News
Wasdale Parking Arrangements
The Club has been contacted by the National Trust, which owns and operates the car park at Brackenclose. Many Bob Graham Round support parties make use of this facility.
The NT have been experiencing a number of problems at Brackenclose, some of which have been laid at the door of BG round support groups.
For those groups who do chose to use the Brackenclose car park, please remember that you MUST pay for the time you park there in accordance with NT tariffs; BG support teams are not somehow exempt, unless vehicles belong to NT members or life members and the member has their proof of membership (car sticker/membership card) to hand. The current tariff as at November 2008 is £3.00 for 2 hours, £4.00 for 4 hours and £5.00 for all day parking.
Please also adhere to all other NT rules that govern the operation of the car park whilst you park there.
Please remember that Brackenclose is a car park, not a camp-site. Please do not pitch tents or other forms of temporary shelter in the car park. This disrupts the normal operation of the car park and the activities of those people who wish to use, and are legitimately using, the NT facility. The NT owns and operates the campsite adjacent to the car park. If your plans include sleeping overnight, please use the campsite on a normal basis, adhere to any campsite regulations and respect the other campsite users.
Please also ensure that you always respect other users of the car park and any NT staff with whom you come into contact. Please also co-operate with NT staff. If BG support parties are asked by NT staff to behave in a way that is consistent with NT rules and regulations, please do as they ask; don't argue with them or subject them to any form of rudeness.
Thanks for your co-operation with these issues.
72 miles or not?
The Bob Graham route over the basic 42 Peaks was at times in the past regarded as over 100 miles long. The early pioneers settled on a figure of 72 miles with 27,000 feet of ascent. The use of mapping software and GPS devices has led to a re-evaluation of the distance of the 42 Peak Round. Mapping software gives figures as low as 61-63 miles. GPS systems (which have been carried and operated throughout several successful attempts) give a figure of between 65-66 miles. The traditional ascent figure seems to be more accurate, though some calculations have produced a figure of 26,000 feet. The distance continues to stimulate debate depending on how it is measured, but a figure of something between 60 and 66 miles is more accurate than the traditional 72.
Whatever the correct mileage figure, when coupled with 42 peaks and all that ascent and descent, it is still a long way!
The North Face© Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc©
The Bob Graham Round is one of a number of "qualifying races" for the 2009 UTMB©. The Club has been in contact with the UTMB© organisers and has supplied relevant information about the Round to them. The organisers have supplied the Club with its "Qualifying race Ultra-Trail"© logo and when you click on this it will take you directly to their website at www.ultratrailmb.com. The BG has been awarded 4 qualifying points.
In the past, potential entrants into the UTMB© have emailed PDF copies of their certificates to the race organisers, who have not accepted the certificate as evidence of BG completion. The Club's own membership list is kept as up to date as is sensibly possible, bearing in mind the timing of attempts and the ratification procedure. It is though possible that someone who completes a successful Round will not be shown as a member on the membership list.
In those circumstances, members should contact the Secretary by email (see the Contacts page), who will endeavour to assist further (having liaised with the Membership Secretary) by contacting the UTMB© organisers to confirm that the relevant person has completed the Round. The Secretary has a direct email line to the UTMB© Race Director Michel Pelotti and the organising team.