| 13/14-10-2002 - NB and DC conquer Skiddaw! |
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| Fell walking has somewhat of a history here at Northbay, and this weekend saw Neilly B and Danny C finally complete Blighty's 'BIG 3'! This weekends target was Skiddaw, standing 931 meters ASL, The third tallest hillock in England. As anyone who has ever driven across the A66 can tell you, the road is characterised by two distinct features. Firstly the breath-taking scenery, and secondly slow moving old people in very slow cars!!! Luckily James Taylor and his Quartet were on-hand to help pass the time, and as-ever the journey didn't seem as long as 2 1/2 hours! On arrival in the lakes, it was a quick stop in Keswick for some much needed munchies and a pasty, then off to Borrowdale to pitch the tents. This proved to be harder than we had first expected, as the 1/2 mile road leading to the campsite was so gnarled and full of pot holes, we could have really done with a fully geared up Landy, rather than my little (and brand new) 1.4 Micra! STRESSED!!!!!! Having reached the end of the "road", we were greeted by some rather manky looking sheep and a 'pissing bush'! So i decided to take an executive decsion, and find somewhere slightly more 'civilised'. So it was back along the 'Burma road' to Bassenthwaite, to pitch the tents. Having fuelled up, it was off to climb us a big hillock! the Assent started at 2:00ish, with one mutha of a climb out of the car park, never a bloody 'ski-lift' when you want one! The views on the way up were awesome, and after 1 1/2 of moderate climbing were at the summit.....well that is we thought we were, untill the cloud behind us lifted, reavealing the actual summit was infact about another 300 meters up a nearly vertical path, Doh!! The final climb was a killer! But we got there! After a few minutes on the top, it started to get cold, so it was 'breaks-off' for a rapid descent! Half-way down, the light started to fade on us, so it was descided to take the "route 1" approach to descending, found in the 'eye-spy' book of mountain climbing under "stupid". So it the next hour was spent 'ninja-ring' down the hill over Heather, Bracken, fences and large rocks, untill muddy, bruised and battered we made it back to the car in 3 1/2 hrs! Not a bad time. The following few hours were spent in the oddfellows arms in Keswick, moaning about how much our legs hurt over a well desereved pint and curry! Keep skimming Neily B. |
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| Danny C looking extremely knackered on top of Skiddaw! |
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| And people wonder why we like fell walking! Danny C halfway up Skiddaw |