Mountain Hardwear Open5 Adventure Race Series #1
Plan 'A'
Mark Higginbottom / 15.12.2008
Driving into Staveley, it was obvious that there was much more snow and ice than I expected. The suspicion of a problematic day was confirmed when I slid gently into the parking field and ground to a halt. With 3 out of the first 4 cars stuck, the field was obviously not going to be much use: the marshalls did an outstanding job in getting everybody organised with so little fuss.
Plan B; more emphasis on the run, slightly shorter bike course.
The run was going to be on the hill above Staveley, and did not look too long, although with the clag right down navigation on the moors was going to be an issue. The bike route was going to be much more interesting: with three valleys involved, the bike would have to go over the tops at least twice.
Plan C; keep to the roads.
I met Anthony Emmett in the car park, flaunting his Trans-Siberian bar muffs. I tried to look disdainful, but we both knew whose hands would be warmest on the bike ride. He suggested the hills would be easier to cycle on than the roads, which would be lethal, and had softened his tyres in preparation.
Plan D; keep to the hills.
Cycling up to the start was almost impossible. The roads were either obviously icy, where they had not been cleared, or unpleasantly icy, where ice melt had invisibly refrozen. Running first seemed the obvious choice. I aimed to clear the run, hoping that by the time I got onto the moor there would be large tracks to follow. In the end I was half right, but with much post-holing between the tracks. Although the run had been an absolute pleasure, I was about 15 minutes slower than expected and therefore short on time, having less than 3 hours for the bike. But at least I had some points in the bag…
Plan E; North and West.
The road loop off to the East was now not an option, as I was worried that the treacherous conditions would leave me a long way home with little to show for it. The big points were up either side of Kentmere, and seemed to make an obvious loop. If I got a move on, a conservative bike leg would make up for the over-ambitious run.
Plan F; North and West on the road.
The track to the farm from the start was an eye-opener: solid ice, and fine, provided that you did not try to steer or stop. Up the hill to the first moor checkpoint was worse; by now the top layer of snow had melted, and any slight incline needed to be walked. In addition, the deep snow made following the bridleways on the ground very difficult. Downhill was fine, with the snowy heather and bracken providing a cushion for the inevitable tumbles.
SleepMonsters
