Bob Graham Leg 4 recce - 6th may 2012

Last weekend I was lucky enough to get up to the Lakes again for a run around this long BG leg.  Originally set for a longer day of legs 3 and 4 together, logistics problems got in the way so we decided on leg 4 only, which turned out to be long enough.

I travelled up with Roger and met Dale Colclough at Honister pass.  Dale is a BGR completer himself and our guide for the day.  He has done all the legs many times either recceing, or pacing for attempts and never led us astray the whole time.  I did have the map out constantly but didn't get much chance to look at it, the pace was a bit rapid for me,  I could still feel the miles and the climbing in my legs from the Fellsman one week before.
It was good to get into real Bob Graham territory as I've only been on legs 1 and 2 before this one.
Dale led us from Honister straight into Wasdale via the Moses trod route, a nice, non too strenuous path which only took us around 1.5 hours, much quicker than getting a car into Wasdale valley and no need to go back again to fetch it afterwards.
Some weary looking GL3D competitors were just setting off towards Patterdale.  One couple asked us if we thought they were going the best way, we agreed but for some reason they turned round and went the other way before correcting themselves and feeling a little silly for doing it.
A procession of cars were winding their way into the valley to the NT car park which was already looking full.

We set our watches at the base of Yewbarrow and were at the misty summit in around 40 minutes.
Red Pike, Steeple, Pillar all new to me but magnificent with the cloud sometimes clearing to see the views.  Coming down from Pillar it began to snow with the lightest snowflakes falling slowly.  It was a chilly day but not to uncomfortable.
Kirkfell was visited via red screes which was a fair old slog.  We found a wallet near the summit, a chap from Whitehaven so said his driving license, left no money in it though!  Dale handed it in when back in Keswick.
Great Gable is a good rocky climb which I felt in the legs and was glad to get done as I knew the going was to become a bit easier on the home stretch over Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts.
The leg was completed in 4h 40mins, a bit quicker than the suggested 5h 35mins on the BG map but we didn't have legs 1,2 and 3 under our belts as well.
Another superb day out finished off with a bag of chips outside Moot Hall listening some crazy preacher and watching everyone shopping in their expensive, new and very clean 'outdoors' kit.

A few pictures from the day:

Heading for Wasdale on Moses trod

Wasdale from Yewbarrow

Dale and Roger.  Happy on Pillar despite the lack of views

Looking down from Kirkfell

A menacing Great Gable from Kirkfell

Great Gable summit

On the home stretch