11 October 2009

kinder trog recce

within minutes of leaving the car the drizzle started. but the steady climb to lantern pike kept us warm. touch the summit and straight back down. despite the wet the ground was still hard under foot and the going was good. a bit further down and then there it is, back up we go. the higher we climbed the less we saw. the clag was thick but the path obvious. running along the slippery flagstones across the plateau and now into the wind. time for jelly babies. with no view to distract the from the constant pounding of rubber on stone all we could do was push on. an eye on the watch, unsure if we'd make the cutoff.

drizzle turns to rain, winds to gusts. stop to add a layer. stuff aching damp fingers into gloves. try not to lose the map. a sudden realisation that it really is cold. round the edge of kinder. bet the views would be great. we can hear the waterfall but we can't see it. keep moving. then another realisation. which direction? the flagstones have gone. replaced by a lunar landscape of peat bog and rounded grit stone. back to the trig point, duck down out of the wind and take a bearing. more jelly babies.

keep moving. down, down, follow the faint trod. lose the trod but stay on the bearing. at least we're out of the wind. slightly. across the stream and straight back up. definitely on route again. keep climbing. keep warm. along the top and an easy path. the cloud begins to lift. lush green fields, neatly squared by dry stone walls. burnt orange grass and dark, chocolaty peat. we can see it all. some more jelly babies. take a layer off. the final down and up. leads perfectly to the final down.

tea loaf awaits us in the car.

16 comments:

Groover said...

Sounds pleasant and unpleasant at the same time. You kinda sound happy with your effort but I'm not sure. It's hard to tell.

Anonymous said...

Great stuff! You almost make me want to get out and have a go *G*

trio said...

Makes me want to curl up in a warm bed!

Ian Charters said...

Kinder, at its most typical :)

M&J said...

Hahahaha - I glanced at this late last night and somehow decided you were participating in some twisted Kinder egg treasure hunt!

Having had some sleep I realise my mistake. But still confused, not having heard of Kinder. Is it a trod or a trog? And what is it/are they?

Northern-speak - it's all greek to me :-)

Red Bike said...

Is that Kinder Scout in the peaks?
I think Jane said you were in Wales?

kate said...

groover- you're right there was a high pleasure/pain ratio! we missed the cut off time but due to the conditions and not knowing the route. so, a good training run :)

jumbly- thanks :)

peewiglet- good wainwright training ;)

trio- bed was certainly appreciated last night!

ian- yep! ;)

jo- sadly no eggs but next time.... kinder is in derbyshire, it's a high peaty/boggy plateau with few features. the 'kinder trog' is a 16m fell race, usually ran in june-so the weather is normally a bit better ;)

red- yes kinder, as in kinder scout. i visited my mum on friday after work then came back late saturday. sunday, kinder trog!

Red Bike said...

I'm always highly jealous of just how much you manage to pack into one week.

I'm going to have to start nagging you to help fill up my calender for next year.

kate said...

red- don't be too jealous. i don't blog about the days that sit around listening to the radio having tea and biscuits ;)

trio said...

No in that case you post pictures of cake!

jumbly said...

Maybe we need a second blog dedicated just to the snacks and beverages!

ultra collie said...

you confused me..a recce there at this time of year? but was it more of your secret training i wonder..but then not that secret as you blogged about it..but only after the event. does jane know ;)

Simon Lewis said...

I love tea loaf. Its one of my favourites.

Jane said...

mmmm tea loaf with a bit of cheddar is my favorite

Keith said...

I love running in the rain it keeps you nice and cool, hardest thing is just getting yourself out of your house/car! Returning home wet, dirty and sweaty makes me feel like its a job well done

kate said...

uc- not so secret as she came with me, she had baked the cake after all ;)

simon- perfect post run food but wish we had a nice flask of tea in the car too!

jane- thank you for introducing me to the world of savory/sweet ;)

keith- hi there, you're so right. i love that smug satisfied feeling, means more cake ;)