STW Peaks pootlers – 23rd jan peaks loop?

Because I'm a kind and generous sort of bloke, I went out and rode some of the stuff above Hope last night – no new snow, but lots of old, grey, melancholic stuff clogging up anything that's vaguely walled or sunken, so the Roman Road out of Hope is clear to Hope Cross and then a massive, unrideable drift. Most of the Jaggers Track above the ford is fubared as well, though there's something of a trail on the bank to the left. The bridleway up towards Hollins Cross from Mam Nick is comprehensively banked out from what I could see from the road – yes, I did…

Anyway, based on last night's ride, anything that's not open or low down is likely to be holding some hard-to-ride residual snow. I rode both the Roych and the Jacob's Ladder track early this year and both had a load of big drifts, I'm guessing that a fair bit of that will still be hanging about.

Anyway, it's all good fun. Might bump into you guys on the trail tomorrow.

jon

ps: no new snow last night, I drove back over the Snake and nothing falling there, wet this morning.

I really want to come on this ride (walk/ paddle/swim?) now… Not looking forward to the stag do tonight, s i will only know a couple of people there, and I cant even drink. I'd much rather be in the hills. Still, theres allways next time.

cheers for that jon – if that's the case with the roman road I'd think the stuff on the other side of rushup might be ok, especially with another day's worth of melting.
Expect it to be wet though everyone!

Waterproof trou on then! 9's good, cheers

mmmm I think im gonna do a loop round Ladybower tomorrow – Crookhill farm – Lockerbrook Farm – Suicide Brake – Jubilee Cottages – Flagstones – 2 barns – Derwent Edge – Whinestone le Tor – Cuthroat Bridge – finish at Ladybower Inn.

Should be ok cos its quite open & low down!

I was supposed to be riding with Jon last night but we missed each other.
As it happens I covered a different area: Broken Road, Rowter Farm, Dirtlow Rake. The Broken Road is clear, as is the Rowter Farm track as far as the farm, but after the farm (heading towards Dirtlow Rake) the track is completely covered with un-rideable, massive drifts.

I cannot imagine that you will get over Jacobs on bikes tomorrow and I reckon Rushup will be pretty bad too.

The Pennine Bridleway from Rushup Edge to South Head is unrideable other than in short sections. I "ran" it this morning. Most of it is several feet deep in very wet snow, with absolutely no chance of a significant melt before tomorrow. It was hard enough on foot without dragging a bike along too, so no point in including it in tomorrow's route.

I didn't look at Rushup Edge itself. I guess parts of that will be bad too, but may still be worth a look tomorrow.

Sambob's Dad

So a fundamental route change in the making then? Any suggestions?

just come down south, even the snow is civilized down here, it all melted a week or so back.

I'm still keen to do the route (dont they have walkers up there?). We can miss the first climb to Mam Tor and ride up the rode then along Rushops. I guess the benefit *might* be we can use the cheeky route along the top of Rushops edge?

Skyweather forecasts heavy rain there today. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Weather

just come down south, even the snow is civilized down here, it all melted a week or so back.

I remember it being a push/struggle on the North Downs last Sat!

lyons could be right, maybe South is the way to go.

But not too far South – just something a bit more White Peak than Dark Peak?

Yes Hora, I agree. I will be there with ourkidsam for what could be a push. Come prepared everyone.

ORIGINAL ROUTE BLOODY MINDEDLY GOING AHEAD!

I'm out. If I want to go for a walk, I'll go for a walk, I won;t take my bike

nbt I trust your opinion- do you think it'll be that bad?

ORIGINAL ROUTE BLOODY MINDEDLY GOING AHEAD!

Enjoy your walk 😉

this is now getting ridiculous!

If anyone else is happy to get a route posted of a similar length, in the vicinity of this one, and guide it, I'll happily come along.

I'm not massively in the know on the white peak stuff. All i have is one around Baslow Edge i could potentially lead on but it's not what i'd call a medium.

Hora – it's built and I think I like it & it's looking good ! Cheers. Only had one ride last sunday but it seems nice and feels different to the old Kona in the ways I'd hoped. Bit of a faff with the brakes is my only concern as I tries the new servo wave XT's lever on the old calipers but it doesn't seem to be as compatible as shimano & Madison advise. Can't ride Sat though.
Trying to save for Fox vanillas & lighter wheels 4 the summer !!

Trying to save for Fox vanillas & lighter wheels 4 the summer !!

Samehere with my full sus. I had to scoop gritted salt out from behind the cups and from in the bearings etc.

Yes- Is there another potential route that doesnt go along the tops. What about the original Cavedale route that we did last time? I remember only the top of Mam etc then was snowed up. The rest- include the traverse across to Hope Cross (as its open) should be fine?

should be – although this would suggest not

but after the farm (heading towards Dirtlow Rake) the track is completely covered with un-rideable, massive drifts.

If its only that bit?

Well I'm up for it full stop old chap.

