Silva Dales Traverse 07/04/2024

A new race as part of something bigger, The Northern Traverse, hmmm! That’s interesting I thought. I checked out the Moors Traverse and felt I knew most of the route. It’s timing was not ideal, 7 am start at Ingleby Cross and 10 pm finish at Robin Hoods Bay the day before work meant that it was not for me, 80 km a fortnight after the Hardmoors 110 would also be a big ask. So I checked out the Dales Traverse. 12 hours to cover 55 km from Kirkby Stephen to Richmond. Starting at 10 am on Sunday 7 April. Now that was more doable. Even if it took till 10pm, I would only be 20 min from home. So I entered. 

The race is strictly no external support with very few official support points. On the Dales Traverse, the only aid station was at the Dales Bike Centre in Reeth, 37 km along the route. For this reason there was an extensive kit list. 

There was a bus from Richmond at 7:30 am. Billy dropped me off, see you at 6 he said jokingly. The bus was quite full although some people were not there, we set off at 7:45 as the rain started. 

it was pouring down on the journey along the A66 and i could feel the wind buffeting the bus. It was going to be a tough day out.

Once we arrived at the grammar school in Kirkby Stephen, we queued up to have our kit check, every item on the list was checked. We were then issued 3 name bibs, one for our front, one for our back pack and a sticker for our finish bag. We were issued our waterproof map, a Harveys coast to coast map. We then had our trackers issued, photo taken and given our T-shirts. I had to have an XL, they were very small fit. 

There was now time to repack our bags and visit the loo, eat drink chat and prepare for the day ahead. There were also very tired athletes from the Northern Traverse which had started on Saturday morning. They were resting and refuelling after a day and night crossing the Lake District and were preparing to cross the Dales and Moors. 

My friend Colm was doing the Dales Traverse too, it was good to have a familiar face around. I decided to start with my poles as I planned to use them to ascend the 662m of Nine Standards Rigg and others who knew the area said it was not far to the start of the climb.  I went to put my finish bag in the van and almost went on my bum. My new Scott Kinabalu 3 were super comfy and super cushioned but made the wet paving slabs seem like glass. Not the best start. 

Anyway, just before 10 am we went outside to the start line, there were not many of us, 49, to be precise. The rain stopped and the wind increased but the sun began to break through the clouds.

The race briefing was difficult to hear with the wind, there was a countdown, I got the route on my watch and five, four, three, two, one, go.

We set off, most of us steadily, skirting around the puddles keeping dry feet as long as possible. There were volunteers point the way through the streets and alleys of Kirkby Stephen, we were quickly out into the countryside. Soon the route started to head upwards on a country road, time for the poles.

Kirkby Stephen was very quickly far below. It looks a lovely day on the photos but it was blowing a hoolie.

Finally the nine cairns came into view, by now the nice smooth tarmac had turned to a muddy lane, a river crossing and bog. No more dry feet. The poles were great for testing the depth of the bogs and preventing being blown over.

I was relieved to get to the top, the cairns were massive, I would have liked to had a closer look but not in that weather, I just wanted to get to lower ground.

That was no mean feat, the wind was brutal, trying to take my poles from my hands, pushing

me sideways. I battled onwards through what felt like miles of boggy ground and a slow descent.

It was a relief to head towards Ravenseat Farm. It was slightly more sheltered.

The ground was still wet and soft underfoot but much less boggy. 

The rain maid for some spectacular waterfalls.

Nice to see the spring flowers on the lower ground. The majority of the trails however wer still muddy and slippy. Thank goodness for my poles, helping me to keep my balance.

I was now starting to tick parts of the route off in my head. Crossing Tan Hill Road put me temporarily on familiar ground. The next section was part of the Dalesrunner 30 route. Swinner Gill.

The sun was shining and I was considering taking my jacket off. This is a very picturesque section, a view to distract the mind from the legs that were screaming at the incline.

I could see others in the distance. Nice as it had been a while since I had seen the other athletes.

