Mam Tor

Date: 27th Feb 2010
Location: Mam Tor, Peak District near Castleton
Weather: Forecast = cloudy with sunny spells. Actual = thick snow
Time: 5ish hours
Distance: 7ish miles

Today did not get off to a good start. I woke thinking was rather light for 5am, to glance at clock and realise was 7am. I was meant to be in Crewe for 8am and it's a 2 hour drive from mine. Hmmmm. Quick txt to Kirsty (who then proceeded to not get out of bed just yet), and a rush around and get out of house asap.

Set off and followed some dippy woman doing 40 in 60 area and even down slip road to M5. Wound up and late and just remembered I had left my smoothie in the fridge. Hey ho - will look forward to that when I get back.

Get to Kirsty & Allen's, just as Martin pulls up so that was good timing. We set off for the start of the walk. An hour's drive later and we park up near the Castleton Visitor centre and start our walk towards Winnates Pass up to Mam Tor.

We had put on the ole waterproofs just in case, but the forecast (checked previous day) was due to have sunny intervals.

The walk didn't start off too well for me. 5 mins into it and I'm puffing and panting and calves hurting already. We started the ascent up Mam Tor and after the first rise, the snow really started to come down. Covers on rucksacks, hoods up, and back to the walk.

I couldn't see out of right eye as snow was hitting me from that side and whatever I seemed to do with my hood it didn't seem to cover it. I definately need windows in my hood like Elaine's. Goggles were also considered as my eyes were stinging. I had purchased a rather attractive pale blue balaclava, but had forgotten it for this walk.

Onwards and upwards. We followed the path along the ridge, stopped for lunch ontop of a pile of rocks, then started the full on descent. Crossed a railway near the cement works. The last stage was on the road.

I cannot believe the amount of snow on the hills and also how very muddy it was.
I have thoroughly tested both boots on the waterproof front. I fully submerged one right up to the ankle and then moments later the other one in the same manner. Great fun. God knows how I managed to get mud right up the inside of the waterproofs. I am so talented.

Got back to the Allen Morris household, lasagne, cake - great ending to a good day.

Despite the weather, I did feel I managed the walk OK and I didn't feel too slow.

Allen and Martin have also managed to load the maps for routes done so far onto Google maps.

Kinder Scout Walk from HELL!

Date: 12th February 2010
Location: Peak District. Around Kinder Scout near Edale
Weather: Cold, mainly dry with occasional snow / sleet showers
Distance: 13 miles
Time: 9 hours (must remember head torch for next time)

I’d packed my stuff, made my lunch and I was all set for the 5am get up.
The alarm went off, the shower connector tube was cracked, so half asleep I’m trying to tape up shower enough so that it won’t spray everywhere and I might actually get wet where I intend to.

I set off. The temperature gauge says –1.5°. The windscreen was frosty, but I was all toasty in my 500 layers (well 1 thermal layer, 1 microfleece, trousers and coat) and new boots. I’d also packed my new Goretex gaiters and covered heels with Compeed. I was ready!

Managed to get to Kirsty’s for half 7 despite all the freaks on the road and the 500 sets of road works.

There were loads of us on this walk. In our car, Kirsty, Allen, Rob and myself. In the other car there was Des, Lin, Alan (Des’s dad), Nick and Martin.

New boots on, new gaiters on and we were off.

I started out quite tame. Pebbled paths after a walk up road and farm tracks. Then up Jacobs Ladder, to HELL!!!!. We had a few up and down bits. The weather brightened up and looked quite sunny at one point so the walk provided lovely views and was pleasant. The ground was still frozen, so no where near as boggy as could have been.

After going around the reservoir for a short stretch, we stopped for lunch. Nick had his usual 500 pasties, boys had quick game of pooh sticks and we set off again.

The next significant event was the hill from HELL. I’d scrambled up a snowy bit, cut across to the path and watched people struggling to get down the hill to my right due to it being snow covered. Some were slipping and sliding, others were just sliding down for fun. Des then informed me we were climbing said hill. It looked rather steep from my point of view. I did enquire about an alternative route but was informed NO!

So we started the climb. Everyone seemed to just wander up this blinking hill. There was me, half way up panicking that I might fall and die. Alan came down to help me on my left and he took my rucksack. Rob took my poles so that I could crawl up on hands and feet. I just kept slipping on the solid snow. The only holes in the snow seemed too far apart for my little legs. Alan took my hand and I made it a bit further up then got stuck again. The wind picked up and was blasting my face with snow (drama, disaster movie sort of stuff). Kirsty offered me a hand but I would have pulled her down. I eventually got the top after what seemed like hours (and probably was). I was doing really well at keeping hold on my emotions, when Kirsty gave me a big hug and kissed me. Tears welled up in my eyes, then I realised she’d wiped snot over my cheeks and I was OK again.

