Kinder Scout

15/01/23

Leader Cotton now that he had got his 2 new knees was keen to make a return to Kinder Scout after a 10 years absence so an ascent of Kinder from Edale was planned with a visit to the Downfall and winter weather and some snow hoped for. After weeks of relentless rain the weather forecast suddenly changed to forecast colder weather and snow on the tops for the Saturday night of 14th January. So possibly Cotton’s luck might be in.

The walkers met at Edale carpark at 9 a.m. an early start to beat the rush for parking. In fact everyone found when they arrived that there were only a few places left as the Spine race up the Pennine Way had started from Edale earlier that morning. Everyone got parked but there was no urgency among the walkers as it was pouring with rain. We hung around outside the toilet block waiting for Crowson to arrive. When he did he was very surprised to see his wife Jane with a group of Dark Peak Fell Runners ladies with whom we had been chatting and to everyone’s amusement Jane was equally surprised to see him.

The rain was easing and we were soon away and walked up through the village to the start of the Pennine Way opposite the Nags Head pub. After the initial section by the stream we went through the gate on the left to walk on the flagged path which leads to Barber Booth and Jacobs ladder but after about half a mile we took the path going steeply up the hill to the right and which we climbed and dropped over the ridge to the stream in Crowden Clough which we would follow to the summit plateau of Kinder. Coming this way there is a beautiful view of Crowden Clough and the steep slopes of Kinder surrounding. It was an unrelenting and difficult climb. The ground was extremely wet and muddy and the stream flowing full and fast which had to be crossed several times and higher up an inch or so of snow had fallen to add to the slipperiness of the climb. At the front the President, Armin, Eastwood, Goodier and Guest Small were going well leaving the leaders and Browne and Crowson to bring up the rear. Eastwood and Goodier appeared to be going like a couple of good young’uns. Given the conditions the leading group made a wise decision to abandon any thoughts of going to the Down Fall and decided to turn east on reaching the plateau and follow the edge path and eventually descend at Ringing Roger. We assembled again as a group on reaching the plateau near Crowden Tower at about 12.00 not a fast ascent but a reflection of the conditions.

Everyone was in good spirits and the snow and sleet that had been falling stopped and for a brief moment it looked like it might clear as the sun broke through but was obscured again by cloud after 5 minutes. Care was needed on the edge path as much of it was the slabs the were laid some years ago and these were covered with snow and ice. There was one tricky bit for some of us at Red Clough where with a waterfall above it was necessary to step carefully along some snow covered ledges with an icy pool 20 feet below.

We had our winter walk! Well sort of. Ironically the following 5 days were all glorious cold and sunny winter days with light winds.

We descended back to Edale down an un-named clough shortly before Ringing Roger the descent being mainly on steep grass and heather. The President to save his bad knee adopted the style of descending perfected by Peter Greenaway many years ago of climbing down backwards. At the bottom we finally took the opportunity to have some lunch and were back at the cars by 3 pm. It had not been a long walk in distance but certainly an interesting one in some quite challenging conditions.

Tea was taken at the club hut at about 5.45 pm when 16 sat down. Cotton had provided 3 courses; a starter of mackerel pate and melba toast; a main of a meat lasagne and a vegetarian lasagne with cabbage; and a desert of two crumbles apple and plum with custard. All washed down with some pale rider and other beers. What had seemed a lot of food at the start was consumed with no problem at all.

A final word is of thanks to Griff, Lionel and Geoff for all the work they have done and continue to do at the club hut. An excellent and most convivial venue for our local meets.

Hugh C