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With an already 'star cast' of Charlie from Mountain Run, Damian Hall (1st Brit and 12th place over all at the UTMB 2017) and Paul Teirney (Missing Link Coaching and 1st place in 2015 in the Montane UTLD 100) we have some extra special guests joining us for 2018's already bustling weekend.
Katie and Casper Kaars Sijpesteijn, the ultra-running wife and husband team plus winners and record holders of the L50 for 2017 will be arriving Friday evening at the Stickle Barn for the 'social run' and Friday evening and Saturday sharing advice on 'Ultra Running and Training'.
Saturday night will see Michael Jones, winner of the 2017 Montane UTLD 100 mile race, deliver a talk about his experiences in the Ultra Running field, especially relating to the L100 and his own race the UTS 100 & 50. Michael will also be available on the Sunday, more to confirm soon.
We have just confirmed that Steve Birkenshaw, record holder of the fastest continuous traverse of the Wainwrights and multiple winner of the OMM Elite Category, will be joining us for the Saturday's program on this immersive weekend all about Mountain Marathon's and how to perform your best for 2018, be it the GL3D, LAMM, SLMM, ROC MM or the final race of the year the OMM.
Tim Laney will also be present. Tim has a great history with the MM phenomena, racing now over 30 OMM's, holding still one of the fastest times for a BGR, a quick time for the Charlie Ramsay and is also a Paddy Buckley finisher as well. Tim has oodles of experience both as an ultra runner and mountain marathon competitor. With running partners such as Mark McDermot and the likes over his 'running career' Tim is a great guy to learn from.
Winter Conditions Report: 6th January 2018 Snow has been falling on and off over the Xmas Period and then into the New Year we've seen a few warmish days with rain to summit level. Without knowing the actual conditions over xmas I'm assuming its left some hard base in pits and troughs that has now been covered over by new fresh snow over the last few days. Yesterday the snow was wet on Striding Edge, great snowball/snowman making snow. It made the crossing of Striding Edge very grippy and easy. The ascent out of the exit to the summit of Helvellyn was wet, but felt safe in that location. The summits were quite scoured, but with drifts formed on NE through to SE aspects. Raise had 2 complete runs on the ski tow area. Overnight the temps dropped and it seems to have done 3 things. Settled the snow pack, re-frozen the layers that were mentioned by Wesley Orvis in his conditions observations/report yesterday and dried the snow out. It also seems like there was some fresh snow overnight. This morning I ran in and climbed the left hand side of the 'Sugar Bowl', right of Viking Buttress. I found deep snow, consolidated snow pack, frozen turf where exposed and solid grade 1 climbing conditions. The Red Tarn Face looks great for skiing, with plenty of snow blown in from the winds. I'm assuming, although I didn't look into the gullys, that the RTF routes will be in good condition. I exited the bowl via the high point on the promontory of the summit ridge and found the cornice very stable, but have no knowledge of anywhere else along the cornice. Conditions for Running, Climbing, Mountaineering and skiing seem great, assuming you pick your location well. The Edges will be in Mint Condition, Swirral was choked with snow on the descent. Looks like a great weekend and the Sun may shine! It was very wild on the tops and full winter equipment is necessary, goggles were a must as spindrift was vicious.
