Note- mountains+ me DO MIX. We mix so well it's like parties and booze or cheese and toast. However, me+ mountains with thunder DO NOT MIX.
Ah, what a fun day sunday was. With the high chance that the first snow of 2007 was likley to fall, i decided to go and climb the mountain where it would most likley fall- Bleaklow. Despite the usual people and health and saftley obsessed gits telling me not to go, i went anyway. Being an experianced walker and very familiar with Bleaklow (I've climbed it 22 times) i didn't have a problem.
I ascended via the remote Westend Valley jutting of Howden Reservoir and walked up it in heavy snow and sleet. By the time Ronksley Moor (510m) was reached i was drenched so i headed down to the Round Hill Bothy to dry off, 10 minutes walk away down a grough. Gosh it was lovely in the bothy- a little winter wonderland 1500ft (470m) in the middle of nowhere- to dry off and have some food as it pelted it down outside. After an hour it eased off so i decided to make a push for Bleaklow Stones, at 628m/ 2060ft the 3rd highest point of the mountain and the most easterly bit of ground above 2000ft in the UK.
The walk was sheer delight, the fells glimmering white and compleatly deserted, Bleaklow looming ahead. The walk is very familiar to me (I've done it at least 15 times) with a good climb up onto the mountain's plateau at Grinah Stones. From here Bleaklow Stones loomed menacingly ahead, the cold wind gusting hard. As usual the climb is straightforeward and wonderful, slowly traversing around and up onto to top. The final 100ft were difficuly due to deep snow but soon the top was reachec at 12;30.
Being on top was brilliant with the vast views in all directions, the snow covered slopes leading down to endless moors. I had i little rest and half my dinner before a massive cloud from the west rolled over. At first it snowed lightly but suddenly it developed into a whiteout blizzard with no visability and heavy snowfall all around. I then got the shock of my life when it began to thunder and lighning directly overhead, scaring me silly as it was right upon me and i had no choice but to stay put.
It finally subsided 15 minutes later, leaving me somewhat shook up. I raced back to Grinah Stones and over to the Bothy before the next band of snow came. By now it was going dark and i'd had enough so i made for the Westend Valley in more heavy snowfall. With the pine woods and slopes all white it was really beautuful (D of E gits would call it a 'dangerous' situation by the way).
The day then turned into a nighmare as it snowed constantly for 1 1/2 hours, the bus home failed to turn up, it turning around halfway up the reservoirs (TM-Travel- you are assholes!!!!). Luckily some walkers who i walked back down the road with offered to give me a lift to Hathersage so my perents could pick me up (no mobile reception in Derwentdale by the reserviors). I offer my greatest thanks to the members of the Derbyshire Pennine Fell Club for helping me out of a bad situation.
Anyway, it was certainly a good day and fun adventure!
Photos- top- Round Hill Bothies at 11:30 after the first snowfall, in Lower Small Clough, Ronskley Moor.
Bottom- Bleaklow Stones from Grinah Stones after the blizzard with more bad stuff on the way. The best view of any hill or mountain anywhere i think.
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