A 2-day solo circuit of the fells around Patterdale and the Kirkstone Pass. The outward route via the Ullswater shore path enabled me to climb one of my two remaining Dewey 500m tops of the Lake District en route, continuing to Place Fell, Angle Tarn, High Street and Caudale Moor. The return via St. Raven’s Edge and the Kirkstone Pass was my first ascent of Red Screes from the eastern approach of Kilnshaw Chimney, continuing across the Scandale Pass to Hart Crag and descending the ridge of Hartsop above How.
The first day was typically autumnal, starting crisply cold and bright but clouding over to bring showers overnight, the second brought almost constant sunshine and clear views.
This was the second backpack undertaken on my recovery from planar fasciitis in my right foot, and it was soon apparent that this condition would be very different from my previous injury/recovery scenarios: just when you think you have it licked it flares up again. This will probably take a lot longer to clear up, more research and consideration of options will be needed. Towards the end of the first day the walk became a real exercise in mental pain control when I suffered the most severe case of ‘rubbing’ I’ve ever known: since I discovered Bodyglide years ago this type of chafing problem became a distant memory, but on this trip for some reason it happened in new places around the base of my back in the hipbelt region. A rare use of the first aid kit in the tent fixed it perfectly for the second day.
15 Comments
Enjoyed the report and photos. Hopefully, I’ll be in that area in three week’s time. Good luck with the plantar fasciitis. I’ve just read about it. Doesn’t sound fun. Hope I never get it. Hopefully my Fastpackers plus Superfeet will ward it off!
I’ve had sore spots with rucksacks before but never as bad as that. I’ve not had any problems with either my Osprey packs or GG Mariposa. I’ve never got on with GoLite packs. Time for a change? Go on you know you want to
Robin,
The mystery deepens with the PF, I’ll just continue with the exercises for now and investigate cushioning heel pads for relieving the symptoms.
I’ve been using the LiteSpeed pack for ages without problems, that incident is a weird one-off. I noticed the hipbelt did feel a bit loose when I stopped to eat. I’ll put Bodyglide around my waist next time as insurance.
I saw the Exos 46 in Cotswold a few days ago, it looks nice on a quick inspection and it has a flip-over lid which I prefer. Maybe someone is selling one second hand.
That sounded like a bit of a painful trip. Never heard of a hip belt rubbing like that before, bit of a strange one - hopefully just a sweaty back caused it. I am now beginning to suspect that you wait for good weather before setting off backpacking. Either that or you are very very lucky! Makes me jealous that I have to commit to a weekend and then it rains!
superb pictures and a great report. The weather being good definitely helps. Nice to see the Laser Comp out and about and makes me itch to get out and use mine again. Its a shame about the niggles you had on the trip but then there is always something isnt there? (For me its either rain or I have forgotten something!)
james,
A strange one indeed with the hipbelt, I’ll make sure it’s tightened properly next time. It’s certainly a big advantage to be able to choose backpacking times!.
Dave,
Once you get into a walking rhythm you don’t notice a certain amount of mild aching or irritation, you get used to it and enjoy the walk and this was a great one.
I’m just about to read this entry Geoff but from that title image I can see I’m going to love it as usual.
The dreaded ‘rubbage’ can ruin a day as much as a blister in my opinion. What is this Bodyglide you speak of?! Must google it and find out. Cheek chaffing is my worst nightmare at the moment!!!
Marcus,
Another grand walk despite the irritations.
Bodyglide is incredible stuff: until I discovered it I used to have intermittent chafing problems between the tops of my thighs and the dreaded cheek chafing, particularly in warm weather, now that’s all in the past. I don’t even need to carry it with me, one application before setting off from home lasts for days. I got mine from Wiggle.
I may have to check out that bodyglide stuff - cheek chafing can make a backpack hell on a muggy summers day when it is raining and you are wearing waterproofs. If we were younger it would be called nappy rash?!
I use Sportslick: http://www.swimproducts.co.uk/erol.html#1X0 instead of Bodyglide. Same idea.
I’m all over this bodyglide business. Is it greasy - how does it work?
Marcus,
It’s totally non-greasy, nothing messy at all. It comes as a retractable solid stick in a plastic container and feels like a slightly moist bar of soap. Just smear it onto the vulnerable bits and you’re done.
Geoff (and others),
Not a hardcore hiker as you (well, not yet, in training) but I have been following your blogs for a while now. I had issues with chafing (my thighs mostly) as well untill I switched to underarmor shorts, they are fantastic! I started with buying one pair (9inch) for testing mid summer, and now have 4 pairs which covers me for a longer period of time, not a single problem with chafing leg wise since I got them. Fairly pricey but so worth the money.
hope this helps!
Alex,
That’s interesting, never heard of those.
I prefer briefs myself rather than the ’shorts’ type that extend a little way down the legs. I tried a pair of Lowe Alpine Dryflo ones of that type and didn’t like the feel of them at all.
Here’s a link about plantar fasciitis that was posted on OM the other day by a guy who said doing the exercises mentioned in it fixed his problem in a fortnight ..
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010201/467.html
Jerry,
An interesting article there, that’s a few more exercises to try. This lingering PF is more infuriating than bad injuries like sprained ankles, at least those heal completely after a few weeks but this could go on and on.