Busy few days

Well that’s been a busy few days, it started early Saturday morning after collecting a client for a trip to the Lakes to bag a few Wainwrights. However with a forecast of driving rain, gusts up to 90 mph and a wind chill factor of minus 12 on the tops, it was an easy decision to resort to plan B and not fall into that commitment heuristic trap.

About an hour later we arrived at Malham, in the Yorkshire Dales where we did the Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet's Foss circular walk followed by a trip to Stainforth to look at the waterfalls and the nearby Hoffman Kiln. Wildlife sightings included Dipper and Green Woodpecker.

We were on our way home after a windy but dry day when I got a call out for my local Mountain Rescue Team. So once my client was safely deposited back at home I joined my red jacketed colleagues for an extensive search in some horrendous conditions on some very unforgiving terrain.

The following morning I was heading back up Black Hill near Holmfirth to support a Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team colleague who was running the 286 miles Montane Spine Race. After I had given some valuable support I headed down, negotiating some severely swollen streams and headed home to get my kit dried out again for a trip to Dufton in the North Pennines.

At Dufton I booked into the excellent Youth Hostel and met up with about a dozen other Mountain Leaders and the friendly staff from Large Outdoors.

The following day after a healthy breakfast we walked up to High Cup Nick, again in some freezing and wet conditions, with the mist lifting just enough for a view over the stunning glacial valley.

Back at the Youth Hostel it was time for coffee, cake and debriefs before heading home just in time for some more Mountain Rescue training.

So today after drying all my kit out for the third time in 3 days I finally managed to get 5 minutes to relax, update the website, reply to a few emails and confirm some course bookings, which reminds me, we have still got a couple of places left on our Bronze Navigation Course on 22nd & 23rd February 2020 in the Holmfirth area for anyone that’s interested.

And finally, relax. :)