Running, Climbing, Dreaming

I haven't been out on the fells recently but have been doing a lot still. Despite the domain name 'Fell Feet' I never intended the blog to be dedicated to the fells, and the more I write the more it seems this blog isn't really even dedicated to trips specifically in the mountains. It's more about challenge, adventure and basically the things I do that make me feel better as a person. 

I have been spending a lot of climb at the climbing wall recently in Kendal. I have been going on Wednesday nights after school to do bouldering, and Saturdays for Young Climbers Club.

There are a lot of very good Young Climbers there!

I was at Kendal Mountain Film Festival on Sunday. It was truly inspiring. My favourite films were 'Richard Parks 737 challenge', a film of a former Rugby Player who climbs the seven summits (Highest summit in 7 continents) and stands on the three poles (Everest, North Pole and the South Pole), and  'Crossing the Ditch' a film about 2 lads, Cas and Jonesy, not much older than me, as they paddle from Australia to New Zealand for the first time ever. I went their to watch films of mountaineering expeditions and only caught the last half of this, but was immediately drawn into it. It had humour, as well parts where I was on the edge of my seat, it was outstanding and everyone else must have agreed, because despite it being a kayak film it won the Grand Prize. Cas and Jonesy are currently attempting another world first called 'crossing the ice' the first ever unsupported return journey to the South Pole, 100 years on from the first Expedition to the South Pole. You can follow their progress on their website linked above.

I bought a Petzl Tikka 2 from Millets while I was in Kendal, so I can run after school now the days are getting shorter. I have used it twice this week and it is fantastic. I am also looking forward to a winter skills course at Glenmore Lodge in February. I'm hoping to learn Crampon and Ice axe skills, as well as the relevant safety procedures to go out in Scottish winter.

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave comments.

Also take a look at Cas and Jonesy's website, as they could go down in history for this Expedition.

Ethan

A Quick Catch Up

I haven't written anything for a while so I will just tell you briefly some of the stuff I have been up to recently.

I hadn't been running for a week or two because I wanted to try and get rid of the cold I had at the time. I never quite managed it and became quite bored so decided to run a 13.5km circuit that I do quite often and suffer the disappointment of finding out how much slower I was. To my surprise though I beat my best time by about 2 minutes, and the following week when I did the same circuit I beat that one by another 2 minutes.

I have just completed a beginners indoor climbing course at Kendal Wall. I had done climbing in the past at another club but never managed to get back into it after I left. Last Saturday I went along to young climbers club and we did some top rope climbing (bottom rope to be correct). I also joined the mailing list for the wall and was one of the 5 lucky winners of a free prize draw, where I won a month's pass. I think I'll try to make the most of it next week as it's the half term holiday.

My Dad bought a 2nd hand Ridgeback bike from Arragons in Penrith, that they had as a hire bike. We went for a 17 mile cycle the other day to try it out. We cycled to the New Inn in Hoff which has just opened up and I had lunch there. The journey to there was practically all down hill, and Dad was trying to find a route back home without going back up hill (I tried explaining the impossibility of this). In the end we went to Great Asby and on to Orton Scar, and Dad was disappointed when we came to, what was in his words 'the biggest bl**dy hill he's ever been up in his life'.

That's all really I haven't been up to much recently, but I will try and do some fell walking next week.
Oh and I got an 'F10 Vitesse' on ebay. A light weight tent that can be pitched with trekking poles or string to save weight? I'm looking forward to using that.

Thanks for Reading

Ethan 

Exploring the North Pennines

Last week I decided not head up to Cross Fell because of bad weather, I was a bit annoyed that I didn't go on but knew that I would get little pleasure out of it on my own on a day like that. Fergus joined me for Murton Pike but went back after that, as the fog was low and he couldn't stay the night anyway. I did a  loop around High Cup Nick with minimum visibility. So I was keen to get on up to Cross Fell this weekend, this time in the company of Fergus and Rex.

