Saddleworth Discovery Walks: Racing across the moors

Chris Maylor, who runs a Saddleworth Discovery Walks blog and Facebook page, braved the elements to take on the New Chew Fell Race.

For more information about local walks, email Chris at saddleworthdiscoverywalks@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page or website.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 dawned bright and offered no promise of snow – as the weatherman had predicted.

Today I would be running in the New Chew fell race, which is a five hour navigation event across the moors organised by Saddleworth Runners Club.

At 9:45am my team mate Des and I were ushered out the door. The clock was now ticking, and we soon reached our first checkpoint, upon the flanks of Alphin Pike.

As we headed for the second checkpoint, heavy clouds were dumping their frozen cargo upon the bleak moorland landscape. The wind had really picked up and the snow was being blown horizontally into our faces.

Finding a good line we made a quick descent of Wilderness Gully where, in 1963, two climbers were killed in an avalanche. Bagging a few more points, we returned to the high moors.

There, we were exposed to the full force of the wind for over an hour before we found shelter in the lee of a hillside. After bagging some more points we dropped down into Birchen Clough, where we swapped cold hands for frozen feet as we crossed the sub-zero waters of a stream.

Ascending from the shelter of the clough, we immerged into gale force winds and struck out north to find more checkpoints.

With time running out, we dropped 200 metres into the valley where, with our feet almost frozen solid, we hobble along to pick up our final points of the day.

However, one more freezing cold stream stood in our way. Without a word, I jumped into the waist-deep frigid waters and called back to Des, “come on in, the waters lovely!”

Clambering out onto the far bank, we scurried through the woods, hit the road and ran the final few hundred metres to cross the finish line with a minute to spare. Perfect timing!

Chris Maylor delivers several navigation training courses throughout the year. If you are interested in attending one of his courses, email info@saddleworthdiscoverywalks.co.uk for further information.