It's going to be sooner rather than later for me, for another crossing.
I was going to go next week, but an infection and on antibiotics till next Monday has put paid to that. Probably put it back a week or two, it may be a bit warmer by then anyway.
Ive got a sort of direct line worked out, not the most direct as I don't want too many road sections and want to keep it interesting.
However LWM has a totally different line worked out through the Lakes, which looks feasible but as I like to do previous routes the opposite way, I'll probalby stay with the line I took last time.
It will work or it wont.
Dave.

Standby, Sgt James reporting for duty...........

Ha, ha , just what I was thinking.
Dave.

Just out of interest my new 1st day has a total of 5.08 miles of road...
This includes Bridge Holme Lane (1.61), Ellerbeck Bridge (.08), Raisdale Rd (.24), Past Scugdale Hall (.56), Piper Road (more of a quiet lane? but included adding 1.23),Arnecliffe to A19 (Wainwright anyway) (1.0), and (omitting Long Lane and Deighton Lane again WW's route) Oaktree Hill .36 to bunkhse.
Be interesting to compare this to a standard Wainwright and your last route sticking to the road to Littlebeck.
However, choosing to follow the LWW to Round Hill, thus missing WW's road sections could have it's problems after prolonged wet weather of course not to mention the prevailing wind on the day...
I'll check out the rest as time permits as some sections have been chosen deliberately with the sole purpose of more direct westward progress. Other sections (ie. Ambleside) because there is no other direct alternative...
cheers

How light you intending on Dave?

My route includes a bit more road than last time but no more than 5 mile, I would think. As you know when theres a path going off in loup, but a road going straighter with your intended line, it's tempting and obvious to use the road. All depends on how direct you want to make it.
I wanted to include the villages of Gromont to Glaisdale as I particularly liked that stretch and the AW route across the Vale of Mowbry. Any part of the Lakes would do for me but I am going with my last route there apart from using Deepdale rather than Fairfield summit.
The HS problem we discussed, I have decided (unless it's really wet) to go the South side of the summit.
I intend going W - E this time.
As for weight I'll have to carry a bit more than last time possibly, as I am thinking of going self sufficient.
Looking back at last time, I reckon I can get across on 10,000 cals provided by 2.6 KG of carbs, plus isotonics.
probably looking at a starting weight with 1 Litre water of around 24 - 25 Lbs.
Any idea of when you may go.
Dave.

'tempting'? ...why tempting? The whole point of the 72 hr idea is to get across as directly as possible surely? - that's what I've aimed for, after all we aren't 'cheating' on Wainwright's suggested route anyway or anyone else's for that matter, but devising our own, which is a damn site more challenging than following a guidebook. As you know it takes forever to plot a route and compare that section with an alternative esp. when trying to keep elevation to a minimum at the same time.
No date set for me yet - concentrating on building up still. Got round a 20m on Sunday in under 5hrs (4:56:49) with 9lbs pack, struggled from 15m with hip pain though which slowed me down. I couldn't see me adding another 24m, which I need to acheive to match day 1's 45m. If you remember I plan to use bunkhouses on this one with bivvy for back up or emergency.

In an effort to discover the status of the stepping stones I rang the post office at Tebay. The lady I spoke to had no idea...

Lightweight

So you are aiming for a 72 hour crossing despite your disbelief that highly trained service personnel can complete the walk in only 7 hours less.

I hope that you succeed. Then perhaps you will believe that 65 hours is achievable, if not by yourself, but by others younger and fitter.

I think that you must harbour some ideas, however small, that I might after all, be genuine.

Not arguing Mick. I like your route, but think it's good that we have chosen slightly different lines in places, especially through the Lakes.
I haven't set a deadline as such, but obviously inside of 5 days, however I will aim to get across as fast as I can this time, within the confines of enjoyment, which is the most important thing for me.
I'm not interested in head down keep going simply to get across in the shortest possible time, Ive done too much of that sort of thing in the past, so my route has been chosen with this in mind too.
After this success or failure, I will switch my attention to other things in the pipeline, like the Cambrian Way, which I have been researching lately. There is so much out there and so little spare time.
Dave.

By the way, after re reading my first post in this subject, I may have left the impression that LWM's route contained a lot of road rather than paths. To avoid confusion, this is not what I was meaning, the reference to roads was directed at my own route.
In fact both our routes contain roughly the same road mileage, but in different areas.
I was considering asking Mick if it was ok to use his route through the Lakes in reverse, but then thought I'd really like to reverse my last line instead.
Anyway before any of this we are having a week in the Cotswolds. When we return I may change my mind completely and go for 5 day (non self sufficient) high level route instead.
Dave.

It did indeed appear that way Dave... though this set me on a course of working out just how much road my route choice involved compared to Wainwright's.
Well, just to clarify the matter, with a little free time on my hands of late, I've had some time to check over my figures from last year:

Day1 - I make W/W's total mileage between RHB and Lovesome Hill (depending on how much road is used at the head of Rosedale) to be just over 12 or 13 miles.
My own route has a mere 4.86 miles.

