Hike, Run, Climb or Bike!

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INFORMATION PACK

This event will be held on Saturday 26th September 2009 to raise money for Edale Mountain Rescue Team.  It is over some rough moorland and along gritstone edges, and some navigational ability is required.  The route is on the OS Dark and White Peak Maps. 

You choose whether you walk, run, climb or bike the route.  Hikers, runners & climbers all follow the same route, but climbers also climb a route of their choice on each of the 9 gritstone edges.  Bikers take a slightly different route (as they obviously can’t go on footpaths!).  It is a 20 mile off road event with about 900 metres of height gain for walkers, runners and climbers, and about 38 miles roughly 50% off-road for mountain bikers with 1600 metres of ascent (and descent!). 

The event starts at Fairholmes Car Parks, grid reference SK173894.  It is a traverse from Fairholmes, over nine gritstone edges (namely, Derwent Edge, Stanage, Burbage North, Burbage South, Froggatt, Curbar, Baslow Edge, Gardoms and Birchens), to the Robin Hood pub near Baslow.  Transport is provided back to the start.

Route: Hike, Run, Climb

There will be marshals at various compulsory checkpoints along the route detailed below:

* Please use the bridleway from Curbar Gap to Clod Hal crossroads (via Wellington Monument [grid ref: 265 737]).  Do not hike/run down the road.

The route is not marked and the choice of route between the checkpoints is down to individual choice.  Please use marked public footpaths and bridleways and comply with the country code at all times.  All hikers and runners must walk or run directly above or below each of the 9 Edges.  Large detours are not permitted.  Additionally climbers must climb one route of their choice on each of the nine Edges, at their own risk.  If more than one route on any of the Edges is climbed, climbers may be disqualified due to time constraints.

Route: Mountain Bike

There will be marshals at various compulsory checkpoints along the route, detailed below:

 * Please see the additional route description given below.

The route is not marked and the choice of route between the checkpoints is down to individual choice.  Please comply with the country code at all times and do not use footpaths.  There is an element of honesty with the mountain biking route as if you’re tired you can take a more direct (i.e. shorter and quicker) road route.  However, if you want to do the ‘proper’ Nine Edges mountain bike route here it is:

The route starts at Fairholmes carpark, by the bike hire shop.

It then goes clockwise round the reservoir (oh yes, all the way round – think of it as a nice warm up before the hills start); past slippery stones at the end of the reservoir (please dismount for the bridge and following the cycle route signs round to the, counter-intuitive, left) [grid ref: 169 951].  Then you continue round the reservoir and get to the first checkpoint on the east side of the gate by Jubilee cottage.

After getting your first clip, continue down the east side of the reservoir, taking the bridleway up left [grid ref: 187 884] up to Whinstone Lee Tor [grid ref: 197 874].  You deserve a medal if you can ride all of this!!!  Then there is an EXCELLENT downhill to the next checkpoint at Moscar.  Note, your Moscar checkpoint is in a slightly different place to the hikers/runners, to save you having to go up to their checkpoint and back again, but does mean you miss out on the refreshments.

Now zip down the A57 (watch those cars!), over the bridge at Ladybower, and take the left turn up to Stanage before you get to Bamford [grid ref: 201 849] (unless you want to add unnecessary miles!).  This takes you to the bridleway up Stanage Edge [grid ref: 227 843] - goooo on, you know you can ride it all.  At the top will be another checkpoint for you to clip before carrying on up to Stanage Pole [grid ref: 246 844].

Enjoy the view briefly at Stanage Pole then you have another excellent descent down ot Redmires Reservoir.  Zoom round the reservoir and follow the road round until you get to the bridleway taking you over Houndkirk Moor [grid ref: 290 835].  Fight past all the off-roaders to get up (& down!) this great bit of track, bringing you out at A6187.

Turn left along the A6187 to the bridleway across Totley Moor [grid ref: 277 806].  Descend this to where the track forks, and go right [grid re: 290 797], then slug up to the top [grid ref: 284 789] and down to the road [grid ref: 277 782].  Follow the track to Barbrook reservoir [grid ref: 278 773] and along to the A621 [grid ref: 281 751].  Follow the main road to the Clod Hal Crossroads checkpoint.  From here, you decide which is the best way to get to the finish desk.  See you there!

Registration process

Please register at the registration desk before starting the event (we will be near the bike hire shop).  Registration will be open from 7.25am until 10am.  We will need your car registration number (if leaving a car at the car park).  You will be issued with your participant number, which you need to display prominently.

Entries will be accepted on the day as long as there are spaces available although past experience suggests the event will be full several days before the event (so please email or phone the organisers to find out).  Numbers are strictly limited by the Peak District National Park, so we unfortunately have to turn people away if we are full. There is no t-shirt for late (after 10th Sept) / on-the-day entrants.

