Day 33 - Edale to Crowden 17.5 miles

View from Kinder Scout

 I set off early, leaving camp by seven in the hope of leaving the hords of Saturday walkers behind. The short walk to Upper Booth was a great warm up before the dreaded Jocob's Ladder. The last time I'd walked this I'd harboured serious thoughts about settling half way up in order to avoid climbing any further. It was however a nice way of setting just how much fitter I was.

  By the time I reached it there were a few walkers behind me which helped. I stopped for a few minutes half way up and that was it. Thats a massive difference to a few months ago but I didn't feel fitter, the hill just didn't seem as steep.

Edale Rocks ( photo from last time I walked the Pennines)

  The wind was fierce and once I'd past Edale Rocks and Kinder Low I was high enough to receive it's full force. On several occasions I was forced to dig in my heels and lean on my sticks to stop from been blown over. Kinder Downfall was an experience, the wind was blowing up and against the rivers flow. Great torrents were been lifted into the air and back. By the time I got to the other side and out of its reach I was soaked and cold.

Finally I reached Jacob's Decent and on Mount Hill joined the Snake Path towards to A57. The wind lessened somewhat and for the first time I experiences Bleaklow Head in sunlight,  on previous visits it had been firmly uncased in fog or rain. I'd been trying to listen to the tennis on my phone but signal came and went, I heard and cheered him winning the fourth but missed most of the fifth which was probably good forReservoir.

Torside Reservoir- photo from previous walk

  Then there's only Torside Clough to descent which is considerably easier and pleasant in the sun. Torside Reservoir was clear in the distance, as was Crowden across the waters. An hour later and I was in camp.
  Crowden campsite is one of the nicest, the field is flat with trees in the middle to break up the view and give each camper a fair amount of privacy. The lady was also lovely and treated me to a snack in support of my venture. Soon after that mum arrived to spend the night, something I'd been looking forward to. She took me out to dinner and we had wine after in the tent, a lovely treat.