Great Mountain Days in the Pennines. Terry Marsh

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СКАЧАТЬ all the walks in this book contain some stretches that meet each grade criteria; it is possible, indeed likely, that all four grades will be met with on each walk. The grades are therefore no more than a general overview of each entire walk. Within the book the more difficult grades predominate – there are 14 ‘strenuous’ walks, 17 ‘demanding’, 14 ‘moderately demanding’, and 5 ‘moderate’.

      Distances and height gain

      This information has been arrived at by a combination of methods, none of which assumes that if the highest point is 500m, and the lowest is 200m, that the amount of height gain is 300m; there are just too many variables to make it that simple. So, precision is not always possible.

      The average length of the 50 walks in this book is 15.4km (9.6 miles), and the average height gain is 456m (1495ft).

      Times

      Timings are subjective, and also depend on the individual’s level of fitness. Those given for each walk are the times taken by the author, carrying a day sack, camera and so on, and so they take the nature of the terrain into account. The timings do not include an allowance for any stops.

      However, rather than rely on the author’s figures, it is far better to learn by experience what your own pace is, and then use the distance and height gain information (in the information box at the start of each walk) to get an idea of how long it will take you, given your personal level of fitness. Then be sure to allow for the terrain, which in the Pennines is renowned for being difficult and boggy, to the extent that minor detours become necessary following wet weather.

      Maps

      Although the guide contains map extracts, you are strongly advised to take with you the relevant sheet map for the route, not only for safety reasons but also to give a wider picture of the landscapes you are walking through. Note that key landmarks that feature on the maps appear in bold in the text to help you plot the route. (The map extracts in this book are taken from these 1:50,000 maps, expanded to 1:40,000 so that 1km is represented by 2.5cm on the map.)

      The maps recommended for the walks in this book are Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps OL1 (The Peak District: Dark Peak area); OL2 (Yorkshire Dales: Southern and Western areas); OL19 (Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley); OL21 (South Pennines); OL30 (Yorkshire Dales: Northern and Central areas); OL31 (North Pennines: Teesdale and Weardale); OL297 (Lower Wharfedale and Washburn valley)

      GPS systems

      There is an increasing number of satellite-linked GPS systems on the market these days, some of which contain the mapping needed for specific counties or long-distance trails. The precision of these GPS systems significantly reduces the risk of navigational error, and they are very reliable guides in poor visibility. However, they are no substitute for the ability to read conventional mapping or for sound navigational skills, but for some years the author has been confidently using a Satmap Active 10, with appropriate 1:25,000 mapping on SD cards. Satmap Systems also produce mapping specifically for the Pennine Way, which covers many of the walks in this book, particularly where they cross county boundaries.

      Bird's-eye primrose

      The River Rawthey at Cautley (Walk 14)

      IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

      Information about mountain rescue teams operating in the Pennines is detailed at:

       www.mountain.rescue.org.uk.

      If you need the services of a mountain rescue team:

       Call 999 or 112 and ask for mountain rescue.

       Tell them where the ‘incident’ has occurred, by giving an accurate grid reference, and the nature of the incident.

       Give them a contact phone number.

       The messengers may be required to wait by the phone for further instructions, and may be used to guide the team to the exact location of the incident, so they should be the fittest group members if possible.

       Be prepared for a long wait – comprised of the time it takes for your messengers to reach a phone, the team callout and assembly time, and the time required for the team to walk to your location with heavy equipment. You may decide that if there is a danger of hypothermia it is best to evacuate most of the party and leave a small group remaining with the casualty. You may also decide that it is necessary to move the casualty to a more sheltered or safer location (if so, ensure that someone will be on hand to guide the team to your new location).

       Consider how your group members or passers-by can best be deployed, and how the equipment carried by the group can best be redistributed and utilised.

       Consider ‘alternative’ uses for the equipment you are carrying, for example camera flashes can be used to attract attention in the dark, a rope laid out along the ground will maximise your chances of being located in poor visibility, and a survival bag can be used for attracting attention.

       The standard distress signal is six sharp whistle blasts (or torch flashes) followed by a one-minute silence, repeated.

       Don’t lose touch with common sense when coming to any decisions!

Weather to walk?

      Mountains everywhere tend to generate their own micro-climate, while remaining subject to whatever is going on nationally. So, while out in the Pennines, whether on the tops or in the valleys, you need always to be aware of what is happening to the weather: is the wind changing direction?; are clouds gathering?; is it getting hotter or colder? Make allowance for the fact that conditions on the tops are generally more severe than in the valleys.

      Some indication of what might be happening can be obtained by checking the weather forecast both the day before you go and again on the morning you intend to walk. There are reliable sources of weather information on the internet, notably:

       www.bbc.co.uk/weather (this site allows you to set your favourite locations in order to obtain a more specific forecast)

       www.metoffice.gov.uk (the Met Office’s own website) – this is also available as a free app for use on iPhones, iPads and hybrid smartphones.

      Most other sites draw information from these two.

Before you start

      What to wear

      Someone once said: ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate clothing.’ Well, as everyone knows, there is such a thing as bad weather, sometimes so bad that no amount of clothing will prove adequate. But the comment makes a fair point, and, unless you aspire to being no more than a fair weather walker, going adequately and suitably clothed facilitates walking regardless of all but the most severe weather conditions. Let’s face it, if you have to wait for the sun to shine before venturing out, you may never begin.

      Being adequately clothed makes all the difference, and well-prepared walkers, who will always be equipped with wind- and water-proof СКАЧАТЬ