The Three Peaks Yorkshire
by Martin Stace
Friday
This was the second meet of the year and by far the coldest as Phil Bailey (meet organiser) had decided to camp at Horton-In-Ribblesdale. After a drink in pub on Friday night we went to bed in subzero temperatures trying to get some rest before starting the 25 mile three peaks walk.
Saturday
On Saturday Morning we were joined by Dave Stevenson's sister Helen and her husband Paul before setting off to start the walk from Horton by climbing Pen-Y-Ghent. We reached the top in good time to find a windy snow covered summit drenched in bright sunshine. After a brief break and some photography we continued on the ten mile walk to the next peak Whernside.
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After what seemed like a very long walk through outbreaks of driving snow we reached the half way point (in distance only) and stopped at a roadside cafe for a bite of lunch and a coffee. At this point it was becoming obvious that some of the group were going to struggle to complete all three peaks.
Due to the conditions it was decided to take the long way around to climb Whernside. About half way up in continuously worsening conditions Phil Bailey decided to retreat and meet us at a pub after we had completed the peak. By far the hardest of the three peaks we walked up a steady path made more difficult by the soft wet snow under foot. As we reached the summit ridge we were greeted with a hard cold wind blowing from the north west and shortly after we reached the snow covered top. After a brief stay we walked off the top and straight in to a total whiteout and realised that if we wanted to finish the whole walk we were going to have to speed up and reach the pub where we intended to meet Phil Bailey before 4.00pm. With this in mind Lucy and I decided to speed up and push on ahead.
We reached the pub just after 4.00pm and the rest of the group arrived a few minutes later. At this stage everyone except Lucy and I decided to call it a day.#
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Lucy and I continued on joined by Phil Evens who had been forced to miss out the walk up to this stage after forgetting an essential item of equipment. As we left the pub walking up the road to rejoin the footpath it began to snow again and with the knowledge that we had to reach the top of Ingleborough before dark we increased the pace again. Walking across duck boards we soon reached the steep climb to gain the final summit ridge. The climb up to the ridge proved to be more difficult. The path was covered in a thick layer of ice and without crampons our progress was slowed down to a crawl. After a precarious scramble we reached the ridge and pushed on up to the cloud covered summit plateau. We completed Ingleborough just after 5.30pm and immediately headed off back down to Horton.
The walk back, although easy proved hard as by this time the distance was starting to tell (well it did to me anyway) and we finally arrived back in the village at 6.15pm for a very large dinner and a pint in the pub
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Sunday
Sunday was bright and sunny and we woke to find a thick layer of frost over the tents. After breakfast Lucy and I went to the local cafe to find out if we could get a certificate for completing the walk. Unfortunately as the walk had not been registered with the cafe the day before we were unsuccessful so it looks like we will have to just do it all over again.