Last minute training (is not a good idea)!

We had 2 great days walking in the Lakes. I was carrying 12kg in the rucksack to see how comfortable it was, but the mistake was to wear new 'footbeds' in my new boots!

On Saturday we went on a quick blast up the Old Man of Coniston, and looped back past Dow Crag/Goats Water. 

On top of 'The Old Man'

Heading down to Goats Water (Dow Crag on the right)

 Sunday saw us going up Bowfell via Angle Tarn, and this is were the dreaded foot pain started! I now have a foot/heel injury that I'm hoping goes away soon - lots of ice and anti inflammatories (and my old boots) I think!

Rob and Abs heading over the beck to start the climb

A local  'model' in the foreground, Great Langdale beyond. Typical U shaped glacial valley with lots of drumlins at the head of the valley.

I'd not seen such fine Drumlins for ages. A drumlin, from the irishword droimnín ("little ridge"), first recorded in 1833, is an elongated hill in the shape of an inverted spoon or half-buried egg formed by glacial ice acting on underlying unconsolidated till or ground moraine. Drumlins are formed of till. They are elongated features that can reach a kilometer or more in length, 500m or so in width and over 50m in height. One end is quite step, whilst the other end tapers away to ground level. There is still some debate about how drumlins are formed, but the most widely accepted idea is that they were formed when the ice became overloaded with sediment. When the glacier reduced in size, material was deposited, in the same way that a river overloaded with sediment deposits the excess material.

Drumlins!

Nearing the top of Bowfell. Views of Scafell and Scafell Pike in the background (left side)

Mid week bike blast

This week it was weird weather, hot, then rainy, then hot - repeat pattern.... So it was really difficult to try and decide as to whether it was worth the risk to try  climbing in the evening. Personally I didn't fancy getting stuck on a multipitch route in one of the heavy showers we have had every day. So instead of climbing Rachael and I headed out on the mountain bikes and did a brilliant route from Staveley on the edge of the Lakes, and yes got caught in a heavy shower, but that's fun when cycling. Great catch up with Rachael.

Heading deeper into Kentmere