TWIN LAKE CHALLENGE - DAVID HACKWELL ET AL

TWIN LAKE CHALLENGE - DAVID HACKWELL ET AL

One evening last autumn, I got thinking what I could do as a challenge in my 40th year! I had

started open water swimming in 2010 and, as I'm sure you know, its addictive. Where the idea came from, who knows but it went like this- "To swim the two highest lakes in England and Wales in 12hours"..... This initially seemed a relatively easy thing to do, drive to Wales, have a swim, drive to England and have a swim. A few days later and a bit of googling, the two lakes in question are Llyn Llyffant and Malham Tarn. approximatley 150 miles between the lakes. No problem. That was the thought until I got the Ordnance map out...!

The nearest parking for Llyn Llyffant was 7.5Km away with and accent of 450m So the challenge was set.

I invited anyone who I thought mad enough through a Facebook Event page and surprise surprise there were a few takers.

So the day was set, meet at the carpark in Wales for 9.00 a quick stroll, swim, stroll then over to Malhan (Yorkshire) for 5.30 a quick stroll (this was only about 500m) then a swim across the tarn and back. Challenge complete.

The day arrived, and 8 of us (6 swimmers, Me, Alan, Jo, Paul, Pete and Ray 2 dry people Adam and Derek) plus two dogs set of up Snodonia national park.

The weather started a little windy (!) but clear until we were a mile or so into the walk.

The clouds started to come down, the tops of the mountains appeared then disappeared. The wind now was gusting where you needed to stop walking to ensure you weren't blown off your feet! the walk was an easy stroll right upto about 2K away from the lake then the climb started and the path disappeared. Under foot was a constant mossy bog but luckily the wind was blowing us up. A few stops and a few "next ridge and we'll be there", Llyn Llyffant came into view. Not the most awe- inspiring lake, more like an overgrown puddle, but a lake it is.

Now the winds howling and cold, so shelter is found (well we hid behind a few rocks) to get

changed into our swimming attire. In we go, F##K! its freezing, I swam across the lake then back, no longer than a couple of minutes and that was enough to loose the feeling in my feet fpr the next 2 hours. As the last are swimming back the clouds came down and we couldn't see the other side which was only 50m away. Getting dressed in a gale and in pouring rain is no fun.

The trip back down the mountain was, to say the least, a wet one! the rain came down constantly and horizontally all the way back to the car. Back at the car it was time for another change as we were all now as wet as we were when swimming.

An uneventful drive the 150 miles to yorkshire, where we met up with 7 more OSS's (Nez, Sam, Jessica, Neil, Victoria, Jenny and Joy) who were joining us for a swim in Malham Tarn. The weather cleared up and we all got changed again! and then marched of across the fields to the tarn, a spectical to be seen, 12 neoprene clad nutters walking through a field of cows!

In to the tarn and to the 6 of us who had just done Llyn Llyffant is was like a warm bath!

A great swim in a lovely lake. crystal clear waters, a bit of a chop and in all we swam around

1.5Km. A quick change then to the local public house for a well deserved drink.

Aky.

Hmm Saw this email about swimming 2 lakes in a day from some bloke on face book.. Although I new Ii wouldn't do both i thought the Welsh lake sounded good.. so I signed up & then forgot all about it... a few weeks later a reminder email requesting my presence at some remote car park in theSnodownia National Park reminded me that I had signed up.. at this point i thought how do i get out of this.. Self Harming.. some limp excuse... i tried both but in the end fate made me go.. So Saturday morning 7am I awoke, packed my bag, grabbed the sat nav & off i set.. Still in a sleepy state on the motorway a convoy overtook me filled with face i half recognized from the last swim I had signed up to.. 2 hours later after driving up several mountain paths & through numerous farm gates we arrived at a car park that looked more like a set from star wars and as baron as Tatooine.

Oh well, at least there were a few of us. So after re introducing our selves and a couple of photos to mark the event.. off we set.. just a 7km walk to Llyn Llyffant.. the Narvana of Welsh swimming.. So off we set.. It was a little over cast & a bit windy but i thought the sun would soon break out and shine on us.. (as it does on the richious..)

