Well, as some know and others don’t, I am one of those dodgy people who both walk the hills, and mountain bike. Many times I have chatted with people in both disciplines, and whilst the vast majority understand the others views and share a liking for outdoors, health etc, I have also seen examples of people with a great dislike for the others hobby. Read the rest of this entry »
Similarities between 'going lightweight' and single speed mountain biking
November 28th, 2009Update on knee
November 15th, 2009Well, phase 2 of my knee test started today.
Test methodology: attempt roughly half of the Edale skyline.
Hypothesis: my knee will work fine, no probs. Today the peaks, tomorrow the world, well several Wainwrights at least.
Observations: 1 nasty car crash, and early morning vista of clag covered tops, a beautiful day with bucket loads of sun and cooling winds at just the right time. Oh and some crazy remote control kite things. V. cool.
Write up: started from Castleton, and today chose my scarpa sl and gaiters. Had enough of fell running shoes until spring now.
My route started by popping over Hollins cross and back down to Edale. Then having had a chat with some mtbers, I started the scramble up Grindsbrook Clough. Maybe I was a little silly trying this kind of stuff, especially when I slipped on a slimy rock and ended up hugging a rock for dear life – I nearly ended up in the stream. At the top I turned left and had lunch on Crowden Tower. Nice M&S ham and cheese sarnies!
Now, with the bad weather of recent, my heart rate started to increase as I came to my peat bog nemesis – Brown Knoll. Recollections of being thick down in methane releasing bog and the sight of three lads with peat up to their knees didn’t help, and I did think several times about chickening out and descending Jacob’s Ladder.
But now, the plan was set and I continued over the knoll. It wasn’t too bad up to the trig point but the ground was bad thereafter. Especially dodgy was one horizontal grough that was deceiving – normally vegetation means safe ground, but this grough had much grass yet wouldn’t take my weight. Luckily, I had been cautious and only put one foot down. As soon as I realised, the foot was out, and I retreated. I succeeded in beating the grough via a little run up and 5ft jump. Again, maybe stupid with the knee but hell, I don’t like peat.
Once the knoll was complete, the simple but tiring walk over Rushup edge then down the broken road to Castleton concluded a great walking day.
Conclusion 1: I felt no knee pain despite my rough calculations of 13.5 miles and 775 metres of ascent. I think the knee might be on it’s way to classification of fit for purpose.
Conclusion 2: My scarpas didn’t rub my ankle despite the physio foam donuts i normally wear in them.
Conclusion 3: I love getting to the car 5 minutes before a heavy downpour. It means I planned the walk perfectly 
And the news is….
November 8th, 2009The knee works! yah!! Well, I say works as i survived a 10 miler derwent edge circuit today. However, my feet didn’t. After using trail shoes solely this year from about February, with the recent wet weather and boggy ground on the edge, I knew it was a gamble to try them over my boots and gaiters. But I tried, and to be honest, my feet weren’t too cold, I had thick smartwool socks and the temperatue was about 5 – 6 degrees in the valley.
However, by the end of the walk, my feet ached a little more than from the mileage alown, so next week, I will be trying the scarpa sls again.
It's time to try the knee
November 7th, 2009Well, after a month of osteopathy, my physician has mandated a decent hill walk to test the knee. Oh it’s a hard life. Well, tomorrow is the day, and Hope Valley is the destination. A quick walk up from Hope to Winhill Pike, some photos over Derwent Water and then back down the river Noe. Hopefully the knee won’t let me down. Just got to decide whether to wear my old SLs or trainers.. Wore the boots tonight to the Conkers firework display and they feel HEAVY!!!!
IT band syndrome
October 18th, 2009Hopefully will be walking soon… Went to osteopath and physio in Tamworth a couple of weeks ago. After hearing my summary of my knee history, he performed some diagnostic tests and my problem is…
IT band syndrome, aka runner’s knee. Well, I will be annoyed if that has been the root cause for years as this is fairly simple to diagnose by physios and my previous physios did not pick this up. Therefore I might have gone through two arthroscopies for nothing. Well at least mr Bupa paid for them!!! Anyhows, I am icing the knee asbi type, and have been doing some massage. I have also got my second Physio appointment tomorrow evening and am (not) looking forward to some deep sports massage. Still, anything to get me back walking. My poor laser comp as only seen 4 nights use this year and i really want to try the kinder circuit during the Xmas break….
Quick update on the knee
October 9th, 2009Well, after July’s Lake District disappointment, I’ve had a fairly hectic time. A little biking, a quick foray up Snowdon (without knee pain!) provided false confidence in my knee. Hence I went up to the Lake District a few weeks ago, attempting the Buttermere circuit – Red Pike to Haystacks to Fleetwith Pike. However, descending High Crag, the knee pain came back. This time, two osteopaths staying at the Buttermere YHA advised me to formally see an osteopath to confirm and treat a suspected lateral collateral ligament. So I did, visited a sports physio / osteopath in Tamworth last night that actually diagnosed IT Band syndrome. So, hopefully, a bit of massage, icing and ultrasound will hopefully see me back to fighting / walking / wildcamping health again. About time too, not been in the Laser Comp for about 5 months!!! Anyhow, hopefully upload some pics and a little text from next weeks trip to Cornwall…
The good, the bad and the ugly
July 6th, 2009The good:
Got to the lakes in the end!! Drove up Friday night but due to the consistent rain on the last part of the M6, I once again chickened out of wildcamping, instead taking the easier option of camping at the Castlerigg Hall campsite – one of my favourites.
