Author Topic: [Trip Report] Crowden Clough  (Read 4310 times)

Dazza

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[Trip Report] Crowden Clough
« on: 15:56:36, 26/02/09 »
Some time ago we were going to go down Crowden Clough but it was wet at the time so we didn't bother. Now I'd got a few days off this week, and yesterday was free. As the weather looked promising I thought I'd see if I could go up Kinder Scout via Crowden Clough, coming down via Ringing Roger (a new part of Kinder to me at least).

As you can see from the maps I had to change my plans a fair bit. Map courtesy of Crown Copyright.




Whilst my usual Walking buddy is still recovering (and for the sake of waiting an extra week or two I can't blame him) I thought I do some walks on my own. So this is my first solo walk, so with some trepidation I find myself at an unusual spot...




Still the trains are fairly regular and there's a pub nearby. The locals though did look a little scary though:




The forecast was for generally clear skies and good visibility, low cloud and light rain late afternoon. As I was expecting to be finished by around 1530, this didn't bother me too much and the view towards Lose Hill suggested the forecast was correct.




After a certain struggle with the camera (making sure the lens is properly attached is a bonus I find) I headed up the Pennine Way from the Pub.






Checking the view from time to time, it seemed the the weather gods were on my side still as I started on the path towards Crowden Clough.






I knew Crowden was rockier than my usual routes up Kinder, but the initial view didn't seem off putting.




In fact the walking was rather straightforward really, lots more crossing of streams than usual but some nice watery features to compensate.






Of course crossing the water means you have to make your own bridges from time to time.




I'm pretty sure, without checking, that Crowden is a similar length to Grindsbrook, but it seems to take much longer as it's more uneven under foot. Well, on the day it was, although the water level was fairly high so in sunnier times it may be more of a walk by the rockery instead of in it.

However it soon starts to shows its character, although here it seems more than manageable.






If you've previously read my ramblings on this ere forum you'll know height and I don't get on. So I have no tolerance for ridge lines and little tolerance of climbs / scrambles. So I'll leave it to your imagination what I thought when I came across this:




Still onwards and upwards I thought, but trying to ignore the upwards bit,  I'm not that far from the top now.

Then I came across this:




After cursing I tried. No I really did. I got near the top but couldn't see any way forward at all. Worse than that was the starting of a vertigo thing. To help matters my brain flooded my body with adrenaline which makes my legs and hands a bit wobbly. I hadn't seen a soul all day so if I fell it'd be an uncomfortable wait, so shakily I back tracked and headed for the other footpath that takes you to the bottom of Crowden Tower.






Of course this now coloured my day somewhat, the punch line then being that when I was at the top looking down I could see I was actually only a few metres from a muddy path before a more straight forward climb. That and there was a party of 6 or 7 people coming up the clough as well. Still better safe than a mangled heap lying in ice cold running water eh?




Whilst climbing up you're very sheltered from the prevailing weather. So I was unaware of the windy conditions on top (although Kinder seems windy pretty much all the time), the cloud was coming down and that a light rain had started. I soon found this out though and walked to some sheltering rocks before deciding what to do.

The rocks offered no shelter at all so I ate briefly before following the path to Grindsbrook again.  The wind was picking up and whilst the cloud didn't know what to do with itself (it was up and down the rest of the day) the rain had decided it liked the look of these hills and would make itself at home.

So off I went down Grindsbrook.

One advantage of going a different way is that you see things you sometimes miss. Like this bank:




As I walked along the path stretching into the distance...



...I thought to myself well I'll be on the train by 1330, so home for around 3. Hmm... so instead of waiting in the rain at Edale Station I'll be at home, beer chilling in the fridge, soaking in a nice hot bath.

And with that happy thought I headed off home.



© Dazza
« Last Edit: 23:25:23, 02/10/09 by Dazza »
Dazza
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These boots were made for walking so that's just what I'll do. After I've re-proofed them of course...

ramblingpete

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Re: [Trip Report] Crowden Clough
« Reply #1 on: 13:03:27, 28/02/09 »
A nice walk Dazza, and well done for knowing when to bail out left. As you say better that than a crumpled heap. It looked like a good day and not too boggy underfoot. Nice clear pictures as well - It's been a while since I was out that way, so I might try it next week when I get home. O0

Dazza

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Re: [Trip Report] Crowden Clough
« Reply #2 on: 14:28:11, 28/02/09 »
Yeah knowing when to stop and go a different way or even back is key. There's really no shame in knowing your limits and respecting them.  I'm sure there are many people who pressed on and later regretted it - even if that just meant they were cold, wet and miserable rather than injured.

It wasn't a bad day early on although the wind was getting much stronger as I was coming down, so not ideal weather as the day went on.

The tops were quite dry, although still pretty boggy. I was going to take the path down Grindslow Knoll but the footpath was a sea of mud for a good few hundred meters. After that it looked fine, but as I was getting the train and would rather not be kicked off for muddying the seats I thought better of it.

Whilst I'm not a huge fan of Kinder Plateau itself I do love the edges. So many places to go and interesting things to see.
Dazza
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These boots were made for walking so that's just what I'll do. After I've re-proofed them of course...

scenic

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Re: [Trip Report] Crowden Clough
« Reply #3 on: 18:12:52, 28/02/09 »
Hello Dazza.

Just to repeat what's said above, the main thing is that you got through your first solo walk in one piece.  O0

I like Kinder a lot, all of it...  the ascents, the edge and the plateau. I still have a few routes planned but not yet walked.

Shame you got so close to the top. The 'awkward step' moment is tricky, though quite do-able. Maybe next time for you when you return in company?
Life without spice is like food without flavour

Dazza

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Re: [Trip Report] Crowden Clough
« Reply #4 on: 21:59:24, 28/02/09 »
We'll see on that one I reckon. There's so much to do up there that if I never try again I won't exactly miss it.
Dazza
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These boots were made for walking so that's just what I'll do. After I've re-proofed them of course...

 

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