The mtb circumnavigation of Great Gable has been on my tick list for several years.
With a great weather forecast and a suitable partner in crime (Will Lund) we fully committed and had what turned out to be an absolute belter of a day in the hills.
The route is often dismissed due to the un-ridable nature of three of the four climbs. Approximately 1000m of ascent is gained on foot, shouldering a bike.
However... The resulting descents certainly make up for the hard climbs.
At Black Sail before the first climb.
Great riding off Black Sail Pass, heading into Wasdale. Will making it look easy.
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Perfect dry, dusty trails.
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Exhilarating.
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Will shouldering the 28 stead for the second time. Climbing out of wasdale to Styhead.
From left: Green Gable, Great Gable, Kirk Fell.
Looking at our first climb from the summit of our last.
One for the catalog.
He's annoyingly handsome in a rugged way that Will. Good effort chaps, how was the protection? Were all the descents doable? The profile on strava is hilarious, looks like you dropped out of a helicopter onto a trampoline four times.
ReplyDeleteGet assessed, you're ready.
The descents are all testing, but in the conditions we had I would say 75% rideable. No protection used other than standard kit and some common sense.
ReplyDeleteNot a route I would guide on. Not quite within remit!
Top quality MOUNTAIN biking.
Assessment - end of summer.