky it looked like we might be in for a right dumping. Mark donned his waterproof overtrousers as a precaution (more on this later...) We thought we'd try the MapMyHike iPhone app but unfortunately there was absolutely zero mobile signal so no live tracking this time.
At the point of leaving the car park, the mist had come down quite quickly so we couldn't see the mast on Croker Hill (our second hill) in the distance. Golden Hill, was the first target so we set off at a decent pace enjoying the gradual incline.
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| A conduit apparently. |
Looking like a mini-canal we assumed it was something to do with conveying water from the reservoirs towards the Macclesfield Canal itself, though it didn't look too well maintained.
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| Are we there yet? |
On crossing the River Dane, the upward trajectory began towards Golden Hill.This we found relatively straightforward and a decent climb though as the mist came, it became harder to work out just where the top was. At last the peak approached, but alas no, it was a just a precursor as we walked along the ridge. Another peak approached, "This must be it" Mark suggested but again no, as we approached the top a further hill loomed into view, but again no. At the fourth attempt we reached the real peak but given the mist, there was no view to speak of.
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| Sure, it's big but can you get Sky Sports? |
We descended Golden Hill to head for Croker Hill the highest point on the training walk and still the mast remained invisible in the mist. Eventually as we approached from about 200yards the mast loomed large out of the mist. Having previously believed this to be a TV mast, the clear BT signs all the boundary suggested otherwise. Nobody home but a vast amount of cabling, dishes and backup generators. Thankfully no interference on the GPS either. Having reached our first target at 1hr 54mins a good 10 minutes ahead of schedule we broke out the energy bars and headed down the hill towards Bosley Reservoir just as the things started to brighten up. A herd of deer broke out of cover and ran right through the nearby field but too quick for me and the camera - maybe next time.
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| The distant Cloud beyond Bosley Dam |
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| Do you think the natives are friendly? |
A small wrong turn (the OS map hadn't been updated - thats my story and I'm sticking to it) had us crossing the outfall from the reservoir (and sure enough it discharged into a conduit) and climbing a barbed wire fence which had inconveniently been put in our way. We then found the correct kissing gate we should have come through (but the map WAS wrong!) though the natives were helpful.
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| The church at Bosley |
Crossing the fields we came to the village of Bosley itself. A lovely little village but unfortunately no time to explore, we had to press on to the Nemesis that is The Cloud.
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| The steep face of The Cloud |
Now I had thought (wrongly) that we had been up The Cloud every which way but Lee knew a different way, a way which was manageable up the sheer face without ropes and crampons. Now at this point, about 15km in Mark was beginning to feel the effects of the previous ascent/descent. The legs had turned to lead resulting in several stops to catch his breath as we began the ascent. At one point Lee suggested perhaps leaving The Cloud out altogether on this occasion to spare Mark's oxygen deficiency but determination won through in the end albeit reaching the trig point 25minutes after our planned 4 hour target.
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| Croker Hill - have we really come from there? |
Another carb bar scoffed and we hit the descent making steady progress knowing there were no more ascents (this time) on the way back to the pub...I mean car. Gradually descending through fields and woodland we picked up the Staffordshire Way and the former railway that would take us back to the Knot Inn...I mean Rushton Spencer...where the car is parked...yes.
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| Incoming! Hailstones at 3 o'clock |
At this point we got hit with a sudden unexpected hail shower and thats right, Mark's waterproofs were now snugly in his backpack. After persisting down for about 5 minutes and duly soaking the side of our walking trousers, the Knot....I mean Rushton Spencer came into view and the chance to get out of our gear to enjoy a pint of their finest (mineral water).
10 Things we learned on this walk:
1. Taping the vulnerable areas of your feet and toes with zinc oxide tape certainly seems to protect. No signs of blisters or chafing and no soreness underfoot.
2. Your feet can slide forward in your boots as you go downhill causing pain to the ends of your toes though this seems to be mitigated by 1. above.
3. We seem to be using about 500ml of water per hour at the moment.
4. We need to find waterproof bottoms which can easily be removed and put back on again without losing too much time.
5. Mark doesn't like hilly bits.
6. When Lee says, "This is a nice little incline...", you're in for pain, lots and lots of pain.
7. Mark hates really hilly bits
8. Lee is part mountain goat and part gazelle
9. Knowing there is a pint of ale at the end of the walk is a surprising incentive.
10. Hailstones really hurt when they are driven into the side of your face - but unlikely weather in July.
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