Ok, heeding the advice that the best way to train for climbing hills is
to climb hills, I set off for the Roaches today for a 7 mile round trip.
Manages to sneak into a parking space just as a car was leaving
otherwise I'd have been stuck. The sunshine brought everyone out.
Pretty cold but with a fierce blast at the top of the ridge and Doxey
pool was frozen solid. I don't know quite how frozen and I'm glad Magic
did not test it. I kept him on a lead for a while because i was a bit
scared about the drops, but with the wind making it difficult for me to
see and the slippy icy rocks, I reckoned it would be safer to let him
run free. He seems sensible enough to avoid going too close to the
edge, but at nearly 7 he should have learned some self preservation by
now.
Up at the trig point I looked out at what I thought was Jodrell Bank
until I got the bins on it. It was a big wheel, must be the one in
Manchester. A shaft of sunlight had hit it and it was gleaming in the
distance. Further on along the ridge it became even more exposed and I
began to feel envious of the folk coming the other way. And of course I
hadn't slapped the vaseline on all over.
Finally had enough of the wind and headed off to Lud's church. Never
been before but it's a chasm lined with green moss. Today it was also
decorated with icicles. Awesome!
Carried on along the path a way and noticed another big hill a way off.
Checked with map and compass an identified it as Shutlingsloe. Carried
on for a mile or so and found I'd lost my compass. (memo to self: it
would only be a matter of seconds to attach it to the D ring on belt)
Not an expensive one fortunately.
Heading back I was starting to feel tired. I'd been loosely following
an AA route which reckoned a total ascent of 1000 feet. I assume that';s
cumulative. According to the map it is 200 metres from the car to the
trig point on the top of the Roaches but I went down and up quite a bit
after that. At least I now know how much I've got to do to get in shape
for the big one. I know it may not seem much to some of you, but for
someone who's been a couch potato for most of his life I'm pleased with
my progress.
Next week - Shutlingsloe. I may go and look for my compass too. :-)
--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/