A week ago, on the last of the winter Warts outings, it was a balmy 20⁰ but at the start of the summer Warting season, the temperature had dropped to 2⁰ with a north easterly breeze making it feel like about -8⁰. Such is the British climate. So, thirteen of us assembled at Broomhead all suitably clad with an impressive array of head gear and a few examples of Buffalo tops, I was even accused by Tim of wearing a herd of Buffalos (actually only one).
To celebrate the first of the summer season Warts expeditions, Chris had felt an urge to cross the Ewden via the girders, particularly now that the bracken on the other side was at its least man-eating. However, the path to the girders through the evergreen rhododendrons has not improved and, so soon after leaving Broomhead, it requires a high level of concentration to avoid being forever entangled there. It would be appropriate to leave a DPFR vest rotting on a branch to warn of the danger of entering this place. After all, there are two other vests lingering on branches elsewhere, in Wyming Brook (Rivelin Landmarks race) and in Alport Grain (Rowlee Zag-Zag race). There was a surprise at the girders, a tree had fallen on to them, making our precarious balancing experience more exciting. Using one of its branches as a hand rail, Andy started to manoeuvre his way across, though, meantime, Tom et al. took to the river and pulled the branch away leaving a mystified Andy to sharpen up his balancing skills. It’s almost traditional now to be creative in finding a way to cross the beck, wade across, walk and crawl the girders, all of these and possibly more were demonstrated, with, of course, supreme elegance.
As expected, the bracken was brown and down with a just visible pleasant path through it, all enlightened by an overheard conversation between Russ and Simon about Shimano and Campagnolo bike gear sets and ratios. Our thoughts however turned to other things as we climbed the slopes of Pike Lowe, we had the first sighting of a hare now brown with just a touch of its winter white coat left. Pike Lowe is well defended by many heather-hidden rocks which make the going slow and potentially ankle cracking. It is nevertheless a fine local summit worth celebrating.
Pike Lowe summit. Photo thanks to Chris.
By now the snow had been falling for a while making hare spotting a bit easier as their annual camouflage was changing to a shade of brown; our total count for the evening was four (plus?) which makes it a successful outing; fortunately, no other humans were seen.
Like most problems, it depends on which way you approach them. Our problem was to find Fox Stones from a sort of northerly direction whilst having a brush with Candlerush. In the mist and snowy conditions, visibility was not at its best and our expectations were on seeing the Stones. All that was apparent were rounded features not rocky ones but fortunately Simon, at the front, found (stumbled on?) them just over a smooth rise. Coming from a southerly direction, Fox Stones are distinctly rocky and much easier to find.
The Warts were now beginning to become civilised (?) as our next visit was to a park, to the Park Cote ruin, sometime checkpoint on the Summer Series, via a very civilised path through the bracken, a good line to follow, in reverse, to the Stones.
At Park Cote. Thanks to Chris for the photo.
Our civilisation didn’t last too long as we had Ewden Beck to recross, without girders this time. Descending into and climbing out of the Beck involves very steep slopes with rocks, moss, both sound and rotten wood and bracken not to mention an actual stream crossing. This done, the track awaited us for a relative sprint (!) back to the cars to change in a snow storm, how refreshing!
It was still just about light but Clive had been proud to display and use his latest woollen headgear which incorporated a rechargeable torch. There was speculation about what else could be incorporated into a hat, possibly glasses, a camera, hearing aids…….but these mental meanderings were fortunately interrupted by our arrival at the Plough at Low Bradfield. They continued there with added intensity until both the beer and our imagination had run out.
We did manage, however, to conclude that it been an outstanding introduction to the summer Warting season, thanks to all.
Graham
What a difference a week makes (photos Russ and Chris)