Harter FellSun 25 Sept
Harter Fell Gallopen
Regional level event
What does this mean?
Local events are usually low key and in the 'localised' area, ideal for newcomers to try the sport and Training events are non competitive and used for training and coaching, aimed at members of the club, but they can attract people from neighbouring clubs, and are often ideal for newcomers to try the sport. Regional events attract participants from around the local Region, National events are high quality competitions that will attract people from far away, Major events are Major Events such as a British Championships.
Terrain type: Fell
Results
Report
Thank you all for joining us in the Duddon Valley on Harter Fell today. Despite the mist, clag and some rain, we hope you enjoyed the courses on a new area.
Thanks as always to Chris for planning, Nick for controlling, Gill for organising and all the LOC volunteer helpers on the day !
Controllers Comments:
Thank you to everyone who came to Harter Fell yesterday.
Chris and I had a day of glorious weather on the Saturday sorting/checking the controls. Mid-morning Sunday the weather looked like it might become really horrible, but thankfully it didn't, and I view the clag as improving your orienteering challenge.
I think it is fantastic LOC are using mountain areas more for events. But it does make planning a real challenge, particularly for the shorter courses. Short Green looks to have been about a third too long in particular. Our apologies for the monster walks on top of the event - again in order to use such areas we have to make some compromises.
We had one serious injury, and many thanks to Derek as First Aider, and Duddon MR team for getting her off the hill. We hope you get well soon.
A final comment that I was alerted to the accident as her children blew their whistles very promptly. Despite this being their first time orienteering - fantastic effort. This was contrasted with a few experienced orienteers who turned up at the start without whistles, and had to get whistle loans.
Nick Howlett
Location Info
/-3.18638,54.36976,12/500x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGF1bGZyb3N0IiwiYSI6ImNsMms1OW1tdDA5cGczZG84cnVhZWYyc24ifQ.7NrDLCXDgXlultOhgk7Elw)
Near: Seathwaite Lat,Lng: 54.36976,-3.18638 Postcode: LA20 6EG
The pins on the maps show the location of the parking, the start may be some distance away
Open an interactive map in: GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - AppleMaps - BingMap
Directions / Parking
Event will be signposted from Duddon Bridge GR SD 199 883 for competitors travelling from the South. Access via Wrynose or Hardknott Pass for those travelling from the North.
Due to ongoing forestry work & vegetation issues the planned parking on the forestry road has had to be scaled down. We have use of a field close to Hinning House GR SD 240 998 which we will now use for Assembly, Download & Toilets.There will be a £1 parking fee
However this will entail a longer walk for most competitors.
Assembly to White Start is 3km with 100m climb mainly on forestry road but also a short distance of brashings underfoot. Most of the climb is on the open fell close to the Start. Allow at least 45 minutes
Assembly to Red Start is 4km with 130m climb on forestry road & path.Allow up to 1 hour.
Finish to Assembly 2.5km downhill
Apologies for the increase in distance to the Start but unavoidable. Sorry!However ANYONE WANTING PRIORITY PARKING [FAMILIES, HELPERS, MORE MATURE MEMBERS!] THERE WILL BE SOME CAR SPACES AVAILABLE CLOSER TO THE STARTS & FINISH.PLEASE CONTACT THE ORGANISER FOR A PRIORITY PERMIT
There will be a clothing dump & cycle dump adjacent to First Aid on the forest road close to the White start route & the Finish.
Pre-event Details
Map / Terrain
Harter Fell is a wonderful area never previously used for orienteering, with a superb new lidar based map drawn by Martin Bagness in 2021. On a clear day, north and west there are views over Eskdale and Hard Knott Roman Fort to the Scafell Pike Massif, out to the coast at Ravenglass and Sellafield and across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man. Views to the south are down the beautiful Duddon Valley, over Stickle Pike and beyond to Furness Peninsula. East looks across to the Coniston Fells, Wrynose Pass and Seathwaite Tarn. Beware of becoming too engrossed with the spectacular views however; Harter Fell is physically tough under foot and technically demanding with a wealth of intricate contour and rock detail. The area is less intensively grazed than many of the neighbouring fells, resulting in an attractive and more bio-diverse environment. As a result Terrain underfoot is mixture of heather and grassland and can be slow in places. The grassland is tussocked in parts, elsewhere areas are with underlying rock require care. There are numerous large crags, dramatic rock features, large boulders and bare rock. Only the most significant rock detail is mapped. The shorter courses remain on the lower undulating ridge immediately south of Hard Knott pass, the Blue and Brown venturing onto the higher slopes of Harter Fell itself; the effort in getting there is well worth it. All course finish on faster going grazed lower slopes, with some areas of bracken which are easily avoided. Safety The area is high and exposed, (the summit of Harter Fell is 650m). This is particularly applicable to areas visited by Blue and Brown courses. In the event of poor weather competitors may be required to carry full waterproofs and carry a mobile phone. If extremely poor weather is forecast/experience the event may need to be postponed or cancelled. Full leg cover is compulsory. You must carry a whistle. Livestock area: please check for ticks after your run & wash hands before eating. Safety bearing: Head East to forest boundary & then head North. |
Course Information
Course details, (subject to final controlling)
Yellow to Green courses start from the white start, 3k and 100m ascent from assembly.
Brown and Blue courses start from the red start, 4km and 130m ascent from assembly.
Finish to Assembly 2.5km downhill
Yellow and Orange courses are entirely on the lower eastern slopes, and within an area enclosed by walls and fences.
| Course | Length | Climb | Start | Scale |
| Brown | 7.9 | 395 | Red | 1:7,500 |
| Blue | 5.6 | 290 | Red | 1:7,500 |
| Green | 3.5 | 165 | White | 1:7,500 |
| S Green | 3.0 | 140 | White | 1:7,500 |
| V S Green | 2.6 | 130 | White | 1:7,500 |
| L Green | 2.9 | 115 | White | 1:7,500 |
| Orange | 2.0 | 110 | White | 1:5000 |
| Yellow | 1.7 | 50 | White | 1:5000 |
Brown and Blue maps A3 on waterproof paper.
Green to Yellow maps A4 on waterproof paper.
Entry Details
Pre-entries via SI Entries here Pre entry closes on Wednesday 21st September at 23:59.
£9 M/W21+
£5 M/W20- and full-time students
EOD £10 M/W21+ £5 M/W20- & full time students
Helpers discounts & use of LOC vouchers please contact Organiser for code
Registration and Start times
Registration for EOD 10-12.00noon Start times [pre registration blocks] 10.30-12.30pm |
Facilities
A toilet in the assembly field & also one on the forest track close to the starts.
Dog restrictions
Dogs in Assembly [under control]
Contacts / Officials
Planner: Chris Heppenstall
Controller: Nick Howlett
Organiser: Gill Browne gillbrowne55@googlemail.com
Nearest A&E Hospital
Barrow A&E, Lancaster A&E, Kendal Small Injuries
NHS Urgent care search