  

This week I planned to go around High Cup Nick and onto Great Dun Fell and Cross Fell. We set of from the farm in Murton at about 10:10am. This time rather than walk around the edges we walked through the valley. Rex was over joyed to be out and about in a new place and expressed his excitement by running around and demonstrating his remarkable athletic ability, which always makes me feel slow and lazy and generally seems to put most human bodies shame. I was keen to have a nosey around a bit more and possibly climb a gully or two. I saw one and it looked fantastic. It had a huge boulder that had fallen and jammed itself between the two walls. I asked Fergus if he could hold Rex while I went up. The rock of High Cup Nick is very Brittle so it's important to take care when selecting hand holds. After a few minutes of simple scrambling I was on the top. I walked to the edge and looked over the cliff to see Fergus and Rex waiting patiently and looking quite small. I shouted hello to them both before making my way back down.

We then worked our way along the bottom of the cliffs until we came to the rock fall at the end of the valley, where we went up the large gully onto the top. We then walked along the western side of the cliff tops until we came to the drystone wall which leads all the way to the bottom of Dufton Pike. We hand railed along it for 20 minutes or so. If you have been reading my blog since it first started you will remember the walk I did in the Lakes with Fergus in June. Despite knowing his boots were a size to small for him he came along anyway and although it slowed him down quite a bit he managed quite well considering the pain he claimed

to be in. He said the first thing he would do when he got back would be to buy a new pair of boots. Here we were 4 months later and Fergus is still in the same old pair of boots. So a frequent topic of conversations was yet again complaints of pain in his feet. Despite being 1st October the temperature must have been about 25 degrees celsius at this point in the afternoon. I was walking quick and was a bit reluctant to stop, as I wanted to get to the bothy before night fall. We had joined the Pennine way at the bottom of Dufton Pike and were heading for Knock Fell. We were both dehydrated and Rex was also hot. I decided that it was worth having a nice break by a river to fill up on water, let rex have a paddle and finally allow Fergus to rest his feet. After half an hour we continued. We kept going on the long walk to Knock Fell. The three of us all sat down admiring the distant Lake District fells as they stood proudly over the Eden Valley, the sun gradually creeping down into dusk. I put my arm around Rex and realised this was one them moments that you look back on with a smile across your face. A short time later we made it onto Knock Fell. I gave Rex his tea, as he seemed to be lacking his usual energy. The big 'Golf Ball' on the top of Great Dun Fell, that can be seen from Blencathra on a clear day and from my house in decent weather, was now very close indeed. We came to the road that led up radar station on the fell. This is used by workers there and is apparently the highest road in Britain. After a short stroll up the road we were as close to the summit as we could get, with out sitting on top of the station or being done for trespassing. We walked around the fenced of area and then onto Little Dun Fell. Cross Fell was our final objective of the day. At 893m (2930ft) Cross Fell is the 9th highest fell in the country and the highest point of the Pennines or any other part of the country outside of the Lake District. We ascended relatively quickly and the view was amazing from the summit a few photos were taken before we headed of the fell and looked around for the hut. We couldn't see it for a while until I spotted it and we set off towards it.
In fairness I had told Fergus that the day wouldn't be as long or tiring as last time and it kind of was in the end. I find it hard to stop and stay still when I have a planned destination. I'd sooner get there and then relax.

This was my first time in a mountain bothy and I was very impressed. Greg's Hut is well maintained and well stocked and I immediately felt cosy the moment I stepped inside it. A few others came with even more supplies. I had brought some fire lighters but they burned out. They had some so we used them and I got the fire going well. There were about six staying altogether but five of them were scared off by us so went outside to pitch tents, but one poor soul had to stay as she didn't have a tent to escape to. Rex, who has a tail that reacts to noise kept us awake. I stupidly donated my camping mat to Rex so had to sleep on the hard wooden platform above the fire. We ate quite well though. I am trying very hard to not use dehydrated camping meals as there expensive and disgusting. Fergus had some lightweight super noodles but I can't bear to look at them, considering they pretty much the only food I ate on my 12 peaks challenge. I brought some pasta and some carbonara source and ate it quite happily.