Group photo at the top, breather for everyone and we set off again.
The mist was coming over and it had gone really quite grey which was such a contrast to only a few hours earlier.

A few more little ups and downs, and the last few miles as the sun set. The last mile in the dark seemed to just drag on forever.

I got back to the car and my toes hurt (I had checked toe nails so not sure why they hurt), my calves hurt, my hips hurt, my shoulders hurt and my arms ached. I was most relieved to actually see the car.

I also managed to go to the loo in a group. It was either that or risk having an accident in Allen’s car.

KFC as a reward and straight to bed after the 2 hour drive home.

Prep for next walk

Well, the boots spent 1 week being trudged around the house to check fit. I ventured out for the last week, so there is no going back with them now. Tomorrow they will be christened fully when walking Kinder Scout in Edale. I will prepare feet with Compeed prior to departure.
Today I have gone for further retail therapy. New breatheable gaiters and a balaclava. Most exciting....
Going the gym is proving hard work. Last Saturday I changed my weights routine and on Monday I could hardly walk. I have only had Tuesday off this week and about to go to the gym tonight - Friday night and I'm going to the gym - can't be good.
Details printed off for tomorrow, bag packed and I'm still wearing the boots. Lunch to make and a good nights sleep are the only things left to do!

Axe Edge Moor - Peak District

30th January 2010
10 miles (originally 7.5miles and described as strenuous)
Weather was cold and windy, but sunny with gloriously blue sky

The plan was to walk Axe Edge Moor near Buxton. The weather had prevented previous attempts due to the roads being snowed up to the hilt. This was our first chance to attack it.
I’d been to Abi’s leaving do (for Qatar) the previous night, so I had gotten in around midnight and up again at 04:30. This was probably not the best start. I crawled up the M6 (down to 1 lane through the road works), but still managed to arrive in Crewe at 07:30. It was starting to get light – great news. Longer days will soon be upon us.

We packed up Martin’s car ready for our trip to the Cat & Fiddle. Nick and Paul were also going to join us.

The last bit of the journey to the car park was most treacherous due to still being very icy, but we had committed ourselves and there was no going back.

As we got togged up, Paul realised he’d forgotten his boots. He was wearing white pumps so he decided to still make the effort despite lack of waterproof, warm footwear.

I’d covered heels in compeed, liner socks and walking socks. I was all set to wear old blister boots with maximum protection.

We set off, Allen using his marked out waterproof map, Kirsty with her route destructions. The ground was frozen which was probably for the best as it would have normally been very boggy.
Within seconds, Paul had soaked 1 foot. Fair play to him for not turning back though as I am not sure I’d have even started the walk without my boots.

The route marked out was meant to be 7.5 miles and should have taken 4 ¾ hours to complete. We had completed most of it taking in picturesque views of gorse and moorland landscapes when we decided to stop for lunch by a ‘lone’ chimney. Martin dropped crisps into the poo and Nick consumed 400 pasties. Paul had 25 penguins and I had my usual boring sandwiches.

Martin managed to fall in a hole right up to his knees and got reminded about the usefulness of gaiters.

We then carried up the hill to the road, which was probably the most strenuous bit for me. This was partly due to the frozen snow, steep incline and lack of confidence.

At the Cat & Fiddle we decided to carry on for another hour and half to make our journey there more worthwhile and the weather & light were holding out.

We crossed the road and Martin saw someone drive past that he knew – freaky.

We walked across fields of frozen snow with some parts so deep they were level with the top of the fence.

I also managed to use the SheWee for the first time outdoors. No leakage, no spillage onto boots and all while behind a wall talking to Kirsty. Major triumph for me!

Kirsty came a right cropper when crossing from woodland to the road. Sheet of ice across the path flew Kirsty onto her back scraping her hand and jolting her arm and hip.

Got back to Cat & Fiddle, quick drink, plaster up Kirsty, and then back to Crewe.

New Boots

e29th January 2010
Winfields Outdoors Supplies

Berghaus ridgewear leather boots purchased 29th January. Two weeks to break in before next walk. £90 – painful to spend that much money but hopefully blisters on heels will be none existent in a few walks.