Live reports from a BG winter attempt

Tuesday, 8 February 2011

HE HAS FINISHED

23.19 Winter Bob Graham round completed. Tom apologises to his team mates but he won't be at training tonight, he needs a rest.
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Portinscale

1800 Portinscale, hard going but 1 hour remaining and 2k. He will do it! Ian ..... bouncing!
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Down off the fells

Arrived Newlands 1705 7k to go. If they do it in the allowed time then he will be sub 23 hours!
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Nearly there

We are on our way round to Newlands. Last night on Blencathra seems a long time ago. They set off up Dalehead looking good. 1 1/2 hours until dark again.
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Honister

Arrived Honister 1447 30 mins ahead of schedule making up 15mins on this leg. Tom has been eating all the way and was in great form. Bacon butties and tea, set off at 1504 up Dalehead. Ian the donkey well loaded up in fine spirits. 4 hours left to do what is down for 3 hours on the plan. Sub 23 hours is it possible?
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Scafell encased in ice

Tim down safe at 1013. For a BG aspirant he has had a brutal introduction to the realities of the Central Fells and a winter attempt as well. Good effort.
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Tom preparing to leave for leg 4

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Tom arrived Wasdale at 0942 ten mins ahead of 2330 schedule. Rocks on high fells icy and Foxes Tarn route ate up the time cushion from Dunmail. He felt bad at Bowfell but took power gels and settled down after that. Ate crumpets and tea, change of clothing. Set off on leg 4 with Ian at 0956 16 mins ahead of his planned time.

Brighton Tim left somewhere on Central Fells, I am waiting for him in Wasdale.
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Dunmail

Tom arrived Dunmail, 0254, 43 mins ahead of 23.30 schedule. Stopped for 15 mins drank tea and ate rice pudding, change of clothing and footwear. Set off with Brighton Tim on leg 3 at 0210. Next stop Wasdale in the light.
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Monday, 7 February 2011

Threlkeld

Tom arrived Threlkeld 2225 25 mins ahead of schedule. Food and change of clothing then set off on leg two at 2240 26 mins ahead of schedule. In v good spirits.
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They have started

7pm, skies clearing they set off. Leg 1 Tom, Ian and Bradford Dave. Lights seem low down on Skiddaw bit low cloud cover will stop any more views of them until Threlkeld at about 2245.
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Choices

Which shoes do I chose? Rain intermittent, temp in Keswick about 4 Celsius. 40 mins to go.
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We are here in Keswick

Drove through some heavy rain at Dunmail. Water pouring off the fells but weather no too bad in Keswick. 1 hour to go to start.
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Setting off

The wind has dropped a lot, the sun briefly shone, Tom Ian and support crew are setting off for Keswick.
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Felltop forecast Lake District

4 hours to go.

Forecast for Monday

Weather:

Rain at first to all levels, will be occasionally heavy at times as extensive hill fog covers the hills. During the morning the rain will turn lighter and patchier before turning more showery in nature for the afternoon. It will also turn brighter as some sunnier breaks appear during the afternoon and hill fog lifts. Turning colder during the day on the summits as the showers turn to snow in the afternoon above 500 metres. Very windy at first on the hills with a danger of losing one's footing in the storm force winds, but winds will ease during the day.

Visibility:

Moderate to poor at first, becoming good occasionally moderate later.

Hill Fog:

Overcast at 550 metres, occasionally broken at 360 metres. Becoming broken or well broken at 670 metres into the afternoon, occasionally broken in showers 450 metres.

Maximum winds above 500m:

Southwest 40 to 50 mph, gusting 70 mph, veering and easing from late morning Northwest 35 mph, gusting 60 mph.

Temperature:

Valleys/Low level: Plus 7 Celsius
At 900m: Plus 3 Celsius lowering to Plus 1 Celsius
Freezing level: Above the summits at first but
lowering to 900 metres during the day.

Chance of precipitation:

Dawn - 0900: Heavy Rain. 80% chance of rain
0900 - 1200: Light rain. 40% chance of rain
1200 - 1500: Heavy rain showers. 30% chance of rain
1500 - Dusk: Light rain showers. 30% chance of rain

Forecast for Tuesday

Weather:

Another bright day with sunnier spells as a few showers continue to occur at first. The showers will be less frequent and more widespread than Monday, with parts of the east and south staying dry. The showers will fall as snow above 350 metres before dying out into the afternoon.

Visibility:

Good occasionally moderate at first in the showers.

Hill Fog:

Broken or well broken at 670 metres, occasionally broken during the morning in showers 450 metres.

Maximum winds above 500m:

Southwest 15-20 mph, backing South 10-15 mph.

6 hours to set off time

The atrocious weather is slowly improving leaving behind swollen rivers and boggy ground. The 1pm weather forecast is for windy conditions improving in to Tuesday so Tom is set to go leaving the Moot Hall in Keswick at 7pm for his Bob Graham winter attempt.

Regular updates on Toms progress over the 24 hour challenge will be posted to this blog as and when mobile phone signal allow.
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