Several minutes in I realised this was no easy mission & back pack full of chicken sandwiches & flask of coffee may be required (note to self.. don't eat all at once).. also i looked at my clothing & hoped it would be sufficient if we wandered off course.. any upwards on onwards. I had my new sat nav.. what could go wrong.. an hour in and i realised we as a group) only had a rough idea of where the lake lay & I would be relying upon my sat nav to guide me in.. any way.. how could you not find a lake? A couple of hours in now & the group had split.. pathfinders to the front & the rest chatting & and following.. I was near the front & thinking I was close split to go round a rather large rock.. wh'en i came out the other side my fellow front man was wet from the waist down... he had slipped into a bog.. phew i thought.. glad that wasn't me... minutes later we discovered a small puddle.. hope that's not it.. so we kept looking.. suddenly. the mist came in .. visibility down to 5 meters.. when it cleared we had found Llyn Llyffant. haragh. some what of a anti climax may I add. Thinking I should go back & let the others know i turned about and set off. Suddenly i was neck deep in a bog.. panicking i managed to get out but I was soaked from head to tow.. even my Iphone took a soaking.. However, I managed to get out and save myself and warn the others.. 10 minutes later we were all at the LLyn.. to say it was small- uninviting & cold are some what of an understatement.. although Aky the organiser seemed over joyed.. (he had tried 3 times previously to find this jewel in the welsh mountains.) Before we knew it the rain had started..never mind.. we are going swimming. without a word people were stripping & changing into wet suits.. Within minutes Wales had what seemed like a new found Seal Colony..and everyone was heading to the water.. instead of the usual Seal noises all one could hear was F**k its cold & Jesus Christ.

I though all this way & we are about to witness a rebellion.. However.. the True Grit of the team shone through & one by one we held our nerve & got in to swim.. well errm crawl as the water only proved to be around a foot or so deep.. within minutes though we were all in and all out as it was possibly the coldest water on Planet Earth. So out we got.. and now in the pouring, wind driven horizontal rain we tried to dry down, change back into out clothes. Mine.. were just as wet as my wet suit after almost drowning in the Bog.. So a quick cup of coffee & a sandwich and we set off back.. Jubilant that we had managed to swim.. The journey back was almost as hard as the journey up.. The wind, rain and absolute misery of coming down the mountain in those conditions was horrendous. I am sure if it wasn't for the fortitude & the fact we were all volunteers you would have seen grown men cry & send up the distress flares to see if Air - Sea rescue could send young Prince William to save us. After another 2 hours we made the track to the cars.. warmth once again filled our hearts that this epic journey was about to end. (well for me it was) the rest would have to pack up & drive to the next lake. For me.. it was 2 hours in my car.. sat in wet clothing on a wet drivers seat before I was home..

All in all a great day out. Thanks to Mr "Aky" for arranging & thanks to all who took part for the company & an experience that no other will ever have.. A true Wild Swimming Expedition"

Alan.

When you circulated immediately is was a yes! Two swims in one day would always be a yes.

Tunnel vision then kicked in and I did not read the small print i.e. 15K walk up and down the side of a mountain. A phenomenal challenge hiking to the first piece of water and a fusion of feelings from anti climax to utter exhilaration. The lake was small than expected, visually it looked fantastic. The weather was as wild as a Heathcliff scene from Wuthering Heights, we were all soaked and wind swept and the climb was steep, I remember repeatedly saying 'are we there yet' like I had regressed to being 5 yrs old..it was tough and exhausting but exhilarating.

The swim was quick as it was very cold/windy and clouds were coming down which brought

torrential rain with them. I was first to have wetsuit on and stood in the water, it was frozen must have been c6c, given the air temp I was a bit panicky that I may get hypothermia when getting out..it took some time and cajoling to get me in and swim..I did and pleased that I did.

The journey back was quick and the food was eaten fast too as I tried to get warm and somehow

dry. I forgot that I put my jeans/cords in a plastic bag..when I came to wash them some days later they were soaking still..I could still squeeze water out of them! The journey to next swim required sleep..which was achieved..thank you Aky for driving.
Malham tarn again was phenomenal. We arrived being the only car in the car park..before long there were maybe 8 cars? 12 people swam the 2K swim in c12c fantastic...high fives all round and then off for a well earned two glasses of red wine

Fantastic...what an achievement and the only woman..yes yes

Jo.

Firstly, although I enjoy the beach and water - I’m a terrible swimmer.

