Kendal to Staveley 10km run

A 10-11km run from Kendal station to Staveley station (taking a shortcut to fit in with the Sunday train timetables).

Route: taking the train to Kendal and running along Sandes Avenue and Maude Street, across Noble’s Rest to cross Low Fellside, Serpentine Road and Queen’s Road up Stoney Lane and then along the Tram Way to Cunswick Scar but turning left and west before the summit to descend to Cunswick Tarn then to Fell Gate and Capplerigg Lane. Across the Crook Road and then north on damp paths past Knott Hill and Ashes to Staveley.

Conditions: initially rather grey and uninspiring but mild, giving way to two periods of rain and the odd burst of sunshine.

Pub: The Eagle and Child, Staveley, for Corby Blonde and Keswick Brewing Company Keswick Gold and a light lunch.

Sale Fell

A surprisingly fine 10km run on the way home to return a hire car before its pumpkin hour.

Route: leaving the (hire) car near the Pheasant Inn and running along the road towards Wythop Mill, discovering that footpaths on Forestry Commission land were closed and hence quickly re-planning, passing through Routenbeck to turn right down a poorly marked set of footpaths past Rigg and East House to regain the road at Wadcrag. Along the road for a couple of kilometers past Wythop Mill to Brunston Bridge and then nearly as far as Kelswick before turning almost 180 degrees to follow a clear path to gain the end of the ridge and then in a combination of running and walking, gaining the summit. Heading east to Lothwaite and then descending on a large clear grassy path between bracken to close to the church between Routenbeck and Wythop Mill and then almost entirely down hill to the start.

Conditions: some sun and cloud but with a cold north easterly wind on the summit.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold and Coniston Bluebird.

Rannerdale Knotts

A 9km evening walk after the crowds had gone home.

Route: leaving the car at the first car park on the left (heading south) underneath Grasmoor and walking along the clear track to Rannerdale to reach the footbridge to cross the stream and return to the pitched path from the road up Rannerdale Knotts. Along the summit ridge, meeting only two people, to descend into Buttermere and to the Bridge Hotel for a beer. Afterwards, taking a wet, but this time happily not actually flooded, path behind the campsite to reach the shore of Crummock Water and thence the rising path over the lower shoulder of Rannerdale Knotts and then along the road to the car as the light departed.

Conditions: still, warm evening sunshine and views long beyond the Solway

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere, for Jennings Cocker Hoop

Last 10km of the Dales Way run

A run back along the last 10km of the Dales Way (well, from the station) covering much of this ground for the first time since 1987.

Route: leaving Windermere station and heading through Lakeland's carpark to the road behind, running steeply up it to the A591 and along this, east for 100m to a footpath across damp fields to cross the railway. Then through housing following an intuitive line to join a tarmac track and following this across a number of streams, ignoring left turns up School Knott to join a stony track ascending onto higher ground. At an obvious junction bending left signed to Hagg End and gaining higher ground. Then turning half right at a subtle sign to reach a high-point with views back to the central fells. Descending to cross through Hagg End, turn right on a road and then the second left path at Outrun Nook eventually reaching and joining a familiar road. Descending and then steeply re-ascending before descending via a path to the left into Staveley.

Conditions: surprisingly warm after a cool and very wet start to the day.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall, Staveley, for Hawkshead WPA, Session IPA and lunch before a train home.

Lost Lake

A walk with James to the wrong lake caused by an early navigation error.

Route: leaving the car at the Park and Ride carpark in Nederland and taking the free shuttle bus to Hessie Trailhead. Proceeding along a broad stony track to a further trailhead and then gradually rising with the valley before eventually arriving at Lost Lake. After circumnavigating the lake on small paths, descending the same way with rain arriving as we waited for the return shuttle.

Conditions: initially hot and sunny giving way to rain at the very end of the walk with some thunder.

Pub: the Very Nice Brewing Company for Very Nice, Logical Fallacy (stout) with and without espresso shot and Royal We IPA. Afterwards, taking a ride on the Carousel of Happiness.

