Could it match the notorious Doctor’s Gate facility which has been known to threaten hypothermia during the removal of wet clothes in the driven cold rain near the Snake summit. Well, it was certainly a new start point for the ten brave Warts setting out from Gill Royd Lane where we had squeezed our cars into a narrow strip of roadside grassy verge. After stepping out from our warm cars into the north westerly wind, there was some serious reconsideration of what kit to wear so there followed a frantic dance of the waterproofs with arms and legs flaying about trying to fit into the windblown tops and bottoms. At least, I suppose, these contortions served as a sort of whole body warm up.
Andy led us up into the wind, and now, the rain, only for me to discover that in my excitement of the “warm up”, I’d forgotten to lock the car. There was no choice, this had to be put right so, reversing my route, I was wind propelled downhill back to the car only, of course, to have to repeat more enjoyment of the wind and rain as I watched figures disappearing over the horizon. It says a lot for the tolerance of the Warts that they were prepared to wait for me in the marginally sheltered swamp just past the end of the long wall. Thank you all!
We were still in the light going up towards Pike Lowe so it helped to get through the characteristic rocky heathery ground approaching the summit. There was a reluctance to leave the shelter of the summit cairn (the fierce wind still blew) but Andy had now got the bit between his teeth and scuttled off towards Candlerush. On this flat and boggy stretch, the magic of the moors was revealed, about half a dozen still white hares were seen by our group in the fading light. What a treat!
The stream crossing at Candlerush was straightforward though exiting its steep side required the heather handhold climbing technique. Grab a heather plant, hope it’s secure and heave yourself up the slope as you also closely examine the shoes of the person immediately in front. There is no guarantee that this will always be successful; as you use maximum force on the heather, it can give way sending you backwards into the heather. Repeat the process and there is a chance you’ll arrive at the top of the slope.
In spite of Tom’s absence, at the Rivelin Landmarks race, our main target for the night was Tom’s tree in Hawthorn Clough, a landmark for the Sterling wreck race.
Tom’s tree photo thanks to Russ
The tree was still there despite the many days of battering by recent wind, rain and some snow and it marked the change from fighting into the wind to having the wind behind us. Progress was now easier and even pleasant down the Clough (worth a revisit) and then up to Fox Stones. It seemed a long way back from there, particularly after our small lagging group of four somehow wandered off to the left near Earnshaw Ridge only to find the remaining six, illuminated by Tim’s orange top, were way off to our right. We were about five or ten minutes behind the six and great patience was shown by those waiting at the wild changing facility by the cars.
The Plough at Low Bradfield was our warm refuge for the rest of the evening for discussion of the curtailment of visits to the upper parts of the Snake Valley because of landslips and bridge closures. Our plan for the next outing, in Andy’s absence in the north west of the Lakes, was from Heather Dene/Yorkshire Bridge Inn, including a stepping-stone river crossing and possibly a climb up Parkin Clough?
As always, a wonderfully bracing evening.
Graham