Well I'm up for it full stop old chap.
It's looking like it might turn into an experimental, suck it and see type of ride tomorrow owing to whatever snow coverage we come across. I'm ok doing that, it all depends on other people I guess whether it remains a massive group ride

Change of plan for me, I'm off to ride DH in Wharncliffe instead. I'll aim to make the next one though

I've been put off by the talk of unrideable sections, I'm not too good on foot.

Enjoy the adventure, make sure you get pictures if it gets particularly ridiculous.

Any ideas what the majority of the Cavedale route would be like?

I'd say boggy with meltwater. It's not long to get there though from what sound like the clearer sections

What the hell, I'll still be there. Will check with big bro tonight but think he'll be up for it too. Got some new waterproof socks and stuff to try out so nows as gooda time as any.

I don't mind a bit of an adventure but if large sections of route are completely unrideable then it seems a bit daft to try them. I like riding in snow but if it's carrying my bike downhill through snowdrifts that's just not fun, especially with my bike. I don't have much waterproof gear for cycling either. I could go and get some trousers tonight and maybe some sealskins socks (are they any good?) but it'll make the ride very expensive!!!

😆 I'm still coming. Although i'll keep an eye on this thread for any major route chnages. Other than that we could always slightly change the route in the morning once everybody is here.

Sounds like a Cavedale/Ladybower type ride would mean more riding, although i'm not fussed.

Robdob – I have some Thermal Seal Skinz. I love them, and my feet are useless!

Hope I didn't put anyone off. I'd ride anyway – and I'm going to – sometimes it's the days that look less than promising that end up being glittery and special when you least expect it. And not always for the reasons you might think. Or something like that 😉

I will trust the judgement of those who have been up there in the last day or two and cry off myself. I'm all for adventure but I don't get out on my bike much these days so I want to be on it as much as possible (as opposed to beside it).

I've got a busy afternoon at work but I will try and think of a White Peak alternative and post details on here if I get chance. Ooh! Splinter group. I reckon most of the area around Chatsworth should be clear – if wet and muddy. Not "classic" like Kinder but I'd rather ride a lesser route than push on a better route.

I reserve the right to change my mind (again) 🙂

Seriously, if you want to go down Cavedale you'll be fine as far as Rowter Farm but you've got at least 500m of 'hike-a-bike' across very deep wet snow.

I avoided the worst of it last night by taking to the fields and running parallel to the track, crossing fences and walls with the aid of drifts. Fine if you're on your own and it's dark – not really feasible on a Saturday morning.

Just to be clear, the fields are mostly clear – but where the snow has drifted, e.g. along just about every bridleway – it is very deep and unpleasant.

mmmm I think im gonna do a loop round Ladybower tomorrow – Crookhill farm – Lockerbrook Farm – Suicide Brake – Jubilee Cottages – Flagstones – 2 barns – Derwent Edge – Whinestone le Tor – Cuthroat Bridge – finish at Ladybower Inn.
Should be ok cos its quite open & low down!

That sounds good. Cafe in the middle, pub at the end. What's not to like? 😀

SBrock – We are crashing you ride 😉

Seriously though guys, could be a good idea?

Hmmmmm. What is the Cavedale route like?

hmmm – we did that route partly last time…. I'm game….

All in favour…

I was out on Wednesday around New Mills and even there the drifts were pretty deep/high on the top sections. Looking over to Kinder it's still quite thick in snow.

nbt and I rode Jacobs in icy/snowy conditions a few years ago and it was a constant hike.

I've baked flapjack, so would still like to come, only if it's an adventure with enjoyment. Can only cope with a teeny amount of scariness.

OK OK – new plan if all in favour.

Meet, ladybower BIG layby, where the burger van parks.
Route, as above. Crookhill, Lockerbrook etc etc?

Is that ok all? Can I get 500 replies?

🙂

Maybe I should expand a bit on what I found this morning. Some bits of the Pennine Bridleway were clear including the steepish descent of Royche Clough and up the other side, but more than 50% of the distance from Rushup Edge to South Head was deep in heavy snow, so that rather than going through a number of the gates, you could just step over the top. Also there are a couple of smaller cloughs before you reach Royche Clough – at these, the snow had corniced and I guess was about 10ft deep. Yet the fields are pretty well clear. The snow has drifted into the track between the walls. It is possible to get along the track, but for more than 50% of the time, you'd be carrying or dragging your bike – no fun at all, particularly with a large group. I'll try to post a few photos I took with my phone if I can get my head round the technology.

My suggestion would be to do the proposed route as far as the Pennine Bridleway. There is plenty of snow at the gate onto the PB, so you could have a look from there. If it's very slow going over Lord's Seat, head back to Barber Booth via Chapel Gate, or by road via Mam Nick. If it's been reasonably easy over Lord's Seat, extend the route into Pin Dale or Cave Dale, or even both. I don't think it's worth going for a completely different area at this short notice.

Let's face it though, the conditions aren't good for a high level ride and some people may prefer to give it a miss.

As I (and of course Sambob) live about 20 minutes away from Edale, we'll come over anyway and if we finish up doing a shorter route, so be it.