As witness our photos from the last several outings, there have been many blue skies so we’ve maybe turned into fair weather runners (?) who were shocked by the rain on our latest outing from Snake Bridge. After a long absence, Moz joined us to enjoy the drizzly rain and the Harmerian terrain which Moz declared well worth it but only after our visit to the YBI.
For a short time, the seven of us could see the misty outline of the formidable Seal Edge which we were due to climb. Otherwise, it was largely obscured by the lingering mist thankfully protecting us from seeing what was to come. On our approach up Fairbrook, we were regaled by tales of swimming in delightful sunny pools which seemed somehow less attractive in today’s gloom. The low water levels of the stream made its crossing straightforward before the climb up Upper Seal Clough. In a display of youthful prowess, John W had sprinted up the Clough to arrive at the Fourth Spring. Possibly curiously, this was the only spring we encountered. There are, unsurprisingly, three others which were check points in Mike Hayes’s magnificent Four Springs race which gave us the opportunity to cross Kinder three times with four natural refreshment stops. Maybe this race could be revived for the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of DPFR? The sparkling spring waters were used to toast Tim on his birthday which was also celebrated by the massed choirs of the seven Slow Warts singing (?) Happy Birthday. How many other people have had their birthday celebrations at such a wonderful place?
Now, the steep climb. I suppose that in Lake District, Scottish, Alpine and Himalayan terms, it is not significant but to we Slow Warts, it was. And, we deserved a rest at the top of it, so we did, and took more photos whilst discussing the possibility of renaming ourselves the Camera Club.
From steep to sort of flat, crossing a bit of the Kinder plateau, to the head of Fairbrook with its magnificent views down the valley, but not today in the mist. Our navigational senses (if we had any) were on full alert here. On a previous night visit, our distinguished and reliable leader had a left-hand bias taking us on a line towards the northern edge of Kinder which was then quickly corrected. There were no such wanderings tonight and we arrived precisely at the Naze (no view) but like last week, at the Headstone, none of our climbers ascended the Mushroom Stone.
Once we’d descended out of the mist, there was the usual diasprian dash for the cars. We lost sight of just about all of the other Slow Warts, some taking the direct but possibly slow boggy path, others using the soft quad track and others somewhere between. We all arrived back, wet and safely.
At the YBI, Anna’s upcoming trip to Dubrovnic prompted various aviation horror stories, just to put her at ease. There were also more stories of past mountain marathons, possibly indicative of old men resting on their laurels? However, we’d been out tonight in great company and in wonderful country, what could be better? Many thanks to all.
Graham
