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.