Contents
"Great Lakeland 3Day . . .one of the harder tests" Richard Askwith's 'Feet in the Clouds' |
The Great Lakeland 3 Day Ultra Mountain Trail RESULTSGL3D is a unique three day stage run, for experienced mountain endurance athletes. Having enjoyed our tenth anniversary ‘en tour’ in Wales in 2007, we are returning to The Lakes for the eleventh year of the event. We have also taken a long hard look at what has made GL3D so unique and special over the past 10 years and given it a shake up. The result is a longer and tougher event, as we concluded that the days’ had become too short and campsites too tame, in recent years! Be warned … GL3D 2008 won’t be easy Nature of the Event and Route . . . This year the route will be approximately 100 miles spread over three days. You can expect a 35/35/30 mile - Sat/Sun/Mon split. The nature of the route will be ‘mountain trails’; ie, a variety of paths, trails and open terrain. Route choice is up to the individual and excellent navigational skills and complete self-reliance are required. There will be no route description, only checkpoint grid references and descriptions. Check points are few and far between, and will mainly be less frequented or minor tops, or tarns, or footbridges rather than the sheepfolds or re-entrants, etc. This gives you good route choice options and relatively good terrain underfoot. Expect ridges and valleys rather than contouring and bog fests. Participants should expect to take between 7 and 14 hours each day. Individual support teams, or pacers, are not allowed. GL3D is a small friendly event with a friendly atmosphere complementing the tough days. It is not a race, no prizes are given, but every participant receives an event T-shirt. Reports and results from previous years: The GL3D is a solo event, although in the past people have participated in pairs, choosing to stay together, or made partnerships during the weekend. Every entrant must be totally competent and self sufficient, carrying their necessary equipment. If you wish to enter as a pair, indicate your friend's name on the form, so entries can be processed together, but you must submit individual entries. It cannot be stressed too highly how this is an event for the experienced and competent only. Entrants need to be totally self-reliant for food and drink each day, etc. Start, Finish and Overnight Camps The event will start and finish at a venue somewhere in eastern Cumbria, which will be confirmed in your Final Details sent to you in April. The event will start from there on Saturday morning, returning here on Monday afternoon. Entrants are expected to camp at the overnight sites provided. Campsites will be relatively comfortable compared to the typical Mountain Marathon sites, but more remote than in previous years. There will be two separate camp sites for Saturday and Sunday nights. Be warned – pub meals and cafes will not feature in either evening venue this year. A small supply of bread and milk will be available at each campsite. A limited amount of baggage will be transported for you from the start to the finish each day. You will need to select and pack this carefully applying a mountain marathon mentality. Your tent, cooking gear, food and all spare clothing must be packed in this baggage, and it must not weigh more than 12kgs, including the bag. This is a generous allowance if you pack correctly. The weight limit will be strictly applied at the weigh in. Your equipment must be contained in a waterproof Ortlieb type ‘Dry-Bag’ (Ortlieb size Large 59litres capacity)Many of you will have these from previous years and will want to use them again. Only this type of bag, or a very similar make and size will be acceptable. Anyone wanting to buy a suitable Ortleib Drybag can do so via The Climbers Shop in Ambleside. See www.climbers-shop.com You need to provide your own map. I shall be using the Harvey ‘BMC’ map of The Lake District to plan the event and recommend this to you. It is at a scale of 1:40k and covers the whole Lakes area on one sheet. You can use other maps, if you wish, but you will need more than one for each day! Further details of this will be given at a later date in your ‘Final Details’. The Climbers Shop Discount . . . The Climbers Shop will be offering a discount to GL3Day entrants on purchases for the event. Details of this will be explained in your entry confirmation email. You must be equipped to survive the worst each day. As experienced people you will not need a full list but the following will be an absolute minimum: Water resistant jacket, spare thermal shirt, leg wear (either thermal legwear or over-trousers, or both in poor weather) hat + gloves, survival bag, food, emergency food, compass, map, pen, whistle, more food and a drinks bottle. You should be carrying a lot more than this. Support teams are not allowed. This is not an event in which to skimp on gear. Any one appearing to be under equipped for the conditions will be stopped, checked, and appropriate action taken. GL3D entrants must have experience of long distance, multi-day navigational events in rough country. Entrants will have completed mountain marathons, usually to "A" class standard, tough ‘LDWA’ type events such as the Derwent Watershed, Fellsman etc, or several long ‘A’ fell races with the appetite and ability to do it all again the next day. Ultra challenges such as WHW or TMB prove good ability in trail running but not necessarily mountain nav. Solo challenges rather than formal events are worthy experience. You are required to submit a summary of your experience on the entry form and entries will be returned to those without sufficient experience. This may be the hardest event you've tackled, or a good tough training stint for something bigger. In previous years entrants have subsequently completed Bob Graham Round's later in the summer. By completing the entry form and signing the declaration you are confirming that you have the skills and ability required. Entry is only available by completing an entry form and returning it to me. Online entry is not possible as we need to vet your experience and to receive a signed entry form. There is a two part entry fee; a deposit of £25 must accompany your entry form, and will secure a place subject to your experience being acceptable. The balance of £40 is due on receipt of your final details, which will be sent to you in early April. We reserve the right to withdraw entries if not confirmed and paid for by 21st April. Entry Form (pdf) or Entry Form (doc) The inclusive cost of £65 covers camping for three nights, (Friday, if you need it, Saturday and Sunday) event T-shirt, bread and milk, baggage transfer, logistics, finish line refreshments, postage and results, and all other administrative costs. You are advised to enter early as places will be limited to just 50 entrants. A reserve list will be held if oversubscribed. You will be contacted if your entry is not accepted – email receipt of entry acceptance will be sent, (usually within a week) and your cheque will be banked. To enter please complete and return the form. Cheques payable to ‘Joe Faulkner’. There is no need for a SAE. If you have any questions then please contact me on 07749 364 248 or email faulknerjoe@hotmail.com Post entries to : Joe Faulkner, GL3D, High Brow, Celleron Road, Tirril, Penrith, CA10 2LS Yours on the fells - Joe Faulkner |