I was first introduced to open water swimming during a training course many months ago. Although I like swimming, I get bored very easily in our local swimming pool finding it repetitive and sore on the eyes. My friend told me about a ‘meet’ at Hatchmere one evening, and the date was set....

After managing to swim to the other side of the mere, I soon heard myself gargling the immortal words... ‘ah’. It transpires that there is actually no where to get out on the otherside, and I had to tread water for a few minutes and then swim back... quite different from the 20m lengths that your body accustoms to in the local pool! I don’t believe Hatchmere is the cleanest of mere’s – but what an amazing and refreshing change from the chlorine and veruca ridden swimming pools!

After several more swims in Hatchmere and Pickmere, the local ring leader ‘Dave Aky’, a fearsome fellow ;-) suggested a ‘twin lake’ challenge, which came across as a most appealing adventure,  especially as I don’t get chance to do much swimming.

The walking element was about 7km to the highest lake in Wales, albeit the blustery weather

conditions made it a challenge! The clouds soon came in the and weather changed... as we walked higher, the temperature drops were, rather rapid. At the same time, the scenery was amazing and the air ‘fresh’. Unknown to me the bright green lush grass in some parts turned out to be a ‘bog’, and I soon found myself in slush to my waist, not evening have time to take in what happened... (note to self - if I repeat this type of adventure, don’t stray alone)!

The tallest lake in Wales wasn’t a lake that day.... quite small, but never the less inviting purely

because of the challenge. Teeth chattering, I quickly put my shorty wetsuit, took a breath and

entered the water (note to self – get around to buying a full wet suit). A short swim across the water, and we were out. Changed – hot coffee, and walking back down to the cars. The walk down seemed further this time walking down having to steady ourselves, coupled with hurricane type wind and rain.

Thankfully I didn’t have to drive to Malhan Tarn.

Back into my ‘shorty’ wetsuit and straight in the water.... ice cold. I headed off across the lake, and was soon overtaken by everyone else. Not being the greatest swimmer, I can only manage short spurts of front crawl and having to rely on breast stroke. However, my swimming is improving largely down to the open water swimming. As I swam alone I notice that the large manor type house on the hill adjacent to the lake didn’t seem to move... hmmm... not a good sign that I was making progress!

Just as the other side started to come into distance I started to spy a ‘way out’, and planned to walk back being, well, exhausted. However, as I reached the other side – everyone else started swimming back... ahh. As I treaded water for a short time, one of the tribe (props to Ray ‘the Dolphin’) offered to swim back with me.. How could I refuse? It felt like I had my own Dolphin at hand, encouraging me to swim and keeping an eye on me too.

My hands were grey and orange with the cold (or was that my vision?)... not appealing to everyone, but I never really noticed or cared for it, as I was enjoying myself so much. Despite the obvious exhaustion, I felt exhilarated with the achievement.

In short, fantastic time with fantastic company. Damn good exercise in the open, and a great way to enjoy swimming.

Paul.

It seemed like a good idea at the time, sat cosy and warm in front of a laptop, when I agreed to join

David “Aky” and bunch of like-minded outdoor swimmers for his “Twin Lake Challenge”: an

attempt to swim in the highest lakes in Wales and England (Llyn Llyffant and Malham Tarn,

respectively). Two months later though, with eight of us gathered one May morning in a remote carpark in Snowdonia – the starting point for the first leg, the 7km trek up to Llyn Llyffant – buffeted by a persistent chilly wind, and with ominously dark clouds lurking nearby, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one feeling a little uncertain. This was definitely going to be an adventure!

The ascent to Llyn Llyffant was challenging, through a landscape of a spectacular and desolate beauty featuring huge walls, abandoned slate works, hidden bog puddles, and fragments of a WWII plane wreck. With increasingly grim determination we finally reached our objective a few hours later, and were rewarded with a striking sight –

a small lake with clear cold water rippled by the wind, and surrounded by rocks surreally peppered with more wreckage (including an engine and a wheel). We quickly changed into our wetsuits and with some trepidation (as least for me!) made our way into the icy water: the bottom of the lake seemed to consist of thick boggy mud over uneven rocks, and I felt my exposed hands and feet turn to blocks of ice almost immediately as I managed to breaststroke a width of the lake. Other hardier souls were able to stay in longer, but it was enough for me to say that I’d swum in the highest lake in Wales – made even more special by its remoteness and all the effort taken to get there.

