Kinder

18/07/2021

It was great to receive the request for a meet notice for the July meet from Rob; it was now over a year since we had an official meet! A quick chat with Matt, my co-leader made the decision easy enough – Kinder Scout! The climbers planned to visit the Northern Edges to seek shade in which to climb, and the walkers planned to intercept them, watch, and mock them as the sweated on the rock faces.

The 5 elite walkers met at Edale car park at 09:30 and after enthusiastic greetings we set off towards Edale village and a steady ascent of Ringing Roger. This was of course not what had been originally envisaged but too much gossiping and not enough map reading led us blindly into the heuristic trap of missing our turn. Even at 10:00 it was hot as we made a steady ascent, pausing at the top for a rest cunningly disguised as an opportunity to take a few photographs. I think that Syd even had a sip of water at this point before we made for the southern edge.

Geoff and Lionel decided that a short crossing of Kinder didn’t provide enough challenge for their strict training regime and opted to continue as a pair to ensure a tough enough route (to the café in Edale). Myself, David and Syd made a short crossing via the 590 trig point. Underfoot across the top it was dry and firm but still green – a testament to the restoration work being done with swaithes of eroded peat now giving way to tufts of cotton grass (actually a sedge), heather, willow saplings, bilberry, crow berry and cloud berry (which provided a couple of delicious ripe berries). After a lunch stop on the northern edge in the welcome shade of some large boulders we continued westward along the edges hoping, having seen Rob’s bright red van parked near the Snake Inn, to encounter the rock athletes but to no avail. Not wanting to risk complaints for the meal being late we pressed onwards and after some reassuringly accurate navigation (all done by David) we made a second short crossing via the 624 trig point and then to the Downfall. From here a stroll through Kinder Gates and a descent to Edale via Grindsbrook Clough.

Dinner was an al fresco affair and 14 sat down to eat and tease Rick for his chosen mode of transport, a bright red kick scooter…

A couple of reflections on the meet:

1. It was hot!
2. It was great to see so many members again, even if this was only sharing a meal and moaning about covid, the government,traffic in the Peak etc.
3. The Moors for the future’s work on Kinder seems to be paying off and it is becoming a diverse and interesting place to walk. If you haven’t managed to get up their recently it is well worth the effort. Syd said he hadn’t known it
   so green in the 50m years he has been walking there.
4. During the covid restrictions the club has not been able to hold meets but the work of the club officers on our behalf has continued. My personal thanks to Griff and Mike T for their work and to Lionel and Geoff P for their continued work on the hut. Geoff has made a fantastic effort on the kitchen refurbishment.

Ed MShaw