Kinder Butterfly

27/05/2012

My sister asked me to plan something with a couple of good inclines as training towards our National Three Peaks attempt as there are a fair few of the group who've not done much training. Don't ask.

The best hills within a decent driving distance are at one of my favourite walking haunts - Edale and Kinder so I bounced a few ideas back and forth with her before we settled on a plan - we'd do Kinder Scout. Twice.

From past experiences I've found Jagger's Clough and Grindsbrook to be pretty tough ascents so I knocked up a route that started at Edale, headed East and then up Jagger's Clough, West along the top, descend by Ringing Roger, ascend back up Grindsbrook, further West, South and then East down Jacob's Ladder and back to Edale.

From looking at the pre-plotted route you can see why I've called this 'Kinder Butterfly'...

Kinder Butterfly!

We met at 9am (prompt this time!) but disappointingly there were only 3 of the Three Peakers (Jane, David and Helen) as well as my sister (Tam), her husband (Rob), my two kids (Adam and Jade) and my friend (Paul.)

It was a scorching day and I'd well prepared before we set off. The kids and I were already suncreamed up, had loads of food and water and also new boots and hats where necessary.

Approching the start of Jagger's Clough

Ascending Jagger's Clough

Looking down Jagger's Clough

 

Along the tops


We had a great ascent up Jagger's Clough and a quick snack break at the top. The climb wasn't half as tough as I'd remembered but that's probably because I'm 3 years fitter.

Looking over "Ringing Roger" and down to Edale



From the same location, looking right toward Grindsbrook - our next climb

Someone deserted us at the top, not wanting to descend and re-ascend, which caused us no end of delays two hours later trying to meet up.

After descending we stopped under some trees by a stream to have lunch and a rest before continuing with the long climb up Grindsbrook.

Dexter enjoying our break

Lunchtime!
Adam, Paul, Jade, David, Helen, Jane, Tam and Dexter.

Ascending the lower part of Grindsbrook

I've never done this part upwards, only downwards last year, but it was fabulous. I was still full of energy (we'd only done 7 miles by the top of this part) and really enjoyed bouncing across rocks and the stream. This is where great boots really come into their own. I had to track back a few times as Jade was beginning to struggle in the heat and because she's not actually very fit so I helped pull her up a fair few steep bits to make it much easier. Lots of fun and something I certainly intend to repeat.

At the top we continued in the same direction actually heading directly away from the cars for a couple of miles before turning and descending at Jacob's Ladder where I'd been with the kids only two months earlier. (But this time feeling MUCH fitter.)

Now a long walk back to the car although we did divert from my original route (spoiling my butterfly!) onto the Trans-Pennine-Trail so that we'd end up at the pub and the ice cream shop rather than just back at the car park.



Our actual route.
(Plotted in 3D here so spoiling the 'butterfly' even more.)



In my mind I'd arranged a fabulous route but upon execution I do feel that the last third spoils it a little; once you've done the 'up-down-up' then there are two long walks, split by the last 'down', which have little to offer. Normally these would be lovely walks so perhaps it's just the relative disappointment after the previous exertions?

I have to confess to flagging a little for the last two miles - I'd run out of water after finishing my entire two litres of water but I'd not eaten my Mars Bar. Note to self: it's not much use in the rucksack, it's much more effective in my stomach. However I'm blaming it on the heatwave which, although sapping, wasn't actually as unbearable as I'd feared the day before.

A great walk which I must repeat.

Kinder Scout - yet again!

At last I'm back.

The guilt caught up with me and I decided to ignore the kids' grumbles and go out for a proper walk; my first this year. Adam's had plenty of band practice and several gigs recently, making me feel like a taxi driver, that I put my foot down and planned a full day out. Then I get 8 hours notice for when and where he needs to be - so I put my foot down. Tough luck. The band can suffer and perhaps plan a little more in advance - it's my weekend as well as theirs.

On Thursday, before I knew all the above, I had planned another excursion around Kinder Scout as it is one of my favourite walking places; it's quite near (about an hours drive) and also has many different routes and views. As a bonus there's also some caches.

We set off at 8:30 Sunday morning (clocks forward, 7:30 in my head) and drove there in thick fog. It was quite scary in places and I'm no slouch when it comes to driving but there are people asking for trouble. We arrived safely at 9:30 and I parked at the bottom of Edale, below the railway station, and we set off up the road. It was still misty in places.