As I climbed, the air cooled, I was glad I had not taken my jacket off. As I emerged out of the Gill, a hail storm started, it was horizontal fierce hail, battering me, I pulled up my hood and dug out some gloves. My bare right calf felt as if it was being sand blasted. Head down I fought onwards and finally started to head into a valley, the hail stoped and I looked up to see a rainbow, bridging across Gunnerside Gill.

I could see others climbing the zig zag path at the other side. i thought I was gaining on them.

The descent to the bridge was very slippery and it took me a while to get down to the ruins.

The climb up was so tough in the wind, I thought I would be blown back down. I was using my hands to steady myself. At the top when the path was wider and less muddy I could see more ruins in the distance and a road. I looked but could see no others. How could they have got so far ahead? I almost missed the sign that turned me left up a steep scree slope through another gill, up, up, up. at the top, an area that was barren, shale/ gravel/stone with old rusting equipment. I worked my way across and then a gravelly path headed downwards. Finally I saw the chimney at Old Gang Lead Mines. This was where I had recced up to, only 15 or 16 miles to go.This gave me a boost, as did seeing other athletes on the road to Surrender Bridge. Almost at the bridge, I saw Ann and Terry. A massive boost to see friendly faces.

Not many pictures from now on. I was feeling quite good, the wind felt less vicious and I was nearly at Reeth. I got to the Dales Bike Centre, the only aid station. I had one of my bottles refilled and put my gels in the place of my other bottle. I went to the loo and took off my coat. Only 10 lies left and I was overheating now that I was on lower ground. I left the aid station, I was heading home, the long road section was very welcome. It was not to last. The path from Marrick Priory to the village of Marrick is alongside a wood, stones moss covered steps which have a fast flowing stream running over them, not great in those shoes, but my poles helped me stay upright and I got to the village. 

Fortunately all the cattle I saw were in barns. I passed through the village and navigated the slippy sloppy muddy sheep fields towards Marske. Heading into Marske there is a steep tarmac hill, longer than I remember but I made sure i ran it all as I knew it was a climb back out of the village. Then more muddy sheep fields. 

There is a little bridge where people have put plaques marking there coast to coast crossings. It was very slippery getting down to it and even worse getting up the other sides. I passed some Northern Traverse athletes. They were shattered and looking forwards to getting to Richmond.

I had no idea of time but it was getting late, my shadow was so long. Think it was past 6. Even though Richmond was close, the track through the woods was very muddy and slow going, a real slog upwards.

But soon I could see Richmond in the distance, not far now. 

I picked up the pace run the downs and flats walk the ups. There were less and less ups.

Finally, down, down, down, on tarmac. Nearly finished, past the tennis courts, passed the roundabout, no cars, phew, down the steep hill, past the car park where I had sat on the bus at 7:45 that morning, over the bridge and a left turn into the football club.

I was met by volunteers. You can stop now” they said as one of them hung a medal around my neck and the other went for my finish bag. I went into the tent and another volunteer made me a hot drink. I ate the hot cross bun cheese sandwich from my bag and text Billy to let him know I was finished. 

Billy came to collect me. Family and friends were not allowed into the finish area. I wandered up to him.

I saw Andy who was volunteering, he took my picture at the finish line as Billy was not allowed in.

It was a tough day, made more tough by the weather, today and in previous weeks, making the ground so wet muddy and boggy. Would I do it again, maybe. I would like to do the Moors Traverse one day.

I fuelled on gels mainly. High Five in one bottle, Tailwind naked in the other and half a zoom bar. I felt fine, taking fuel around every 4o minutes. I have no blisters, my feet were protected by Trench. I wore insinui liners and thin drymax socks. My Gortex jacket kept me dry and over my merino base layer and club vest, warm. I wore 3/4 trousers as I thought my legs would dry quicker than long leggings. My pack is an Ultimate Direction fast pack 20 and I have Harrier bottles in a matching yellow.