Well, it's almost camping I was carrying a tent.
Last Thursday, I started a walk south to north along the Pennine way.
My intention was to wild camp for most of the trip except for when a little more comfort was required.
I was later leaving Edale than I had intended 11.00am and started into light rain.
It is a bit of a baptism of fire for the uninitiated with the climb up Jacobs Ladder to Kinder Low.
Without exception, the folks i met making their way down, did not look as if they were enjoying themselves. I should have realised that this was a portent of things to come.
Frankly, conditions were appalling. I have never seen it so wet, Kinder Force was a roaring torrent of dark brown malevolence.
I always look out for wild camping spots on my travels, but I never saw one on the entire 16 mile route.
I quickly realised that this was not a good place to be traveling alone as a fall could have dire consequences, but there are very few places to bale on this section of the route, so I pressed on.
The stream crossings were now river crossings with water over my knees in places, I was very glad that I had bought both trekking poles as I often travel with only one. My 18 kilo pack was not improving the situation and I did consider removing it and throwing it over on one particularly deep and fast crossing.
The decent from Bleaklow Head and Torside Clough was particularly tough and running with water almost constantly.
I was very relieved to reach Torside Reservoir and the safety of the valley with only the final mile to the camping club site at Crowden to negotiate.
After pitching the tent and a wonderful hot shower, I sat down to review my day. My boots were totally saturated and conditions over the next two days of the route were unlikely to improve, so, with a heavy heart, I took the decision to bale.
The following morning I spoke to the camp site warden and she said the current conditions were the worst in years.
She told me that only two days before, one unfortunate soul had arrived with no tent, having lost it when it was carried away on one river crossing!
Looking back from the comfort of home and two days into the boot drying process, I think I made the correct call.
It hasn't stopped me booking a train to Skipton and a return to the fray for next week though!!