WW's longer stretches are from the caravan park to Graystone turn off at 2.22 - (the longer being 3.03 if all rd is used at the hd of Rosedale) - Grosmont tarmac accounts for 1.5m.

My longest stretch comes early on at Bridgeholme Lane - 1.62m, followed by Ingleby to A19 at 1.02m (which is WW anyway)

Day 2(L/Hill to Keld) via W/Wright longest section looks like the long Streetlam to Whitwell section @ 3.48m*- which compares favourably to my own of 3.89 (Hard Stiles)
My own daily total of rd miles coming out provisionally at 12.85m compared to WW's 11.11m - slightly over on Day2 then, but not so much to get excited about...

* both calcs using the Footpath section between DW and Streetlam - ie. rd from DW, then Fpath and back to rd to Whitwell (all rd would make this 1.27m more tarmac)

Day3 (Keld to Kentmere) works out less favourably:
Relying on the road section in Birkdale (mine - not your suggested alt to boundary Dave - though this may prove better yet) becomes the longest stretch at 3.66m (though there is a footpath stretch that would reduce this by 1.45m) and a section to Tebay of 2.39m. Daily total road currently then works out at 11.67, whereas WW's is a mere 7.22 (7.37 if using Brownber, R/Stonedale Moor to Orton route) enroute to Shap.

Day4 (Kentmere to SBees) entails 7.26m (longest stretch being at Skelwith Bridge @ 1.94m followed by Cleator Moor @ 1.81m.
WW's road total section from Shap to finish works out at 6.67m (though this does include Sandwith up to quarry - not shown as metalled on O/S but is in fact all the way to Quarry Bungalows)

So, for what it's worth, total road sections:
Mine: 36.64
W/W's: 37.02

To be fair Alf chose quiet roads where possible, but something has to go to reduce the overall distance and my choice of Kiplin to Bolton Cross, Hard Stiles alt and Birkdale to Lune Valley can clearly be justified with the outcome of a swifter crossing. If anyone can come up with a better plan, I'd like to hear it,
cheers
lwm

Just had a quick road mileage check on my proposed direct line for the C2C and as I previously said, it is roughly the same as LWM's proposed route. I get mine at around 35 miles, so in fact AW's, Mine and Micks are so close, it's not worth arguing about.
Just shows that even working out a more direct line than AW's original route, you have to use 'some' road sections.
Dave.

Correction to my previous. I can't add up. My road mileage comes in at 40 miles not 35 as stated.
Dave.

I think some have the notion that staying to roads will make the whole thing shorter and somehow easier - but keeping to a direct line makes using entirely road even would be totally impracticle. It has to be a mixture of whatever gets in the way. I have to admit that my preferred choice does involve 2 'busier' sections - then again it depends on what time of day you'll be using a particular section anyway... (sorr, keep getting distracted here...)

...impractical as well

I do agree Mick. In fact the AW route probably makes use of the least amount of road that you could get away with, and as you say as straight a line as possible, means that extra road miles is inevitable. It's those long straight road miles that I particularly don't like, so personaly would try to avoid. That road from Orton to near Sunbiggin Tarn, I remember being particularly bored with on my last crossing, but for as near a direct line as possible on my route, I guess it will have to be done.
Dave.

Re the Orton road section - look at it this way Dave, Raisbeck/Grimesmoor at least is more E/W than the Mazon Wath choice which is much more N/S.
As for road -
via Mazon Wath: 1.84m (acc. for the shortcut at Lousy Brow); S/bigginFm/Acres adds .66m makes 2.5m (then a further .75 if missing Orton by Scarside)
Raisbeck alt: 2.25m (using FP from Bland Hse) then there's the additional half-mile Brownber to the moor Xing but this is wide and grassy easy walking beside the road making the Ravonstonedale Moor Xing a far better choice for F&L.
On my 1st Xing I found it most dispiriting to be heading NE after Smardale Bridge following that mad loop to get to the N of Bents Farm and the Mazon Wath Rd...
Sadly though there is no better alternative on my choice further south in the Lune Valley than the 2.36m into Tebay - though it won't be boring as every step would take me that bit nearer to a little respite in the form of The Old School Tea Rooms - mind you I should make a note that they be closed on Tuesdays...

What about those stepping stones, have they been replaced/rebuilt?
Dave.

dunno dave - one obstacle less - check out 2nd post on that thread. Might be a tad shorter by Old Tebay though...

...just to correct that previous post btw - should really read 'The Old School Guest House with tea room' - looks like light snacks only - soup and scone - service area prob more substantial..?

I only found out last week that the A685 thereabouts is built on the line of the former railway that went up Smardale...

I went Coast to coast in 48 minutes once upon a time ago.
Bugger cab those Tornados get a move on.
Tally Ho.
Biggles II
Flt Lt.

Difficult to dip a wing tip in the sea though, eh?

Managed that right at the end but bally well pranged the joshing whole kite.
Good job I can swim.........

Messy business, what? old chap