Pawnee Peak

A planned 16km linear walk to a 12,943ft summit, extended to 20km because the trail head carpark was full.

Route: leaving the car at the Brainard Lake carpark because the Long Lake carpark was already full at 10:30am (on a Friday) and thus walking by the lake and then on paths to the Long Lake trailhead. Taking the Pawnee Pass Trail through a forest of spruce and pine on soft ground with initial views of Long Lake. Turning right to spurn the Jean Lunning Trail and slowly gaining ground with occasional views into the head of the valley. At some altitude above Lake Isabelle ignoring the trail onwards and turning right to climb increasingly out of the trees, on rockier ground and in a series of switchbacks to reach a first shoulder, a bare rocky plateau, with fine views of surrounding mountains. On a second set of zigzags gaining the next shoulder and then gradually ascending to a sign marking Pawnee Pass. Here finding a faint path with some cairns to climb the gentle slop of Pawnee Peak with mercifully no false summits. Descending the same way with dark clouds ahead but no rain experienced.

Conditions: For the first half of the day, sun and blue skies though not too hot. On the descent, darker clouds and evidence of rain and even hail near the trailhead.

Critters: seen: chipmunks, marmots, squirrels and a bluebird; (heard but not seen) pikas - lots of

Pub: the Upslope Brewery at Lee Hill Drive, for Upslope Yuzu Zest IPA, India Pale Ale and nachos with both hot green sauce and salsa.

Blue Lake

A 10km high altitude valley walk to a lake (11,338ft) surrounded by rock scenery.

Route: leaving the car again at the Mitchell Lake carpark (the previous $11 per car to enter the park covering 3 days). Taking the Mitchell Lake Trail and slowly ascending an easy path through trees with views to left and right of small lakes, climbing to an area of less vegetation with views of the broader rocky valley and eventually arriving at the foot of Blue Lake. Following a smaller track continuing round the lake counter-clockwise to an outcrop at the far end looking back over the lake and then a little further beyond to the next tarn up the valley. Seeing no continuing trail round the lake, retracing our steps.

Conditions: initial blue skies and sun, though cool at 10,000ft but, on the descent, cloud and rain coming in and on the drive back: hail.

Critters: (seen) deer on the drive in in Lefthand Canyon, chipmunks and a big brown moose grazing beside the road on the drive out, just by Brainard Lake; (heard but not seen) marmots

Pub: the Asher Brewery, Gunbarrel (Boulder), for Tree Hugger Amber and Green Bullet IPA (and crisps!). The Avery Brewery, Gunbarrel, for Go Play IPA, Avery IPA, Double Dry-Hopped IPA, and Hog Heaven Imperial Red IPA and giant pretzel with nacho cheese sauce.

Mount Audubon

A high altitude 13km walk on a day of threatening thunder, to a summit of 13,223ft.

Route: leaving the car about 6 very slow miles, on lovely smooth but twisting roads, beyond the 9,000ft altitude tiny town of Ward, at the Mitchell Lake carpark ($11 per car to enter the park). Taking the Mt Audubon Trail from the corner of the carpark and following this first along a level path through trees, then gaining altitude in zigzags with the trees thinning and fine views over the valley. Eventuallly climbing onto a higher plateau, passing a fork in the trail and continuing on rougher stony but clear paths across more desolate landscape, gaining further altitude eventually to reach a shoulder about 500m from the summit. Picking a tricky route through boulders (and with a worryingly high heart rate) to the summit to the sound of occasional claps of thunder. After a brief pause, returning the same way with the rain now increasing to full on Cumbrian weather.

Conditions: initially cool, mainly cloudy but with some patches of sun. Later, developing thunder some distance away. Finally, persistent rain.

Critters: (seen) lots and lots of pikas, one or two marmots and deer on the descent

Pub: the Upslope Brewery at Lee Hill Drive for Upslope, Blood Orange Saison, India Pale Ale and some nachos with a hot green sauce.