In the morning I had Ready-Brek and Semolina, which was quite a nice start to the day. Fergus had 'Cup o' Soup'. We then packed and after feeding Rex his Breakfast we left. I forgot to pack the Rex's Bowl. It's one of those red Sea to Summit X-bowls. If anyone's back up there before me, could you let me know if it's there still. We said goodbye to the other 5 who returned back to the bothy to cook breakfast on their stoves, and I tried my best to apologise to the women kept awake all night by Rex. She pointed out that what actually kept her awake was me commanding Rex to "Lie Down!". She even seemed to feel sorry for the dog, as if I was taking away his rights by trying to stop him wagging his tail in the middle of the night. On the way out of the bothy I couldn't help notice the beauty of the Pennine fells when looking to the north, I'll perhaps explore them some time. As for now all that remained was a quick descent into Blencarn before returning home.

A fantastic trip, with the company of two good friends.

Thanks for reading,
Please feel free to leave comments.

Ethan

Murton Pike and High Cup Nick

Today I got up at 08:30 and got a lift with Dad to Murton where Fergus was due to meet me. Fergus was waiting in the bus shelter when I arrived. We set off up towards Murton Pike walking behind Murton Crag. The cloud was very low and from here on navigation was difficult, seeing as we were off the path. Using a compass bearing I found our way to the summit. We then headed down towards the start of High Cup Nick. The plan was for Fergus to walk around High Cup Nick with me as well before finding his own way back to Murton, and then I would head on up to Cross fell and Greg's hut. Seeing as the cloud was low and Fergus didn't have a map or know how to use a compass we decided it was best if he went back now while the way was still clear. I worked my way around High Cup Nick, the fog was thick and the rain was persistent. I didn't meet one person. Every so often one of the jagged, pointy rocks would stick out through the fog to confirm I was near the edge. I was deciding that it perhaps wasn't worth heading on to Cross Fell today and I should meet Dad in Dufton. After a few kilometres down the field I came to the bottom of Dufton Pike. At only 300 metres visibility was still poor and the majority of Dufton Pike was hidden. It is in this weather that I start to appreciate the company of others a lot more. I was going to check out Greg's Hut but realised that although I could probably make it quite easily, I didn't see what enjoyment I would get out of spending a long, lonely night in a mountain bothy at 700 metres with nothing to do other than cook some pasta and dry out my clothes, just to head back down in the morning. After ringing Dad I decided that it was best to meet him in Dufton.
             It is hard for me to cope with the fact that I didn't go on to the hut today, but I know that sometimes my determination can push me through those hard times and thats what achieves great things on the mountains, but it can also push me through tough times and in the end bring me nothing to look back on with a smile on my face. If I was aiming to get somewhere for the next night or had a particular route in mind I wouldn't have returned until I had completed what I had set out to do, but considering this was an adventure with no objective and at the end of the day had little enjoyment or achievement in completing it, I decided it was one to do another day with enjoyable weather and good company.

Thanks for reading,
Comments valued as always.

Regular Update

Tomorrow I'll be going on a walk with Fergus for the day up Murton Pike and around High Cup Nick.
These are both walks I've done a lot. It's possibly my 5th time up Murton Pike and maybe my 5th visit to High Cup Nick. One of them a memorable experience with my Dad, when it didn't really cross my mind mind that walking along a 70 foot drop could be a bit scary to someone (like Dad) who suffers from vertigo. After that Fergus will make his own way back while I head off up to Cross Fell (which I've never been on) and then stay the night at 'Greg's Hut' (which is also a new experience). Cross Fell is the 9th highest fell in the country and the highest fell in the country, outside of the Lake District. 'Greg's hut' is also the highest mountain bothy in the country. I am quite pleased with how I've packed. I've managed to fit everything in my 'Lowe Alpine 45 litre Air Zone', and I'm leaving my Theramarest style Vaude Air mattress at home and I'm taking the light weight and cheaper option (a standard foam mattress).

