Timing Is Everything-Latest Hill Running Report
November 23rd, 2009“Severe gales; rain – starting in morning. Gusts 60 to 70mph, Walking into the wind will be strenuous at low levels, and any mobility difficult on higher western summits. Severe wind chill. Widespread rain falling throughout daylight hours, heavy for periods.”
OK, it could be worse - well, a bit worse, but I had had a sleepless night wondering about how some of the less experienced in the party would cope. So to say the least I was pleasantly surprised when I woke after what felt like only an hour or two of sleep to see blue skies, and our wind turbine stationary.
Sure enough, as we neared Peebles, the clouds had formed, and they were well down on the summits. It was also certainly not windless. Nonetheless, it wasn’t raining, and we had safety in numbers. Those of a superstitious nature however may have noticed that there were thirteen of us in the party. Lucky I had the two dogs then!
The run up from Gypsy Glen is one of my favourite starts to any route. I had never seen it with so much water though - wet feet were unavoidable as we crossed the Glensax burn within the first few hundred yards. From there it was a solid climb for the next 20-30 minutes, punctuated only by the unwelcome presence of a group of trails motor bikers. Peace broke out, and having recorded our displeasure at their noisy intrusion, we all carried on our way.
The wind gradually picked up as we climbed, and after a stop to don extra layers, the party split after about 50 mins - those wanting an early bath heading off down what we were reliably informed was a track back into Glensax, whilst the main party carried on to the summit of Birkscairn hill. The summit cairn provided us with our first real opportunity to test out the Bivy shelter. After much flapping of material, with the whole thing threatening to head off down into the Glen, we managed to eventually cram 10 runners and two dogs into what is described as an eight person shelter. OK, it was cramped - but it was certainly warm.
After a short descent Jonathon pronounced that we had reached the point where we needed to turn off the path and head downhill. It must be one of those Indian scout things, because I could swear the heather just there looked exactly the same as every other piece of heather we had been running past for the last hour or so. Without a murmur of dissent however we did as we were bidden and set out across the heather in the direction indicated. At this point it became rapidly apparent which members of the party were hillrunning novices, and which experienced, as the heather grabbed at shins, and hidden rocks threatened to break ankles. Those of us towards the front showed the appropriate level of concern for the newbies, and after hearing a few giggles at this new game of “heather bashing”, we dissappeared into the mist. Eb nobly looked after the less confident.
A descent of a section of path that had decided to become a stream, and a particularly “interesting” river crossing was all that was left before we joined the track along the Glen. Normally I don’t look forwards to a “run out” for several miles along a track like this, but Glensax is a really lovely glen, and the three or four miles back to the car were thoroughlly enjoyable - chatting away, and enjoying the scenery. I barely even noticed the light drizzle that came and went, or the fact that the clouds up on the ridge were by now moving at quite a pace.
Even back at the cars the weather hadn’t deteriorated to the point where everyone scurried away as quickly as possible. Once we got driving however, the windscreen wipers were required from the word go, and within minutes they were switched onto “continous” mode. The rain was coming on pretty heavily, and the wind was picking up. As I said at the outset, timing is everything.
