Pessimism or optimism? A glance at the Mountain Weather forecast web site showed a temperature of about 12⁰C and a “feels like” temperature of 4⁰C for Kinder Low, the nearest forecast location to our Slow Warts’ outing from Blackden. Between us, we ignore this information or dress accordingly, usually finding the predictions hover between accurate and pessimistic. But the numbers tell all, five Slow Warts wore shorts and two wore leggings.
After declaring that there was a ban on talking about politics, it was a pleasant surprise to have a dry descent from the car park to the bridge. Mind you, the sudden plunge into rough and steep ground immediately arouses us from our pre-run stupor. The Cap’n spared us from a gasping ascent of Dean Hill by taking us around it in a more gradual climb, eventually to a ruined sheepfold of doubtful efficacy. In our oxygen deprived state, we fantasised about converting it into a lean-to or some such habitable shelter, its main selling point being the view across the valley. Such was our state of mind that we even estimated its value to be about £300K!
Fortunately, reality intervened as we climbed through the heather and bilberry to Blackden Edge and on to Madwoman’s Stones where the Cap’n relaxed and contemplated our route to Blackden trig and to Bob’s Rock.
It was possible to cross the moor to Blackden trig without getting wet feet though a little dampness did creep in, so does that mean we are approaching summer? Watch this space for more obsessive weather reports! At the trig we counted the number of trig pillars on Kinder, Kinder Low, Blackden and one above Sandy Heys though there is also a fallen one, now horizontal at Sandy Hays, thus making a total of four pillars on Kinder.
A short descent brought us to Bob’s Rock where we were presented with a choice between crossing Blackden Brook (descent and then a climb) and a long contour around to Seal Stones, to reach Dunge Clough. It was really a recce for the DPFR “Olympics” due in August. There was only one taker for the direct hilly route via Blackden and faced with the prospect of a lone expedition, Tim decided to join the rest of us going around the long high contour. And, it was long, with much vegetation, minimal open ground and only a few sheep tracks to ease the descent. Our numbers dwindled at the sight of the final very steep part of the descent to the checkpoint (ruined wall stream junction). So, we were left with just four of us heading there, two each down the right- and left-hand sides of the Clough. We did not come to any conclusion from this trial, not even whether the high contour was quicker nor whether the right or left side of the Clough was quicker. It was, therefore, left to an on-the-day decision.
We were spared the long climb out of the Clough and the final climb up Dean Hill of the “Olympics” by a traverse around the hillside to the bridge for the last climb to the cars. It was decided that walking up was quicker than running up, despite my effort at the latter.
Yes, we revived ourselves at the welcoming and busy YBI where the marathon times for DPFR members, training schedules, race walking (had we managed to avoid being disqualified for having both feet off the ground), reviving foods, Raspberry Ripples, jelly babies, marmalade sandwiches and, least popular, Kendal Mint Cake which generated a unanimous moan (too sweet).
It had been a splendid outing in relatively mild weather and, as always, in good company.
Thanks to all.
Graham