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Jan 2018
10:36am, 19 Jan 2018
24,622 posts
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Derby Tup
Oh, and there are no grey areas with kit checks. If there are, then the list needs reviewing immediately by experienced outdoor people, including MRT
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Jan 2018
10:45am, 19 Jan 2018
4,602 posts
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Northern Exile
DT - I think the problem with kit checks (as Gromit alluded to earlier) is that not all elements of a given person's equipment set are examined, just three a la UTMB. That saves a lot of time for the team checking the kit, but does give rise to situations where a bit of equipment might have flown under the radar at kit check but be deemed unacceptable at a later CP or impromptu kit check. Not that I'm disagreeing with you, you're totally right - in an event like this there should be a baseline of what is acceptable or not and no deviations. I would hope that all the people examing kit know what they're about, but I know from personal experience (in other races) that this isn't always the case.
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Jan 2018
10:53am, 19 Jan 2018
4,603 posts
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Northern Exile
Tell you what, Kevin Stephens (236) is doing well, he's made up quite a lot of ground in the past few hours.
I'm thinking that the conditions will really be against Carol, she doesn't have the body mass or height to plough through the deeper drifts. I'm hoping that guys in front have left a decent channel for her!
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Jan 2018
11:01am, 19 Jan 2018
17,401 posts
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flanker
FF - I wasn't casting doubt on Carol carrying less than the mandatory kit, just surprised in what were snowy conditions (even given the very valid point you make about media shots :-)) that she had bare hands and eyes. Probably something to do with me wearing gloves 9 months of the year!
NE - fully agree. All kit should be checked, for everyone and irrespective of ability, not a selection of it. While there *might* be some case for that approach in summer ultras on less extreme ground, I can't see how they can even entertain the idea for this one, when it could literally be a life and death issue.
Unfortunately though not all kit checkers have the necessary experience. I tend to use a Paramo Velez in winter conditions, and I've had a near-argument with one kit checker that I can't use it as it doesn't have taped seems, while runners with the most minimal montane jackets were passed without question. I had to get one of the MRT guys, who was also doing checking, to intervene. It was quite amusing when he said it was fine and it was what his team used in harsh conditions
K runs in hers all year round (she has less insulation than me :-)) and she has had kit checkers trying to get through the lining to look for seam tape 
In a whiteout on a high fell I know which jacket I'd rather be wearing...
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Jan 2018
11:15am, 19 Jan 2018
910 posts
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flyingfinn
DT I think one of the issues with events like this is that they don't operate under any NGB rules/oversight (e.g FRA) and they know they will sell out for the foreseeable future. So unless something goes tragically wrong they can create obfuscation, ignore it and move on. A few people will avoid the event as a result but they don't really care greatly there are plenty more desperate to part with the entry fee.
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Jan 2018
11:22am, 19 Jan 2018
24,623 posts
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Derby Tup
tbh I have been shocked by its increasing popularity. L50 and L100 are no-brainers, but I would not waste a week or two’s holiday doing the PW if someone paid me
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Jan 2018
11:23am, 19 Jan 2018
911 posts
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flyingfinn
Interestingly Flanker in the run up to the Spine there was a competitor/organiser spat about Paramo. The end position was that using Paramo is fine but you still need a taped seams layer in your bag as well. Paramo on it's own wasn't deemed acceptable.
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Jan 2018
11:43am, 19 Jan 2018
4,604 posts
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Northern Exile
Which is just ridiculous isn't it? I saw that Carol is wearing her Paramo jacket but is also carrying her OMM Kamleika.
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Jan 2018
12:19pm, 19 Jan 2018
17,402 posts
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flanker
Ridiculous, and given the organisers generally have (or at least used to have, I'm assuming it's the same gang) pretty good outdoors experience. I've had to carry both once before, which was problematic as my pack didn't have the space. The velez is great when you're wearing it, but it doesn't exactly pack small and light when you're not!
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Jan 2018
12:29pm, 19 Jan 2018
4,605 posts
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Northern Exile
Right, what time is Carol going to get to KY then? I'm going for 1645. Anyone else? Closest to the time gets brownie points and a bottle of Hobgoblin from me
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