Friday evening saw nothing of great interest though did get a new jacket and most interesting – the annoying OMM Chest Pouch – more of that later. Anyhow, a couple of drinks whilst studing the map provided the inspriation for Saturdays new route – an extended Newlands Valley horseshoe.
An early morning saw me leave the campsite by 08:00. I walked through Keswick from the campsite, then over the base of Catbells, through Little Town to finally reach the first mountain of the day – Robinson. At the summit, I turned left over Hinescarth Edge to Dale Head. Here, once again, I turned left to Maiden Moor.
Tarn on Robinson
All in all, a great walk, and I had only a minor descent then climb to Catbells, and the stroll back to Keswick….
The bad:
Then it happened. strolling down Maiden Moor, on slightly rough ground I felt a sudden twinge in my right (bad) knee. Oh oh. Still, doesn’t hurt. I carried out, really carefully, but over the next 10 minutes, the pain started. Exactly the same pain (to a lesser degree) to my pre arthroscopy. I new I shouldn’t complete catbells, so got down to the lake side. Interestingly, I managed the 5 miles or so to Keswick with little discomfort.
Popped in to the Bank Tavern for a pint (for medicinal purposes) but it was too busy. I was shattered and the faff of standing having a cider was too much. Instead, I got a taxi back to the campsite, and tried their new restaurant – a nice garlic mushroom / lasagna washed down with some white wine. Nice.
The ugly:
Well, not actualy ugly, but the most memorable part of the walk, other than the knee, was the OMM Chest Pouch. I really like the idea of it – especially to store my Powershot G6, and some snacks. And for this, its size and shape are perfect. Using my beanie hat to wrap the camera seems to provide enough protection for simple walking. I would put the camera back in the main sack if I was on a proper scramble though.
What I disliked was the difficulty of getting the ruck sack on and off. Now, I haven’t read up about ways of using the pouch, so there might well be work arounds, but I found the easiest way to get the sack off and on was to slacken the shoulder straps to their loosest, then twist the rucksack so I am almost hugging it. From there, I can lift it over my head. Now, this is neither convenient, nor ergonomic. Lucky I had little weight in the sack. However, I did like the different storage options the pouch opens up. Especially when the clouds appeared – I could easily store my waterproof trousers in there to put on quickly if the rain did come. I think I could also get the Marmot Mica in as well, but its immediate access is of less importance when it takes 2 minutes to get the rucksack off!!!
Anyhows, I have uploaded some photos, and all that remains is for me to phone the physio and surgeon to see what I should do next with the knee…
Brief respite from the Rum Chronicles…
July 1st, 2009After the recent effort in messing and uploading photos, blogging and other things Rum, I am treating myself to my second backpack of the year this weekend – weather permitting. Plan is to drive up to Keswick Friday afternoon, then grab abus down to Grasmere. I will then walk over Easedale Tarn and the Langdale Pikes to camp somewhere along Stake Pass. Then, continue on Saturday morning past Angle / Styhead Tarns for my first ascent of the Gables. Once down, a quick saunter over Brandreth and Honister will give me my last saturday challenge – Dale Head for a wildcamp somewhere on the massif. Sunday will hopefully provide a gentle stroll down either down Borrowdale / Derwent valley or through Little Town – who can tell.
Anyhow, my eyes will be firmly on the weather reports – trip will not happen if the current thunderstorms prevail!!!
Reflections on our trip to the Isle of Rum – part 3 – getting to the top of Rum
June 26th, 2009Got up on the Monday morning, packed and went down stairs for breakfast. Interesting guest house – a glass of OJ already sits next to your plate, and the landlady asks what cereals you would like – then serves you a bowl with milk poured. Anyhow, we sat on the same table as a father / son (Daniel) from Newcastle way. No, I am not exagerating when I say the kid was probably the cleverest 8ish year old I have ever met, as had an unbelievable confidence with it. He led the conversation over breakfast, and amazed reciting all the train stations, in order the they passed from Newcastle to Mallaig. He had also found their train tickets – a bargain deal no less.
Although it was a nice conversation and good breakfast, we were eager to leave to ensure to catch the ferry. However, this was not helped by the landlady being very friendly and talkative! However, we got to the ferry terminal with about 20 minutes to spare. The ferry was larger than I expected, and thus calmed any sea sickness fears. Read the rest of this entry »
Reflections on our trip to the Isle of Rum – part 2 – journey to Mallaig…
June 21st, 2009Right, the last post left off two Sundays ago when we left Keswick in the morning. Plan for the day was simple, drive up to Loch Lomond, grab some dinner and then continue to Mallaig. Read the rest of this entry »