The weather so
far has been much better than I would have expected, based on the forecasts the
week before. Today things changed! Kidsty Pike is the highest point on the
Coast to Coast route, 2600ft, starting with a big climb out of Patterdale which
I was not looking forward to. The route out though was at a good gradient and
surprisingly my legs did not react as expected. I reached Angle Tarn in
reasonable shape and there I met the group of eight, who I had seen several
times on previous days. The men were consulting the various maps, books etc,
the women butting in around the edges. "Which way?" came the call,
"to the right" I replied. At this point the rain came with the wind getting stronger the higher I climbed. Wet suits were applied and I tagged
along with them which seemed a relief to some of the party. After climbing
further on to the start of a ridge, the full force of the gale became apparent
the rain sand blasting our faces. At points you could not move as you braced
yourself against the wind. Collectively everyone agreed the weather forecasts
were totally wrong, including the mountain rescue teams 'some rain, blustery’!
I suggested that we should all take refuge behind a dry stone wall and take
stock of the situation. Their appointed leader for the day agreed. It took 10
minutes for everyone to sit down, backs against the wall. I suggested staying
put for one hour to see if the weather would change, then to decide to continue
or return. Soon a couple appeared in the distance, it took them ½ hr to reach our position, mainly because they could not move against the wind. Eventually
we had a team of fifteen. Even being the optimist it was obvious the weather
was not going to improve. So when their team leader asked me what I thought we should do, I said
the decision is simple, to go back. I took the back marker position and off we
set, the three mile descent took two hours. Back at the White Lion, besides the
coffees, soups and rum, my main concern was that I needed to get to Shap to
carry on the walk. I tried my support/rescue team but I could only leave a voice message. The group of eight offered me a lift to Bampton in the taxi they had ordered,
which would at least get me closer to my next stop. Then a phone call to the
bar from my team aka 'ERIO JAN' letting me know they were on their way. Relief,
Shap was reached and the dry out could begin but, more importantly the walk
could continue.