A perfect low level walk when the weather closes the tops

Happy New Year!

- Devised and described by Bob Clare, Chair of the Norwest Fell Walking Club

Loughrigg Tarn

Last week I exhorted readers to climb a hill as one of their new year resolutions, but such a challenge is not without impediments the main one being the English weather.There are conditions when it is not best to climb a hill - even when you are an experienced walker.

Some years ago, a member of my fell walking club-let's call him Harry - failed to turn up at the end of a coach outing to the Langdale Valley. He had set off alone with a simple plan to scale Crinkle Crags going up by Oxendale and descending by the Band-a nine-mile circuit well within his capabilities The weather, however, was drear with low cloud hanging over the fells reducing visibility. Realising he was going to be benighted Harry found a rock to shelter by, took out his bivvy tent and torch and waited for...

Meanwhile down at the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel anxiety levels were rocketing. While everyone knew Harry to be a competent navigator the situation was without precedent. Return time was meant to be 4.30pm. By common consent the coach waited an hour for Harry to emerge out of the darkness. Finally with a heavy heart club secretary made the phone call to the Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team to report Harry as missing. After giving details of Harry's intended route, the coach departed for Preston.