I set out at 0510 on Friday morning for a 2 night camp at Fieldhead campsite, I'd planned to walk Kinder Scout and Mam Tor, doing one a day. Northern Rail were on strike on Friday so the only train from Sheffield to Edale that was running was the 06.18 Liverpool train. Otherwise I'd have left a bit later. I got into Edale just before 0700 and walked up to Fieldhead campsite. I got pitched up and my gear stowed by 0900 but had to hang around for the office to open so I could pay for my pitch.
Just after 0900 I set off on the Kinder Scout walk. My choice of ascent was Grindsbrook Clough. I saw just a couple of people until I reached the plateau, which was great. For the most part it felt like I had the place to myself. The weather was warm, despite an early mist that had burned off quickly. I took my time as I was carrying my camera gear and wanted to get some photos along the way.
Once I reached the plateau there were a few more people about but it was nothing like the weekend walks I've been on there. My plan was to head for Kinder Downfall but I missed the path that led that way. I was too busy stopping and taking photos. Once I realised I'd missed it, I decided to just head towards Crowden Tower and then descend on Jacobs Ladder. I was enjoying the walk and taking my time. I had all day to kill so there was no rush.
When I got to Jacobs Ladder I lost my footing on a section that was rocky. My ankle went over but it wasn't painful to walk on. A little further though and my knee really starting becoming painful. On the more flat parts it was bearable but on the steep parts it really came keen. I must have twisted my knee or something. I kept plodding on but my pace had really slowed now. As I was getting near to the bottom of Jacobs Ladder the mountain rescue team vehicles were there, they were dealing with a casualty elsewhere. There was one man at the vehicles though and he saw me hobbling and asked if I was OK. I said yes and thanked him. So I carried on heading for Edale. As I was rounding the storm outlet on the Penine way the rescue ambulance went past, he stopped and asked if I was OK, I said what had happened so he offered me a lift back to Edale. My knee was giving me some real grief by that time so I accepted the offer, gratefully too! I was gutted about not finishing the walk but was glad of the lift!
That night I took some ibuprofen and the pain eased up. I had the loudest snorer ever pitched next to me and he woke me up a few times through the night with his snoring but other than that I slept well. The next day the pain had eased a lot but I didn't want to push too far with it so I decided to do a lowlands walk to see how I got on with it. So I walked to Hope by the road, taking my time and taking photos along the way. I had a bacon butty and coffee at Hope and set off back for Edale. I got back to the campsite about 1pm.
My knee was OK for that walk so I decided to try Mam Tor, I would have been gutted if I hadn't as it was my goal for the weekend. If my knee started playing up again I would head straight back. I left about 3pm and headed towards Hardenclough Farm for Mam Tor. I'd originally wanted to do the Rushup Edge route but wasn't sure on that with my knee. I managed the ascent fine but my knee started up again on the steepest parts of the descent, nowhere near as bad as the day before but it was definitely niggling. I was glad I'd done Mam Tor though. On the route I took I'd passed no more than 8 people but the summit was really busy. The views were definitely worth the effort though!! The knee was OK again this morning but I'm going to rest it up a bit before I go out again.
All in I enjoyed the weekend. I even had a visitor in my tent who enjoyed the bombay mix I had in a zip lock bag. A rat or mouse had gnawed through the tent inner and then into the zip lock bag. I've put patches on both sides to cover the holes so the damage is minimal
I'll put some photos up later, I'm getting told off by my missus for being on the computer
EDIT: Some of the photos I took along the way on the walks