Words by Alex, Pics by El Pres and Pete
Crew: El Pres, PTD, Eric, Mr Inc, Stunt
Pub: Dunc, Pete, Nic
Route: BL, Old Road, Zig, Teggs, Smithy, Witches Cottage, Charity, Extension, Standing Stone, Back of the Moon to the end of the wall, Descent back to where we started, Shutlingsloe steps gate singletrack to the S bends, Nessit, standard descent, track and ressies, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Just below zero, light snow on the ground, icy higher up, ground not frozen and muddy underneath.
Stats: One off (mr I)
Notes:
After a mild and wet week, a cold snap = just a hint of snow that won’t last long (Eric has come down specially!)
Nothing settling in Macc, but white on the hills, a night to make the most of what there is, with conditions higher up far from certain.
A small crew (with a few late set offs to the pub), a classic route is in order.
Rather warm initially (not quite sub zero in town, and a climb = possibly overdressed)
Very sloppy on the Zig with huge puddles, fields white, but tracks dark.
Finally on Teggs we actually put tyre to crunchy snow, slight melting from earlier now freezing into an icier crust.
Pretty good on the upper slopes, but muddy lower down.
Long slog up to Witches cottage, helped by a fullish moon and white trees, lots of icy/frosty noise from under tyre too 🙂
Hacked Way Lane ungritted, with sheet ice where a 4×4 has been, slightly techy ascent to find the necessary grip.
Puddles frozen over on Charity, but many with running water under the ice, fortunately the descent was more wet than slippy (in fact very wet!). Frosty rocks on the extension interesting!
We have done well on time, and Eric suggests back of the moon, PTD suggests a modification to do the decent of our ascent (if you will) to avoid the boggy moor. It’s a good plan (although cold on the ridge with wind and cloud), yet just enough fresh snow for some bike skiing!
The cut across to the main path very soft and slippy, as is the singletrack, with an especially deep boggy bit near the end catching out Mr I for an over the front splat!
A brief stop to regroup at Dan’s bench, EL Pres shows glove worn through to the skin, and Stunt discovers a major gusset seam failure of waterproof trousers.
Then the usual blast down to the pub, where Pete and Dunc have just arrived.
Quietish, but with fire on and hot radiators! White Nancy ordered by the half dozen, Nic does the shortest pub appearance ever! Welsh Whisky rather fine.
Fresh snow starts falling about 11pm so snowballs on exit, and tyre tracks on the white roads.
Proper winter (just)
