Lomond Hillrunners' Patterdale Weekend

Patter&ale April 2012 Gus Jean Marcus Alan Ally Joe David BrianL BrianM Robert Laurie Lucy Fraser Andy Derek Pat Shaun Adrian Neil JohnD Friday Gus and I set off on Thursday in the Presidential Mobile Command Centre over the border of Englandshire to Patterdale and our 1st trip to the Lake District. We arrived on a beautiful sunset evening and lovely scenery. We found the Hut easily due to Joe’s excellent directions and squeezed into the car park at the back. Friday morning the advance party of Joe, David, Robert, BrianL, Pat and Marcus all arrived quickly dumped their stuff then after a few frantic calls back to sunny Fife to pick up Running shoes and a sleeping bag we set off on a ‘Joe tour’. We went into Grisedale then up path to Ruthwaite Lodge where we regrouped and read the plaque on side of the hut to 2 local Outward Bound instructors who were killed on Mount Cook in 1988. Joe then struck off piste around The Tongue and up a steep gully on to the shoulder of Dollywaggon Pike where a short sharp blast of hail stones refreshed us on the climb. There followed a real ‘Yee Haa’ descent to Grisedale Tarn off Piste again of course! We then picked up the path and up onto Fairfield where Joe and I had a roll around in the snow to give Gus and Marcus a chance to get ahead of him and reach the summit first. The rain held off as did the mist and we had beautiful clear views of our surroundings. After much discussion we agreed to go back via Rydal Head and down Hartsop Above How a bit of a scramble at times but good fun. By this time Joe was concerned about the time and the fact that we had the key to the Hut so we unleased him and he picked up the pace as he got the smell of the Guinness from the pub! 11.5 miles and 1253m (4,500ft) ascent.!! ‘Mmm I thought Friday was to be a quiet introduction to our 1st training weekend? What was Saturday going to bring? Help ma bob would I sleep tonight?’ Nae Problemo The food, company and craic on Friday night in the White Lion was excellent and a bit riotous but such good fun. It was Saturday already by the time we got to bed! Jean Gus - "I've the dolly, are you on the waggon Joe?" Marcus - "where's the teletubbies?" Joe - "That's him in the funny breeks!" Joe "Bugger I'm lost!" Jean "I'll phone Uncle Alan - he'll know where we are!" Saturday Some bursting with energy and more than some nursing sore heads the Lomie caravan got underway, jogging fitfully towards the the dizzy heights of Striding Edge. The weather was kind at first with some sunlit views of the ridge but just as we reached it a horrid freezing flurry of driving snow and hail got us diving into bags for spare woolies. Further on we reached a human traffic jam above a steep scramble down wet rock. Paddy survived. A scramble led up a snowy slope to the Helvellyn plateaux where the weather picked up. After a lunch stop at the big cairn we parted with Joe's bunch who were heading north for a short day. After enjoying some atmospheric views of mist boiling off the slopes we enjoyed a great run along the ridge to Dollywaggon and then down the steep slope to Grizedale Tarn. It seems a long way up the screes to Fairfield but its worth it for the views. Another parting took place now with the hot-shots heading on for a longer circuit across towards High Street. The remaining bunch enjoyed a delightful run over St Sunday crag and then along the long grassy ridge back down to Patterdale. On the final descent a scramble down a wee crag (off the route!) added interest. The best entertainment of the weekend happened efter the crag - screams frae Deek - he had cramp in places that maist o' us dinna even hae places! For most of us it was an early return (2.30) but it was good to relax (Deek and Marcus so relaxed they were asleep) reading and chatting. Recce parties were sent out to check out that the pubs were still there! (one lot offering the pathetic excuse that they were looking for napkins) Derek and Lucy got on with the mammoth job of cooking the vast mounds of food that filled every nook and cranny in the kitchen. We were a bit taken aback when Brian gave Fraser the third degree to extract all sorts of secrets - scary! - and without thumbscrews! Eventually the High Streeters returned pooped, the pubbers toddled in and our own masterchefs (our own Lomie Craddocks!) rang the gong for dinner. But where was our 'Man in the Ion Mask' - of course - he was attending a Russian concert recital in the local church - something about singing Ba Ba black sheep in English got us wondering what he had really been up to!! (why did that sheep sitting on the rock opposite the hostel seem to have a big smile in the morning?) And what a feast it was - course after course to titillate the most jaded palates - so good that even Pats ritual tin of Spam stayed in his pocket. Eventually we surrendered - with two courses still to come! Time for Pats big moment! First the mystery of 'Little David' was revealed at last - Tricia's wind up w***** performed for us as if there was no tomorrow but maybe Pat got the name wrong - 'little Willie' would be more apt! Then the bulge under his jumper was revealed - a spanking new Lomie banner embroidered with club photos - to celebrate 25 years of the club - thanks again to his sister. Next the quiz. The teams were chosen and the result was a forgone conclusion (despite David's blatant attempt at poaching talent (how else did MC get where they are?) with the only uncertainty Pats ludicrous 20 point question. It turned out to be about a medical condition called Mallet's finger - surprise, surprise!. Laurie's lot claimed to get the answer but later admitted having written it down after the answer was read out. By this time closing time was drawing nigh, Joe was getting agitated and inching towards the door - 'there's still time for a night cap!' Some decided they'd had enough and stayed in - what is the club coming to? Later Pat's screams were heard coming from Joe's room - Joe and Dave deny everything! Sunday Surprisingly we all surfaced looking semi-human and after breakfast we trooped outside where a bewildered passerby was dragooned into taking a group photo. Alan Andy and Ally opted to break the journey home and were joined by Marcus and Fraser for a great couple of hours on the east end of Blencathra. Parking at Scales we jogged up to the tarn and then savoured the narrow rocky ridge of Sharp edge. A steep scramble led up to the plateaux with a short run to the summit where we enjoyed the superb views in all directions and then returned over the grassy top of Bannerdale. Highly recommended!

Alan The rest decided to run from the hut up into the hills east of Patterdale.

The Cobbler/Ime/Narnain Run

A wee trot round some of the Arrochar Alps

Easter on Eigg

Don Reid, myself and a whole host of assorted others gathered on the lovely Isle of Eigg for Laurie Anderson's Easter Eigg races, Saturday had us at the pier racing up the amazing lava plug of An Sgurr (covered in clag) and then on Sunday we were up in the north of the island at Cleadale for a wee sprint up Dunan Thalasgair (slightly less claggier) finishing on the beach. Don ran well on Sat and I felt pleased with my first run in my "alternate" gold and black colours of Lomond Hillrunners! Revenge of the Westies Gods was had on Sun when my legs simply refused to work when the black"W" was donned instead, and I just avoided picking up the wooden spoon. Never mind, it was a great fun weekend of spectacular races on a cracking little island. Well recommended to all for a wee visit from Mallaig. We stayed at the lovely Kildonan Guesthouse, and Don had a cute wee self catering kind of bothy.