Sam W's trip report

After a hectic pre-trip friday of unplanned vehicular excitement, plus one emergency hire from CCVR, the drive to Yorkshire was smooth and uneventful. I was pleased to see that Selside Outdoor Activity Center[1] was largely as I remember it from 3 years ago - compact, warm, and wanting for little (save perhaps a couple of sofas).

I had the solemn duty of trip safety, and as such delivered the ever needful safety briefing saturday morning. I made sure to call out wind as a factor - and sure enough, as we neared the summit ridge of Whernside[2] - having started our classic "2 peaks" circular - the mild breeze that had remained since Ribblehead turned into a sustained strong crosswind that made noses run, eyes water and breathing harder [3]. We pressed on staggering somewhat, past an understandably occupied summit shelter - despite the "fresh" conditions, there were plenty of folks out - and descended the steep stepped path towards Chapel-le-Dale.

Lunch consumed in the more relaxing conditions of the dale floor, a decision was made - we'd continue to Ingleborough but rather than take the (presumably very windy) route back to Ribblehead via Park Fell, instead decend the three peaks route towards Pen-y-ghent and walk back directly to the bunkhouse. Plan in place and warmed by some spotty sunshine we were soon up the boardwalk and stone flags of Ingleborough's northwest flank and made short work of the steep final switchback section up to the shoulder. Here, once again, we were blasted with wind, however the remaining short section to the summit plateau was reasonably well sheltered. The summit itself felt desolate - windy and in a persistent light cloud with no views to be had. Not that there would have been much call to stay and admire them.

Once off the top and starting back down towards Horton the wind again receded, and a robust march was made back to the bunkhouse through the pavement and potholes of the Great Ashby Scar, arriving at 1700 to the minute. 22km by my (retrospective) route planning, with decent conditions and invigorating wind - which seemed to have really taken it out of us all judging by bedtimes.

Sunday was a characteristicly more relaxed affair, with a sizeable chunk being spent in "The Gem" in Ingleton, with some choosing to pay the £11 for the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail (and some finding alternatives). My car's trip home was similarly uneventful. I won't speak for others on that front...

[1] Complete with fleet of foam sandals and limestone pavement backyard
[2] After 3 trips to the area, this time I finally managed to remember which is Whernside and which is Ingleborough...

[3] Why is this? Mammalian Diving Reflex or the moving air being lower pressure? Or something else?