Sunday was to be the big one as far as mileage but was in doubt until the last minute. On Saturday afternoon it looked like I would give it a miss, getting to Tottington for 8.30 (and home later in the afternoon looked a challenge, never mind the walk. By the evening the forecast was showing +1 for 6am the following morning so decided it was on. At 8.30 I joined eight other intrepid walkers who were marshals or organisers for the Two Crosses Circuit, scheduled for the following Sunday.
The full walk is 25 miles, but because of the weather conditions, the decision was made to do the shorter variant of 18 miles. Apart from a bit of blizzard conditions at Affetside where the wind was picking up the snow, the first three hours went okay. Where the two routes diverge at about 7 miles, a discussion was made that we would have to impose a cut-off time to prevent anyone attempting the 25 miles who would be incapable of completing before dark. A nice lunchstop at Entwhistle Reservoir then on towards Bull Hill. This is where it got interesting. White Moss was fun, if enjoy your legs being two foot into the snow. The going was very tough, so a good speed was far from possible. Around Bull Hill and onto a very exposed Peel Tower before heading back to Tottington. The excursion had taken 7 hours with nobody causing the pace to drop - where it was possible the pace was brisk. It would normally (even at this time of year) take 5 hours.
A very exhilarating but demanding day, adding some 18 miles and 1700ft of ascent to give a week's total of 36 miles (exactly on target) and 3600ft of ascent (slightly below target but I'm on target for the month).
Here are some photos thanks to East Lancs LDWA.
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