What I've been up to
I haven't been up to a lot recently. I have a minor cold which usually would mean nothing, but it is effecting my stamina quite a bit, so I have had to abandon my increasingly regular long distance run for this week. I have managed to fit a 6km and a 4km in but I can't say I'm proud of the distance or my performance in it.
           I went to my first session of the indoor climbing course at Kendal Wall. It was extremely well taught. I have done bits of climbing in the past, at a Kids club when I was 10 in Penrith leisure centre and also with school and a summer camp once or twice, but I learnt an awful lot just in this one session. We only used the Bouldering wall this week, but I learnt to climb a lot more efficiently. Next week we will be doing top rope climbing and weeks 3 and 4 we will be doing Lead Climbing (something which I have never done).
           I have been having trouble getting hold of size 14 B2 winter boots. Which is strange because I can find Plenty of size 14 walking boots. Manufacturers are a bit silly really. They have concluded that men with size 14 feet don't have the desire to do anything more than summer walking! It's as if they expect a man with big feet to say "Oh no, gravel is challenging enough for me! I'll wait until next summer, and for now I'll leave those much more adventurous small-footed people to explore the snow." However 'La Sportiva' do 2 B3 rated models in my size so I am not totally lost.

That's all for now. Check back on Sunday or Monday night and I might have a post up about tomorrow's adventure.

Feel free to post comments and few more followers would be nice (but I won't hold my breath).

Ethan

Lakeland Walker Article and a Catch Up

I haven't been able to spend much time on the fells recently, but I have kept myself busy in other ways.

The most important thing to mention firstly is about an article I was lucky enough to get published in the Lakeland Walker. It's a more compressed version of the 12 Peaks Challenge post that I wrote in July. It is on Sale in Booths and I think WHS. Possibly Cotswold sell it as well. Have a look if your interested it's a great magazine, which offers advise and inspiration to those who visit the area.



About 2 weeks ago, a day or two before I was due to start school, me and Calum went on a walk in the Howgills. We were planning to go camping in the Lakes for a night but with the Met Office Mountain Weather suggesting winds of up to 70mph I suggested we didn't. We ended up spending the day going to Weasdale and walking up to Green Bell and Randy Gill top instead. Apart from the Lake District the Howgills are my favourite fells in the country and I have a feeling I will be writing a lot more about them in the winter months. At this height and location the winds were at an exciting speed, more than the dangerous speed that Scafell was probably taking. I can only hope nobody set out for the summit in that weather. We then went for a game of pool in Tebay before heading to the cinema with Fergus. We saw that film about apes taking over the world. We had a much more comfortable evening then the one I had planned for us originally.

I then started school on Thursday and only had to suffer two gruelling days of it before the weekend came. The Saturday was my Birthday and the 2 days were spent at Langdale Charity Folk Festival where I had been booked to play Sat and Sun. Langdale is the place where I discovered my love for the Lakes and I have the folk festival to thank for getting me out to that part of the country. The night of my Birthday we ate at the thai restaurant in Ambleside. As we set off we picked up a lad a bit older than me hitching, who lived in Ambleside. He studied Geography and Mountain Walking at the uni there, and had been to the Picos and many other fantastic places. I took the opportunity to rabbit on about mountains to him. I think he was glad to exit the car once we'd arrived (and I'm almost surprised he didn't attempt an escape while the car was still moving.

I will be starting a climbing course at Kendal climbing wall on Wednesday. I have been wanting to get into rock climbing for while and I'm glad I finally have the opportunity. I'm also looking at getting some experience in winter hillwalking and mountaineering. I am looking at getting some B2 boots, crampons and Ice axe first and then will try and find a way to learn. Whether its going out on some of the safer fells learning on my own by trial and error or saving up to go on a course.

This week I have managed to fit in a few 13km runs, to keep fit while I'm off the fells and also to improve my running in itself. I'm thinking about possibly entering a 10km race next month but I'll see how I'm doing nearer the time.

I'll try to update my blog at least every two weeks, even if I'm not getting up to much, but hopefully I'll find something to speak about before then.

Thanks for reading and keep checking back every so often.
Feel free to leave comments.