Up the road, round the back of the pub and head off up towards Ringing Roger. Blimey it was hard. The raincoat was off after 10 minutes, the long-sleeved shirt after another 10. Huffing and puffing up to the first cache "Anniversary View" (about half way up the hill) it was an easy find, a difficult sign (soggy book) and then back to the kids who'd waited about 50m away. Back to the cache for my walking pole. Back to the kids. I took a short break here while we all slapped some suncream on - the sun was burning through the remains of the mist and you could tell it was going to be a glorious day. Unlike my last visit to Kinder THIS time I was prepared.

Edale in the mist

Now dear Reader, hold your forefinger and thumb about 0.5 centimetres apart. Continuing up the hill I was this close to quitting. I know I've not been out this year and it always takes me a while to get going but this was terrible, I was exhausted. We struggled up to the top, I say we but I mean Jade and I as Adam was fine, and we bore off left at Ringing Roger around towards Upper Tor (this is all on Kinder Plateau.)

Thankfully all the altitude work was now done and as we found another cache I decided at 11:30 to stop for a cup of tea and a rest. Sitting in the glorious sun I realised how beautiful the misty views were over Grindsbrook River and Edale so we made the break into an early lunch and soaked up the distant thinning mist and the microscopic runners on the next brow. (There was some annual running event going on, which had started at 10:30, of which a passing hiker had kindly informed us.)

Half way along the top of Grindsbrook

We took our break at leisure, about 45 minutes, and then continued West along the edge of Kinder towards the top of Grindsbrook, passing the point where I ran out of water on my last visit on a baking hot day. Today was warm but perfect, not too hot.

Continuing along to the top of Crowden Brook I we veered off the trail towards another cache "Noe Head for Heights" which Jade found quickly whilst I was looking lower down the rocky outcrop. Continuing on towards the top of the River Noe I had to inform Adam he was going to be late. He wanted to be in Sheffield for 3:30 and we had an hours drive home, he wanted to shower and change and then be taken back into Sheffield. I told him 5pm but privately thought it would be earlier - give them (the band) the worse case scenario and they can deal with it rather than put them off again and maybe again.

At this point we started to face runners coming towards us, the best of the best as there were only a few. They looked better than I felt. I was ashamed.

Adam posing as always. Jade just looks naturally beautiful.

We got the furthest West point of our circular route (near Kinder Low) and started to head South towards another cache "Cracker of a View" where I left the kids on the trail and climbed up 15 metres to the rocks and fortunately quickly found the cache.

We then headed East along a good trail, now passing many runners (or were they passing us?), but fortunately we got out of their way by turning off the main trail to head down Jacob's Ladder. After the lovely walk along the tops this was where the tiredness in your legs started to kick in and it was hard work going down the rocky path. Even Adam was feeling the pain here.

We passed a cache here that I had to leave, it was about 15m below the path and I knew that by the time I'd descended, found it and reascended it would have been at least 15 minutes and I was very conscious of Adam's sound check. No worries - I'll be back one day, I'm sure of it.

We drifted South-East and then East alongside the River Noe (more of a trickle to be honest) and then over Crowden Brook at Upper Booth, all relatively easy going with a gentle stroll along and slightly down fields. After Upper Booth we had a quick detour off the Trans-Pennine-Trail to pick up our final cache "Korean Bed Lab" (no idea why it's named as it is, I never read it.) At this point my legs were like jelly and my right ankle was really hurting. I'd not twisted it but it felt as though I had and it was hard to bend it upwards so I was struggling on any inclines. Fortunately after about 50 metres we were back on the level and it was all flat and downhill the way home (albeit another 1.4 miles away.)

A quick stop at Edale campsite for a well deserved round of icecreams and then down the road to the car and home.

Adam was at his soundcheck for 4:30.

5 caches but most importantly a fabulous 10 miles (right on the nose) of exhilarating countryside in gorgeous weather.

My lack of fitness opened my eyes to the task I have ahead of me in June (the National Three Peaks) which will be 3 times this difficulty AT LEAST, and all within 24 hours. However I'm confident I can get back to last years levels and succeed. Especially with my sister there to kick me up the behind!