Start times

Walkers and climbers are free to start at any time between 7.30am and 9.00am.

Bikers are free to start at any time between 9.00am and 10.00am. 

Runners have a mass start at 10am. 

Finish desk

The route finishes at the Robin Hood pub, near Baslow.  Please ensure you come to the finish desk as soon as you arrive.  This will ensure you get an accurate time and also enable us to keep track of who is still participating.

 ***If you retire from the event, you MUST inform an event official/marshal***

In case of an emergency

We will give you a contact number (at the start desk) that you can phone on the day if you have an accident and require assistance.

Fee

The entry fee of £20 applies to all entrants and is non refundable.  For this you will receive a free Nine Edges Endurance t-shirt and refreshments on the day, including a free pint (or soft drink) at the Robin Hood pub at the finish.  Plus free transport back to the start. 

Sponsorship

The raising of sponsorship to participate is optional.  We would be grateful if you were to raise some sponsorship as all proceeds go to Edale Mountain Rescue Team.  There is a prize for the person who raises the most sponsorship, plus everyone who raises more than £500 in sponsorship will receive one day of outdoor instruction (hiking, climbing, abseiling, navigation techniques – your choice!) in the Peak District from a qualified instructor for free.

Kit requirements

Participants must each carry the following equipment as a minimum.  Random kit checks may take place and if you do not have the correct equipment you may be disqualified.  Please check at the registration desk on the day, as a “slimmed” down version of the kit may be appropriate depending on the weather forecast.

• Waterproof jacket & leg cover

• Hat & gloves

• Map and compass suitable for navigating the course

• Whistle

• Polythene survival bag (not a blanket) or bespoke emergency shelter

• Sufficient food and fluids for the duration of the event

Facilities

Refreshments and toilets will be available at the following resting points for hikers, climbers, and runners (except where indicated):

• The start - Fairholmes car park, SK173894 (no refreshments)

• Rest stop 1 – Moscar / A57, SK225877 (no toilets)

• Rest stop 2 - Froggatt (Haywood car park), SK254776 (no toilets)

• Finish - The Robin Hood, SK280721

Details of refreshment stops for mountain bikers will be available nearer the time.

There will be race marshals at key points along the route.  If you have any problems please contact one of them.  Also you must comply with any requests they make of you.  Also, Edale Mountain Rescue Team will be attending the event (obviously!) and will be available on call, as they are for all members of the public, 24/7.

Carparking at Fairholmes is restricted so you may prefer to arrange to car share or get a lift to the start. 

Transport

This event is obviously a traverse from Fairholmes to the Robin Hood.  As such, we provide free transport back to the start.  These buses run at regular intervals from about 1pm until about 6.30pm.  Whilst we won’t leave you stranded, we would appreciate that if you think you will be slow that you start as early as possible.  Please let us know on the entry form if you will require a lift back to Fairholmes to collect your car at the end of the event, so that we can ensure enough bus spaces are available. 

Bikers will be able to leave their bikes at the finish whilst the bus takes them back to the start to collect their car.  Someone will be with the bikes at all times, but it is recommended that you bring a bike lock.

Runners/Bikers  – if you want us to take a change of clothes to the finish line for you, please just ask as the registration desk (small bags only please…. no kitchen sinks!); but please remember to ask for your bag back at the finish! 

Hikers/Climbers – we’re assuming you will carry everything you need.

Results and prize giving

This event is intended as a personal test of endurance, particularly for walkers, climbers and bikers.  However the event is also a fell race and so prize winners (runners only) will be announced at the Robin Hood pub that afternoon.   A copy of the full results will be emailed to all participants, or can be downloaded from the Nine Edges website (http://www.nineedges.co.uk), shortly after the event.

There is also a prize for the person who raises the most sponsorship, plus everyone who raises more than £500 in sponsorship will receive one day of outdoor instruction (hiking, climbing, abseiling, navigation techniques – your choice!) in the Peak District from a qualified instructor for free.

Edale Mountain Rescue Team

Mountain Rescue in the UK is an entirely voluntary organisation.  Edale Mountain Rescue Team are a particularly busy team, averaging 100 call outs per year to a wide variety of incidents.  For further details please see:

http://www.edalemountainrescue.co.uk

The number of participants is limited, so please get your entry forms in as soon as possible. 

Entries are now open!!!

Note for website:  In response to participant feedback, we have made some changes this year.  The first refreshment checkpoint is at Moscar (not Burbage north); we’ve removed the bike ‘faff’ at Moscar and Burbage south (if you did the mountain biking in 2008 you’ll know what I mean!);  Birchen’s Edge checkpoint is removed (so how you get from Clod Hal crossroads to the finish is up to you).