The Wasdale Triathlon is not far off and Tim asked us if we could help him familiarise himself with the 'run' route. So me (Kate) being a so called fell-runner was given the job. It is described as the world's hardest traditional half iron distance triathlon, so we set out from Wasdale Head to see just how hard the 'run' route would be. This is the last discipline, after the swim and the bike, so legs are already going to be very tired!
We decided to walk the route at a good pace instead of running it, so headed off to Styhead Tarn, then up the Corridor route to Lingmell Col and to the summit of Scafell Pike - ticked this lot off in just under 2 1/2 hours.
Next stop Sca Fell - it looked so close but unfortunately our route took us on a descent from Mickledore below the huge cliffs, before gaining height again by scrambling steelply up Foxes Ghyll to Foxes Tarn - a beautiful green oasis. From there the path to the summit of Scafell is steep scree and legs were starting to get tired.
Sca Fell summit down to Slight Side - and we felt like we were on the way back, but checking our watches we were dismayed to see that we were only half way round the route! The technical and steep sections had been completed though and the next bit looked easy - grassy descent and flatter ground to Eel Tarn, then onto Burnmoor Tarn before descending back to Wasdale Head. Not so though! The path over to Eel Tarn went on and on, a small trod, non-existent in places and extremely boggy - a leg sapping experience with a fair bit of navigation needed through the tricky terrain. Eel Tarn was eventurally reached and then onto Burnmoor Tarn with superb views over to Yewbarrow and Pillar, and finally a nice, flat finish to Wasdale Head. The 'run' route is down as 13.5 miles - both our watches clocked in at almost 15 miles.
Thank you Tim for a great day out and good luck with the Triathlon!
We decided to walk the route at a good pace instead of running it, so headed off to Styhead Tarn, then up the Corridor route to Lingmell Col and to the summit of Scafell Pike - ticked this lot off in just under 2 1/2 hours.
Next stop Sca Fell - it looked so close but unfortunately our route took us on a descent from Mickledore below the huge cliffs, before gaining height again by scrambling steelply up Foxes Ghyll to Foxes Tarn - a beautiful green oasis. From there the path to the summit of Scafell is steep scree and legs were starting to get tired.
Sca Fell summit down to Slight Side - and we felt like we were on the way back, but checking our watches we were dismayed to see that we were only half way round the route! The technical and steep sections had been completed though and the next bit looked easy - grassy descent and flatter ground to Eel Tarn, then onto Burnmoor Tarn before descending back to Wasdale Head. Not so though! The path over to Eel Tarn went on and on, a small trod, non-existent in places and extremely boggy - a leg sapping experience with a fair bit of navigation needed through the tricky terrain. Eel Tarn was eventurally reached and then onto Burnmoor Tarn with superb views over to Yewbarrow and Pillar, and finally a nice, flat finish to Wasdale Head. The 'run' route is down as 13.5 miles - both our watches clocked in at almost 15 miles.
Thank you Tim for a great day out and good luck with the Triathlon!
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