Conniston to Grasmere August 29th-30th

View of Low Water

Windermere and Conniston

Dad dropped me off in Conniston, just after 10am. I made my way along a field until I came to the path up to ‘The Old Man of Conniston’ (that’s the name of the fell by the way). After Some hard work I was on the summit in about an hour. The views showed Windermere, Conniston and the coast rather nicely, with the morning sun shining through the high clouds. This didn’t last for long. I was in the shelter of the cairn and knew the other side of it was gonna be a whole lot worse. I set out onto the wide ridge between The Old Man and Brim Fell where the winds suddenly picked up. I didn’t bring any gloves as my cheap ones just get wet and cold anyway. As I got to Brim Fell I sheltered from the wind behind the cairn and put my waterproof jacket on to keep the wind off. Rain was bound to come as well. It wasn’t long before a mean looking cloud started sweeping in from the coast. The rain started and visibility became minimal. As I headed on to Swirl How, I had begun to lose track of where I was on the map, I asked another walker and they told me. Great Carr was my next destination where I was told the path to Grey Friar was clearly marked. By this time the fog was thick but I could see the cairn of Great Carr so took a bearing on my compass and made my way over to Grey Friar with a little uncertainty. It is at these points where I wish I had a friend with me, just to talk to when I feel the most lonely (best start trying to make some). The fog cleared to my right to show Wynrose Pass running behind Cold Pike and Pike o'Blisco. This was where I was heading down to after Grey Friar. With newly found confidence I continued walking towards Grey Friar when the path cleared to reveal some Land Rover Tracks in the grass. I wouldn’t call it a “clearly marked path” but once I found it I was able to make my way up to the summit with a much calmer feeling. I gradually made my way down the hill and crossed the Wrynose Pass to make my way up the Public Bridleway west of Cold Pike and Crinkle Crags along the Moesdale beck. After a long lonely stroll through the boggy ground and the rain I came to the path leading up to Ore Gap (the col between Bowfell and Esk Pike). It was about 5:30pm and I was ready to pitch my tent and have a good nights sleep. I was glad to have a signal so rung Mum and Dad for a quick chat, before descending to angle tarn where I’d camp that night. After having tea I went to sleep at about 7pm and had a good nights sleep.

Nice and Dry

At Stickle Tarn

The next Morning I got up at 8:30am and was off by 9:30am. The weather was the same as yesterday. I could see Pike of Stickle watching over the Langdale Valley. The paths were muddy and on my way to the crossroads where the Cumbria Way meets up with the path from angle tarn, my right leg went knee deep in Peat Bog. By the time I got to the crossroads I wasn’t sure what to do. I had decided I wasn’t going to go up High Raise today, just the Langdale Pikes, but a part of me wanted to take the Cumbria Way path into Langdale and get picked up there. I couldn’t though. I had to go on. If I did I would beat my self up about it all week. I took the black path marked on the map. After a few hundred metres on it I was off the boggy ground and on a nice graveled path leading up to Pike of Stickle, the first of my Langdale Pikes. After a bit more walking and a short scramble, I was on the summit and Loft Crag and Harrison Stickle had escaped the cloud and were looking quite magnificent. Elterwater and Windermere were visible as well as the Langdale valley. Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell were hidden by cloud, but Pike o’Blisco, Lingmoor Fell and Blea Tarn all stood out making Langdale look fantastic. I found and easier route of descent of the summit, which I took before making my way on to the summit of Loft Crag. Again Langdale looked fantastic. I stopped by a stream to clench my thirst and then began the short ascent onto Harrison Stickle, the highest of the Langdale Pikes. On it was a Mum and her son about 6, who asked me where I was going. The boy was keen to show me the way they came. It’s nice to see someone that young getting so much out of fells, even when the weather is bad. I made my way on to Pavey Ark where I rung Dad before descending. I made my way for Stickle Tarn to Easdale Tarn, where I met a small group of men from west Cumbria who showed me the best way off down to the tarn. At the end of the tarn I went up a small hill to get a signal to arrange the pick up time with Dad. After a 40 minute descent I met Dad outside the Cotswold shop and we then went and had Lunch in the pub next door. I’d had a good trip but there were plenty of times where I wished I had someone to talk to. 

Harrison Stickle (left), Pavey Ark (right) and Stickle Tarn

Next week, if all goes to plan I should be going on a 2 day walk with Calum (Fergus’ brother). I was thinking of going over in to the Scafell area from Langdale via Crinkle Crags and perhaps doing Scafell Pike and maybe Scafell as well, depending on the weather.

Feel free to post comments as always.