Boulder Foothills and Reservoir run

A run on Labor Day to avoid predicted crowds in the parks.

Route: leaving the car at the Foothills Trailhead (a small car park but fairly empty at 11am on Labor Day) and running north to the start of the trails. Taking the Eagle Trail and then Cobalt, though obviously getting lost and needing to pick our way down a slight hill to find the trail again, and hence  to another trailhead parking spot. Along Sage and Eagle to 51st St (a dusty gravel road) and along this, now at a walk, to the road to the Reservoir Complex ($7 for swimming) for a swim in a tiny patrolled section of the reedy reservoir. Then back the same way to start on Eagle, spurn Sage and bend left past an almost pretty tarn, gain ground, cross a barren minor valley and eventually return (via Degge Trail) to the start.

Conditions: surprisingly cloudy with rather flat light but warm enough to swim outdoors and teeming with very squeaky critters!

Critters: (seen and heard all around all the time) prairie dogs

Pub: the Upslope Brewery at Lee Hill Drive for Upslope, Yuzu Zest IPA, India Pale Ale a taster of Southern Hemisphere Double IPA (and some nachos).

South Boulder Peak via Shadow Canyon Trail

A steep 14km hike through varied terrain to a fine view.

Route: leaving the car at the South Mesa Trail Head ($5 parking, lucky to get a space at 10am on a Labor Day Weekend Sunday) and taking the Mesa Trail. Sadly, almost immediately going wrong by taking a left turn too soon onto Homestead Trail and then being further unnerved by too reports of an angry (contrast, eg., perky) rattle snake. Despite this following this trail round, gaining ground and eventually rejoining the Mesa higher up. Turning left onto the Shadow Canyon Trail which rose steeply though on a broad graded track until it became single track and entered the canyon proper on a steep path over roots and boulders though clear. After 3 km reaching a shoulder where turning left for a rocky path and final easy scramble to the summit of South Boulder Peak. Descending the same way as far as the bottom of the canyon and then turning left on a narrow track, with steep slopes to the right, heading to the Mesa Trail and turning right on this eventually to rejoin some of the outward route but continuing to pick up Towhee Trail and follow this to the start.

Conditions: the originally forecast rain having been revised away, a warm sunny day though not too hot in the canyon nor on the ridge.

Pub: the Southern Sun Pub for Mountain Sun Brewery Annapurna Ale and Illusion Dweller IPA (and nachos with salsa and guacamole).

Mount Sanitas

A first day walk up Boulder’s Latrigg (6843ft, 1343ft of ascent! Ed.)

Route: heading north form the apartment at 2301 Pearl St on Spruce Avenue, past the centre of town, as far as 8th St and then heading north to Mapleton Ave and hence west to the trailhead for Sanitas Valley Trail. Taking this but after a short distance turning right for the Dakota Ridge trail which kept under the ridge itself. Hence heading right to the ridge on a clear but informal path and following this to the end of the valley. There descending a short way and taking a zigzagging path, surprisingly rocky in parts steeply up to a crowded summit of Mt. Sanitas. Descending a still tricky under foot path back down the ridge to a trailhead and then taking the Red Rocks Trail descending through Settlers Park to the top of Pearl St and thence home, eventually joining Spruce St.

Conditions: warm and muggy and some very light warm rain.

Pub: the Post Brewing Company for Post Townie Ale and Otter Pop as well as a light lunch.

Boulder Creek path and Pearl St run

A 7km run on the first morning in Boulder.

Route: leaving the apartment in 2301 Pearl St and heading south on 23rd St, west on Walnut St and south, again, on 22nd St to find a path leading to the Creek Path. Following this along to Central Park and then Eben G Fine Park crossing the creek and then recrossing back over the creek and under the 119 to reach the top of Pearl St and following this home.

Conditions: even at 8:30am, a warm day.

Pub? Not at 9am!

(This run repeated on 02.09.18)