{"id":839642,"date":"2023-04-13T11:43:52","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T11:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/?p=839642"},"modified":"2023-04-13T11:44:43","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T11:44:43","slug":"","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/839642","title":{"rendered":"\u200bScience and nostalgia – 12 April 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week\u2019s outing saw us enjoying some challenging weather but this week, twelve of us, including returnees Sarah and Penny, had some of the meanest weather we had encountered. Classic hypothermic conditions were there in abundance, heavy rain, strong winds, fine and large snowflakes, all increasing in intensity the higher we went. And, the ground was not dry (understatement) so streams and rivers were in flood, making the crossing of the river Ashop somewhat stimulating. Limited warmth returned to the feet as we climbed out of the valley to the first spring (of the four springs race), the first check point of Bob\u2019s route for the evening from Birchen Clough.<\/p>\n

The Moors For the Future Partnership* had set up a series of sites to measure water table depth of both treated (for vegetation restoration) and untreated (control) peat sites near the north edge of Kinder, so to recognise this work and to thank the MFFP and its volunteers, Bob decided to take us to the untreated, bare peat site. This was, of course, a trip down memory lane for those old enough to remember the large expanses of bare peat, great to run on when dry but slimy when well-watered as was tonight. On a relatively high mound of heather with an MFFP radio communication device (see the kink in Clive\u2019s track), we gathered for our message of gratitude to them for their part in saving the planet.<\/p>\n

Any detailed explanations of their work were curtailed by the hypothermia inducing conditions, \u201cI\u2019m cold, let\u2019s get going\u201d, so we did, at speed, towards the fourth spring. Our group split on the choices of crossings of the head of Fair Brook. Then, we could go round or directly down from the rocky escarpment overlooking Fair Brook. Contouring round certainly tested and strained the ankles in one direction, encouraging thoughts of zigzagging down to balance the strain but extending the distance, the former seemed to be the quickest. Quicker still was the direct descent from near the Chinese Wall (I think) to the fourth spring which promises legendary health benefits. You\u2019re free to test its powers on any of the ailments we\u2019re blessed with. <\/p>\n

Despite these possible curative benefits, taking the spring waters does not shorten the heather we needed to go over to recross the Brook and head for the drainage channel on the moor over to the Ashop. Here a final foot numbing crossing took us to the very wet and muddy woods. We were wet, very wet, and cold by the last short steep climb up to the Birchen Clough car park where we were welcomed by the sweet sounds of a car alarm, disturbingly from Clive\u2019s car, our lift home. Despite various efforts to stop it, we couldn\u2019t. If anything the urgency to change into relatively dry clothes, was enhanced and it was still raining very cold rain. The alarm continued during the drive back giving Clive the dramatic licence for a clear drive to the Yorkshire Bridge Inn. Fortunately, the alarm stopped there and we were able to drink in peace.<\/p>\n

Despite being slightly deafened by the alarm, we were still able to discuss routes for next Wednesday\u2019s Cakes of Bread race organised by Tom after Andy\u2019s long reign as RO. Even though the evening\u2019s conditions were epic (a feels like temperature -6\u2070C, though how it\u2019s calculated, we weren\u2019t sure), we declared, now in the warmth of the pub, that it had been a wonderful and memorable Slow Warts\u2019 adventure\u2026\u2026\u2026 again. Thanks to all, particularly Bob for the navigation and Clive for the track.<\/p>\n