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What was I thinking? Once upon a time I had a subscription to MBR until it all became a bit samey and I found I could get by on one issue a quarter instead of one a month. Receiving the January 07 issue I read through noting the Cross Lakes route and putting a tab in the page to do that one day. Looking for new year’s resolutions in January 2008 I started the plan. The route was a bit daft, MBR tried over two days with a support car, Whitehaven C2C route to Croasdale up and over to Buttermere climbed up Scarth Gap Pass, ran out of light and descended back to Buttemere took the car over Honister to Rosthwaite and continued on day two from there going up aside Greenup Gill down to Grasmere up Great Tongue, along Grisedale Beck, Ulswater single-track to Askham for a finish. What a bunch of lightweights! My plan was a tad ambitious and was probably why it was very difficult to get any volunteers to join me, Tristan up for anything decided he couldn’t make it, Dr Death chose not to respond (two nutters of daft stuff past), Pridds aligned it to the SDW but again wasn’t available, Stu thought he'd manage one day maybe two but unfortunately locations didn’t work and like Dragon's Den he was out, Pat always keen to get out riding couldn’t manage the pretty bad logistics either. Worse than all that I didn’t manage to get a support driver so chose to do it self supported. Over 12 months after the original plan I booked the days off, the trains and Pridds did the hostel honours - unfortunately I told him too late so instead of staying at Buttermere and Grasmere we ended up at Wasdale Hall (2 passes further on) and Grasmere - probably quiet luck in hindsight. Lisa and Vince joined me and it was all agreed. Noting that MBR had run out of light I planned the ride a month earlier than they had theirs and penned a full route in the same as they had attempted, Day 1 - The day of the Passes Starting out from Whitehaven about 1230 after debating contents of our bags and a last minute trip round Tesco (should have gone with the facecloth) we made our way event free and in good time to Croasdale descended to Whins and found the overgrown bridleway at the start of the off road section. The bridleway was marked Buttermere 4 1/2 miles so should be an relatively easy crossing peaking at a mere 416m. And so it began. 
4 hours later through a tonne of wet/marshy/slow/tiresome biking we arrived at the bottom of Scarth Gap Pass. I had detected the worlds slowest puncture and Lisa had had enough for the day. We had a longer food stop where Vince noted Scarth Gap and Black Sail were both pretty straightforward, we were a bit light on time but it'd all be fine and day 2 was recovering day since we'd brought two passes into day 1 instead. A good case was made. Lisa deliberated and we started the climb. 
Not wanting to be beaten by the laughs of walkers the carrying of the bikes began and the unrelenting climb did as well, taking any opportunity to ride 20 metres or so we hopped back on before getting off and throwing the bikes over the shoulder once more. Nearly an hour later we summit-ed and couldn’t even find the start of the downhill track. A great start. We muddled through the roughage following the bridleway to the metre on the Active 10 (genius bit of hardware now I know how to work it) and eventually picked up the track which stepped all the way down into the valley. Vince & I pushed on and Lisa had a few comedy dismounts we unfortunately missed. Not yet broken and in disappearing light we made our way along fire road and to the Black Sail hostel for a water stop before quickly pushing over to the foot of black sail. Black Sail was pretty steep, Lisa was struggling and Vince and I took turns to compete in the Man Competition taking turns to taxi one bike followed by the second or carry both at the same time whilst Lisa enjoyed a nice stroll that she made look painful! Another hour passed and the light had all but disappeared just in time for a summit photo, another layer and a quick descent before the blackness arrived. 
The descent was fantastic, in the near darkness the top section was rocky with steps and switchbacks and really kept us honest. By the time we’d make it three quarters of the way it was black and we continued with the GPS held horizontally for light we popped out at Wasdale Head for a steak and ale pie! A pootle along the road again in darkness meant we arrived at the Wasdale Hall YHA just before 10 completing a pretty daft 46.4kms with a fair bit of climbing. Day 2 – Yeeeharr! Lisa still recovering from day 1 decided a day 2 was just too much and Vince and I left the hostel around 9 after a 5 course breakfast without a fried egg – how can you have a fry up without a fried egg? Stopping at Wasdale Head shop we took time to change my rear tube still going down from yesterday was now at too low to continue (must get one of those floor stander portable pump things), buy a pile of stuff and then start the Great Gable climb. In good spirits we plowed up the side to Styhead Tarn stopping only for a snack and a phonecall as we returned to reception territory. The single track across the top was variable, some good sections and some unmarked sections but sweet jesus the descent was rewarding. Amazingly technical big rock steps, small rock steps, fixed rocks, loose rocks, more rocks, and amazed walkers. With arm pump comparable to Gatescarth Pass we stopped at the cafe in Seathwaite for a Cumberland sausage sandwich and a cracking cup of coffee followed by some cake. Some mincing with gears from the inhouse mechanic (cheers Vince) and we were off again this time pointed at Greenup Gill. The climb looked like a fantastic descent but as a climb it was a push/carry all the way. Arriving just over 450m up we passed the false summit before noticing the scramble we had instore. For those who don’t know Lining Crag, have a look at the picture below, we went to the left of that bad boy. Both Vince and I were pleased to have some previous climbing experience. Mental – we passed at a little over 600m. 
Expecting the worlds best down hill we were disappointed, perhaps spoiled by the descent to Seathwaite (3rd best descent in the lakes after High Nibthwaite and Walna). The first part of the descent was grassy and boggy with very little in the way of a marked trail. The section section wasn’t much better and the least said the better, we arrived at Grasmere hostel about 4pm after a peaceful recovery day riding only 30.1km. Sorry, travelling 30.1km... there wasn’t too much riding involved! Day 3 – Singletrack heaven Cruising along the road the next morning both of us knew the challenge in store, Great Tongue. After two days of abuse we walked for a bit that was probably rideable to where the track steepened and started alternating pushing and carrying from there on. The climb was long and hard work but through random singing, dogs chasing sheep, closing in weather and counting to 100 we managed to make Grisedale Tarn in the clouds. Visibility wasn’t the best and dollywagon pike was completely hidden. 
The singletrack descent to Patterdale was amazing, Vince do I still owe you for the mech hanger? A quick snack in Patterdale we played at Ulswater Singletrack riding everything expertly with our new found elite technical skills. Amazing singletrack fun. 
The rest was easy, the climb to cockpit was rideable and steady, the descent to Askham fast and grassy providing me a chance to practice drifting and the road was no bad. We stopped for a Pot of Tea at some out of town pub then at a Jet Wash on the way back in. Vince used the opportunity at the pub to put a boulder inside my bag which I rode all the way into Penrith with – I needed the extra exercise anyways. We finished after a grand total of 120kms (38.5km on day 3) at half 4 and managed to get on a 437 train. The Stats were; Day 1 – 46.4kms Day 2 – 30.1kms Day 3 – 38.5kms Total 120kms Total Time was 22 hours 33 minutes Time Moving 12 hours 1 minute Average Speed of 5.3kph Average Moving Speed 10.0kph Max Speed 65.8kph (confirmed Vince – tarmac switchbacks near Croasdale) Total ascent 3845m Total descent 3711m Photos here
or here for the higher resolution ones, route and profile |
