I think it rained another couple of inches last night, the forecast was average and I was prepared for a lazy day to recover from my duty as a removal man. But no, Mike phoned with an improving forecast and was keen for some exercise. Where to go – all the field paths round here are waterlogged or flooded. It’s times like this when at short notice you fall back on the memory bank, “I’ll take you up Croasdale, it will be dry” . He had not been there.
Getting there via Chipping wasn’t that easy with more flooding of the lanes and then land slips at Whitewell. We made it through but will come back a different way.
The hills were white with snow, the lane into Croasdale more like a river and painful hailstones welcomed us. I have memories of this lane being a sheet of ice on sunny winter days when Alan and I first started exploring Bullstones as a Bouldering venue, we were super keen. But even better recollections of sunny days on the heathery hillsides watching the Hen Harriers, will they return? The Roman road was dry, despite the full streams, as was most of the fellside so that part of the plan worked. The white bollard with poems we passed reminded me of The Lancashire Witches Way, a 50 mile walk planned from Barrowford to Lancaster, maybe spring would be better. There was no bouldering today, the rocks snow covered and a freezing wind keeping us well wrapped up and moving. Following the rim of rocks I found that wonderful stone trough hewn from a boulder, Mike was impressed. Not lingering we found the tracks down to the ford but were of course confronted by a dangerous raging stream and it took us some time to find a way across to safety. A wild and exhilarating few hours. The only casualty of the day being one of my [cheap] ski sticks which I managed to snap in a slip.
For normal conditions check out –
wow!
Thanks. Did a recent post on a walk from Grindleton your home ground.
https://bowlandclimber.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/styles-of-stiles/
I am going up there to do a short lecture to the newly formed Grindleton Historical Society, early March….
Would be interested in the event. ?details.
will send when i have confirmation tuesday night 7.30 in grindleton , 8th (?) March if that’s a tuesday
Would appreciate that. Thanks.
do you know tony cann?
No. Sorry.
I can pass you his address privately – he is organising in Grindleton.
forgot to remind you about this – apologies
you can download things here though
https://certainmeasureofperfection.wordpress.com/downloads/
Thanks for that.
you should be able to listen to it on the bottom link too