Singletraction Forum

So this will be first one of the year after the attrocious weather put paid to the dig planned in January (http://singletraction.frankencrank.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2986).

Plans will be same as before (subject to confirmation by Knacker) so if there's a good turn out and good weather we'll crack on with the Descent Line Extension. If it's bad weather and the turnout is lower then it'll be either clearing the natural line in Norwood or some more work on the Weird Wood section.

Any questions, comments etc please shout. Would be good to see peeps and crack on witht he DL Extension, we're 12 months in since that awesome start (remember last January? http://www.singletraction.org.uk/downloads/Dec-Jan_dig_days-1.pdf) and seem to be struggling to make good progress.

Throw a bike in as well if you fancy.

If we end up in Norwood slashing / brash clearing tools would be good.

Roll Call:

Cheeky
Knacker
Nick / Moe
Digital Tom
LukeEllis (off STW)
PStokes99 (off STW)
Big-Cheif-96 + 1 (off STW)
Chase
Si B
Jase / Stuntmonkey
Paul / Kaptain Kona

Jase (Stuntmonkey / mugboo) has been running a thread on STW to see if anyone fancies coming: http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stainburn-dig-day-desperately-seeking-help?replies=12#post-1088595

I know Chase is laid up with a wrist injury (quite at the back ). Not sure if Si is about and PJ probably still hasn't finished the extension

CJ and Becky? Paul H? Jase himself?

Anyhow, if a few of the promises turn out we should have enough bodies and I reckon (subject to Knacker confirming) that we could crack on with the DL. We've got to finish the rock jumble we spent a lot of time on last time we were digging the Extension and then work up hill from there. Next big section is the wet dip after the stream and then it's deciding how to connect into the existing DL (leaving that until last though).

That's all settled now. I'm hoping to be there, at least for the morning session.

One thing to consider - if the ground stays as frozen as it is at the moment most rocks will be stuck and the ground will be a bas***d to work.

Aiming to be there for the morning too.

I'm in and praying the weather is on our side. Will try and get Hopwood the Dig Day Whore along..

All sounds good, turnout could be reasonable.

We'll come with whatever the weather throws at us by chnaging plans. Can always go into the trees if it's desperate on the Extension.

I used to come to dig days weekly a few years back but have been living in Bristol since. I'm up for a couple weeks and stumbled across this dig day from a link on Stif's site. Going to their big opening on Saturday and should be able to come along on Sunday if you need an extra pair of hands... was going to hit the trails at some point anyway. Can't promise but i'll come if i can!

Sorry folks, but I'm going walking/climbing in the Lakes on Sunday/Monday, need to make the most of the snow whilst it's here.

Where you heading Paul? I was climbing on Srubby crag Deepdale Saturday and have been following the conditions closely so give me a shout if you need and info on conditions its been cold since Saturday so it won't have changes significantly. I have some pics also.

PJ

PJ
I think we're booked into Greenside Mine YHA, so it will be Hellvelyn gullies and Brown Cove Crags, maybe Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag. Stuff I've done a million times, but we want garanteed conditions and a fairly easy walk in to do as many gullies as possible in a day. It will be mostly new for the friends I'm going with, and a bit of prep. for a September trip to Zermatt aswell .
Post up your pics please, or do you have a link to a pic hosting website?.

Paul

We set off for Pendulum gully (3) on scrubby but the rocky chimney crux looked a bit thin and there where 3 other perties on it, we did a narrow (steep) gully (2-3) called tounge and groove just right of it which turned out to be steep and very run out virtually no protection (felt like 3), in hindsight pendulum gully would have probably been easier, and could be an option if you are comfortable with grade 3.

Genrally the gullies are mostly complete with good (not perfect) neve above 700m ish, most butresses and ridges seemed to be pretty stripped of anything useful although turf was solid. In deepdale the link cove becks waterfalls where beginning to form but its not been cold enough or has it? Greenhow end was bare, but hart crag opposite scrubby had several really nice looking ice falls which would be fun for a play.

St Sunday gullies looked just complete to the bottom of the crag, but the rest was pretty well stripped. Looking across Helvellyn I think this would offer the best sport, Ruthwaite cove, Nethermost cove or Red tarn, Nethermost gully is almost guaranteed to be in, but I heared Jogebar is not in.

Apparently great end is in the best condition at present Cenral right and left full of neve with very fat ice on the crux pitches, SE gully is similar with fat ice on the chimney and window gully is full of fat ice as far as the eye can see, best conditions i have seen on great end but you need to be early.

Hope this helps, PM me your email and i will email the pictures as i can't get the gallery to work
P

Scrubby crag left and pendulum gully centre, tounge and groove thin line just to right


Helvellyn, striding and nethermost, you can see nethermost gully is complete


Looking West towards old man, langdales and scafell


Sunset hope you get as good a day as us.

Me and my mate (joel) will probably be heading down there on Sunday to give a hand with the dig day. Just wondering if its worth bringing bikes too. Will there be chance to have a ride ?

Cheers, Tom and Joel.

Hi Tom, you can dig all day or just an hour or so and then go for a ride, it's up to you. All help is welcome, and it would be great to see some new faces.

Ahh brilliant, sounds good! Yeah will see you here !

Cheers, Tom.

Forgot to ask, do we need to bring our own spades etc ?

Ta

We have tools but doesn't hurt to bring a spade if you have one

Will be there (I'm pstokes99 of STW).

Not going to bring a bike and can stay until 12:30ish, but can get there earlier if there will be someone there to direct my efforts (and provide whatever tool I may need - I have nothing).

see you tomorrow.

Cheers
Paul

I hope to be there early (9 ish) BUT I am notoriously unreliable at this (I blame the wife, kids, dog etc etc etc )

Chase and Si often get there a bit earlier too. My personal preference would be go early with a bike and shred the pump track if no one is around. No good if it doesn't fit with your wider plans tho'.

Sorry to be non-commital and it's not like we don't value the offer of an earlier start but I'd rather be honest about the chances of me being on time

Edit: I see from the thread on STW that Si and Chase'll be there from about 9:15.

Ill aim to arrive for 9:30

Si and me will be there about 9.15.

For anybody turning up before 10 - head down the felled area towards (and beyond) the bottom of the descent line - you should be able to see us.

Big thanks to all that came and helped out today (Im sure Cheeky will post up the list) we shifted some big rocks and hundreds of smaller ones extending the trail bed by quite a distance and finishing of a few features.

Think Si and Tim got a few photos of the progress so finger crossed they can post a few up.

Thanks again and see you next month lets see if we can get the next section ready for the surface!

Good turn out and good progress made.
Here's some of my photos.

Jase modelling a lovely SingletrAction T-shirt.



Tim doing something artistic with a rock and a hammer.



Grrrr.



Paul doing his best to put someone's eye out.



Mmm, what now?



Tea break , new trail bed in the back ground.

Hey you photoshoped me a bald patch and a dopey face!!

Just notice a little repo on singletrackworld by Tom

http://www.singletrackworld.com/blogs/2 ... ne-ridden/

Hopefully this will encourage people to turn out next month.