Seven Slow Warts bravely set off from Westend lay-by to face one of the more challenging Summer Series races, the Way Out West, appropriately abbreviated to WOW. Any crossing of the Alport river will always be a serious strenuous undertaking but the magnificent views will always compensate for each of the two steep ascents and descents across this mighty (for the Peak District) valley.
The Noah’s configuration of the above heading, developed soon after our start, with Tim and Roger opening a permanent lead through the first wood and over the Westend moor, Andy and I followed and Chris and Jim were the third pair. The remaining one was Pete who had arrived later and was saving himself for the British Orienteering Short Course Championships at the weekend so did a shortened WOW course. These short O courses are around streets and last for about 10 minutes, a contrast to the Summer Series races.
Surprisingly in the current mega growth conditions (warmish and wet), there was still the remains of a trod up to the edge of the Alport valley. Further down the descent from there, it was possible to see the ruined wall (not marked on my maps) on the opposite side which leads towards the shelf below Grindlegrain Tor, where the Scout Memorial stone (CP !) was. First though, the angled descent to the stream was a test of ankles and knees though soothed with a good cooling dunk in the stream, as always made more interesting with the slime covered rocks. Ah, bilberry, bilberry, there was plenty of it on the descent and yet more on the climb out of the stream, and it was hard work. Despite my detailed planning to find the Scout Stone (a short distance along the shelf below the Tor), I went in the wrong direction on the shelf to meet Andy going the right way so turned around to reach the Stone, thanks Andy!
The climbing continued, though more gradually and along a trod, this time through the bracken, acclimatising us for the steep descent through more bracken down the fire break. Again there is a bit of trod which disappears and then reappears on the right side towards the stream where a gymnastic fence climb was needed to reach the slimy bottomed stream. For a change, we abandoned our love of bracken and bilberry by fighting our way through the fallen branches of the forest to the sound of cracking and the occasional cursing. It felt a relief to be out and on the open moor but this was short lived as bilberry bashing on the slope rapidly depleted energy levels. Reaching the edge path was a relief though the action of actually running on the flat rather than climbing or descending steep ground took a bit of accustomisation; even more so, descending the track to the finish on a hard and rocky surface, oh, for a pair of well cushioned shoes!
So the finish was very welcome, though calls from the earlier finishers asking why I wasn’t mincing along, was initially a bit disturbing. The explanation was that Roger had finished with a mincing style to protect his hip and subsequent finishers were expected to do the same, unknown to them. Next time perhaps?
After all our efforts, we were possibly delirious as our conversations at the YBI ranged from longbows, two fingers, crossbows and the possibility of having a longbow range through, yes, through, a house. This one being in Jim’s daughter’s house in the States. With typical curious inconsistency, we also talked about ticks. Needless to say, the Slow Warts made this competitive; one attack to a handful to 200 had been experienced with mixed symptoms. With that concoction of topics still remaining in our heads and beer in our bellies, we decided on our on our next outings. We also decided we’d had a wonderful and competitive outing. Thanks to all.
(Sorry, no photos, we were racing!)
Graham