The Great Ridge and Edale Tops

Jan 19th
Andrew

Andrew, United Kingdom
Trip in no country selected ~ Beginner difficulty

Up Grindsbrook Clough.jpgView image
Four Friends Battle the Elements on Kinder
Despite our early start we knew today was going to be tough as we had 18km to cover and we needed to be back to the car in the light. Todays route would take us over Mam Tor, tuning left at Hollings Cross before descending to Grindsbrook Booth and climbing up Grinsbrook Clough to the plateau and traversing all the way round, above Jacobs Ladder, the Cowburn Tunnel and on to the Great Ridge again.
The wind was strong and cold but we were well equiped. We battled against the cross wind on Mam Tor and looked a cross to the snow on Kinder and wondered what it will be like - will we get back before dark? Dropping down in to Edale the wind dropped and patches of blue sky appeared - all was well! The walk up Grindsbrook Clough is never easy as the higher you get the more broken the path until at a fork in the brook it almost becomes a scramble. There were a number of people arround and we could hear a helecopter and it later turned out that Mountain Rescue were out recovering a man with the onset of hypothermia and a broken leg - we wish him all the best. View image Edale Mountain Rescue do a great job and need donations and our praise to keep the team going.
Once on to the plateau the sun was melting the snow and turning the frozed path to knee high, thick black peat bog. Each step was an effort, however with poles to test the depth and provide support we fought on. Our boots were soon covered and our gaiters aswell - check out my blog on Andrew’s Top Tip for cleaning and caring for your boots. Many of the walkers we met were heading down by Crowden Tower and we still had 8+km to go. Black peat gave way to water logged moor as we crossed Brown Knoll using all the navigation tricks we knew to find the path back on to the ridge. The light was fading so we dug deep in to our hearts for the final push back to the car and we made it before head torches were needed and in time to drive to Hope for a deserved pint of tea and that famous treacle tart at the Woodbine.