I'm doing The Big Walk 2018 in support of the Sheffield Scanner.
I walked part of the route again this week on Saturday 16 June starting from the same point as outlined in the previous walk-notes.
This week was very different. The weather was much cooler and there was a good deal of rain throughout the walk. Up near Redmires I decided to put on my thin fleece (8 quid from Go Outdoors) thereby spoiling my Northern credentials. I only intended to wear the fleece briefly while the wind picked up but as soon as I put it on the rain started coming down quite heavily, I still had my bag open so quickly pulled out my thin waterproof jacket and put that on over the top.
Going was pretty good for the first 12km (7.5m). I'd got stuck with the fleece on and was getting overly hot but had rolled it up so the effect was minimised, I really should have taken it off though. At this point I started to climb and overheat just as the weather again took a turn for the worse, the rain increased from a background level of annoyance to something more unpleasant. I decided to put my waterproof trousers on to prevent my shorts getting too wet. I was so hot by the time I got to the top of the hill that I took them off again - sweat was pouring out of them. It was an interesting insight in to physiological activity, I was surprised at how much perspiration I was producing, I know I produce a lot but this was startling.
Walking along the to to Derwent edge I had the jacket open and pushed round the back of my pack and the fleece still rolled up, the jacket effectively became a cape, any rain that landed on my front must have evaporated off rapidly as I didn't notice any discomfort. I still didn't take the fleece off.
By the time I reached The Dukes Road, the long and desolate part of the walk, I was feeling quite fatigued. I had done a very rapid walk earlier in the week where I had walked/run the return stage and I felt that I hadn't fully recovered. It was only at the end of this section, the drop down into Low Bradfield, that I removed the fleece - I'd been wringing the sweat out of the sleeves for some time, I'd noticed they'd got considerably heavier as time went on... I must have wrung a decent sized cup full out - lovely. When I finally took the fleece off it was absolutely drenched.
Things to note number one: Extreme exercise in the week before this extended physical activity was not a good idea, I'd not replenished the energy needed and physically hadn't fully recovered, I felt more tired throughout.
Things to note number two: The soaked fleece affected my physiological response to the activity, wearing clothing which doesn't hold sweat against the body is normally advised for this reason and I'd fallen foul of that.
Things to note number three: Even though it was a cold day I drank almost the same amount of water as previously on the baking hot day. I did walk some distance further but hadn't drunk very much in that additional leg. I drank about 2.5 litres.
Things to note number four: I was expecting to get a bus back home for the final part of the walk, however there had been an incident no buses were running due to the road being blocked. This added quite a bit of extra, steep hill walking to the end of the day, an additional 4km (2.5m). If I'd pushed myself to the absolute limit I would not made it up the final hill. In one respect I feel as though I ought to have used more effort earlier although conditions didn't really allow it, and in another respect I feel that unless the final destination includes a guaranteed lift, or is your front door, then pushing to the absolute limit is foolhardy and has the additional risk that over-stretching will prevent reaching the final destination.
Things to note number five: I saw hardly anyone for the middle 6 hours of the 8 hours I was out. The weather played a part in this. I wouldn't have done this without being prepared but even being prepared doesn't remove risk. I'm also comfortable with my own company for extended periods, I can imagine some people would find The Dukes Road a psychological test - post-apocalyptic, desolate, a never-ending labyrinthine route in Hades, make of it what you will, I was talking to myself even more than usual during this part.
Here's a view of The Wheel Stones taken at 10am, about 3 hours in. This is the first time I've not seen anyone clambering about on it. The sky looks surprisingly blue, there was only light rain at this point.
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