Race: SLMM (Scafell class) day 1 (29k/1400m)
Peaks: High Raise, Rampsgill Head, High Street, Thornthwaite Crag
Area: Haweswater, Lake District
Time: 8:00:35
After thoroughly enjoying the Bowfell class on this event last year, we moved up a gear here and tackled the longest pairs class: the Scafell. The stats are misleading, as the distances are measured in a straight line, the climbs measured as optimal routes: so you actually cover far more ground (I'd estimate 60k over two days). The weather was perfect as we set out from Wetsleddale across typical Pennine scenery of marsh and peat hags, crossing (aesthetically) into Lakeland as we crossed Swindale between checkpoints one and two. A bridleway gave easy access to Haweswater before a gradual climb up to two more checkpoints on the moors north of the reservoir. We skirted Measand Beck before descending to a CP in Longgrain Beck and then climbed onto the High Street ridge near High Raise. Wonderful running along the ridge, the highlight of the weekend, with a light breeze and blue skies. Great views of the Lakes, with Helvellyn dominant to the west. Easy running over Rampsgill Head, High Street and Thornthwaite Crag. I'd visited the latter two a few years ago on the Kentmere horseshoe and so had some knowledge of the terrain. We descended steep scree to CP 6 above Kentmere Reservoir - unfortunately Stef had real problems here and we lost a lot of time, which then got worse as the next leg was the psychological crux. A huge climb back east over the ridge at Brown Howe then all the way over to Mosedale: good route-planning meant we minimised the effort but it was still hard work. We then contoured Brunt Tongue to gain the final two checks in peatbog between Little Mosedale and Greycrag tarn. Stef struggled again on the steep descent to the campsite and we finished well down the field. A beautiful campsite at the top of Longsleddale was ample compensation, though.
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