There wasn’t much time to savour our achievement however – almost as soon as we got out of the

water the rain started, and the hike back was a gloriously miserable affair as we got wetter and

wetter (more than when we were in the lake, even). No time to dwell on it though once we reached the carpark again – we still had another lake to get to! So began the long dash cross-country to Yorkshire, picking up more outdoor swimmers along the way before we arrived at the second lake: Malham Tarn.

Malham was a real contrast to Llyn Llyffant – a much bigger body of water, but more easily

accessible just a short walk across a field from a carpark – and perhaps seemed a little ordinary after the adventure we’d had earlier in Wales. Still there was good swimming to be had here – the water again cold but beautifully clear, with the rocky lake bottom visible beneath and trees lining the more distant lakesides; and while the sky was overcast the rain held off long enough for our pod of 15 or so swimmers to get a good long swim.

My favourite memories include chasing after a crowd of bobbing coloured swim hats (I’m not a fast swimmer); continually mistaking two pillars at the lakeside on the way back for two non-swimmers who’d come along with us; and leaving the water at the end through what felt like hundreds of “British Gas Great Swim” flip-flops, temporary abandoned by people when they’d first got in.

And then that was it – shivering as I ran back to the parked car, struggling into my warm dry

clothes, and feeling the satisfaction of completing the challenge. Gathering in a pub nearby we were finally able to relax and reflect on our achievement. It might look like madness from the outside, but for me it’s during experiences like this that life seems to be at its most colourful. Thanks to Hacky and everyone else who made it such a fantastic day in so many ways: I know that the vivid memories of the Twin Lake Challenge – and Llyn Llyffant in particular – will stay with me for a life-time.

Pete.

When Dave mentioned the idea of a twin lake challenge I thought sounds like fun and a good

challenge. So accepted thinking it will be a pleasant day out on a balmy warm spring May day.

When the day arrived it was a cool overcast windy morning, we then set off for out first challenge into the Snowdonia national park, as we started our ascent the wind began to gain momentum accross boggy typical snowonia terrain, the mist and clouds came down and the rain started and temperature dropped. Due to the weather conditions the ascent seemed more like 20k that 7.5k. We finally arrived at Llynn Lyffant which I must say was small and uninviting with the exception of the wreck of a crashed aeroplane my son Adam found fascinating,first in the water was pippa the dog who was glad to escape from the lead! The rain began to increase and wind really blow, time for our first swim! to say it was cold and miserable is an understatement, however did not curb our enthusiasm and we duly completed the first part of the challenge into the water circa 5 degrees,  shallow, boggy therefore quick swim across then out and dressed as quickly as possible.

By this time the wind and rain were blowing sideways. Had a quick cuppa and soggy sandwich and back down the mountain in gale force and stormy conditions. There is something eerily beautiful about Snowdonia in such conditions, makes one feel small and insignificant amongst the regal yet foreboding mountains. After a slog down the mountain we finally arrived back to the warm and dry car.. After a quick change of clothes we were off up to Malham Tarn amongst the glaciated valleys and limestone pavements of North Yorkshire. Early evening by the time we arrived therefore very few people around however a herd of cows looked on disdainfully and confused at these beings dressed in rubber walking across their field. We then had a lovely swim across the tarn and back circa 2k. The tarn was positively balmy by comparison the llyn llyfant and lovely lake to swim with stunning views from the lake in all directions. Our challenge complete we were all tired but elated so decided to finish off the evening for a pint/glass in Malham and shared our experiences of the day. The challenge complete to round off the day stopped at a traditional chip shop near clitheroe for a traditional fish and chippy supper complete with mushy peas! A memorable day, great company and unique challenge.

Ray.

All in all a great day, our pioneering, epic, never done before, stupid challenge was completed.

The last word.....is always mine, a while i begged, pleaded, demanded.....well you get the picture for people to add to the growing list of blogs so that people the world round can see the amazing place we swim in, the wonderful friendships that are forms, and in the hope that it will inspire one and all to join in, this blog is a fantastic example of just that, the swims look soooo tempting, the people i hope to swim with one day, on their home turf and ours. Thanks so much for the blog and any more please feel free to submit them. LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING OF YOUR OTHER ADVENTURES .....WHICH SOUND LIKE THEY WILL BE PLENTIFUL!!!!