So, although my pride is dented, I'm not embarrassed to say i had to call and ask for help yesterday. As an ex British army infantryman, normally my navigational skills are spot on (made it to 40 years of age and never been lost before).
However, out for a half term walk yesterday with my missus, 5 yo stepson, and the dog for a leisurely 7-mile circular around Kinder Scout. Nothing out the ordinary, my step-son regularly does 8 or 9 miles around clumber park with no issues so distance and time wise was just another day out walking. My first time up kinder scout. Though I've done plenty of walking and wild camping in the peaks I've never got around to doing kinder. As we left the plateau and headed towards kinder downfall, the weather turned very bad, very quick. Visibility was down to about 6 or 8 feet. Then, the path that was very clearly marked on my map and the National Trust route we were following wasn't there. There was no path. I tried to get to higher ground to find something. A path, an idea, anything really. I ended up completely discombobulated. Fast running out of light and completely lost my bearings, my missus made me call for mountain rescue. Even if I could've relocated the path, we were never gonna do the reverse back down Jacobs ladder and get to Edale before losing light. Not ideal with a 5yo in tow.
Kinder Mountain Rescue arrived after about 2½ hours, which felt much longer as it was getting wetter and colder. They were great. So good with the little one. So friendly and helpful. They were nothing short of amazing. It turns out we weren't the only ones that got lost that night as there was another couple only about 400 meters back down the way from us too. Apparently we were the 8th and 9th call out this year already for the same location.
So, a warning to me and all other outdoorsies. No matter how good you think your map reading and navigation is, you can still be caught out. And make sure you're prepared. Luckily, we had plenty of layers and emergency blankets, etc. The other couple weren't so lucky, and we're setting in hypothermia.
And most of all. Hats off to all the volunteers that leave their tea on the table at 5.30 all over the country to go and help other people in need.
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However, out for a half term walk yesterday with my missus, 5 yo stepson, and the dog for a leisurely 7-mile circular around Kinder Scout. Nothing out the ordinary, my step-son regularly does 8 or 9 miles around clumber park with no issues so distance and time wise was just another day out walking. My first time up kinder scout. Though I've done plenty of walking and wild camping in the peaks I've never got around to doing kinder. As we left the plateau and headed towards kinder downfall, the weather turned very bad, very quick. Visibility was down to about 6 or 8 feet. Then, the path that was very clearly marked on my map and the National Trust route we were following wasn't there. There was no path. I tried to get to higher ground to find something. A path, an idea, anything really. I ended up completely discombobulated. Fast running out of light and completely lost my bearings, my missus made me call for mountain rescue. Even if I could've relocated the path, we were never gonna do the reverse back down Jacobs ladder and get to Edale before losing light. Not ideal with a 5yo in tow.
Kinder Mountain Rescue arrived after about 2½ hours, which felt much longer as it was getting wetter and colder. They were great. So good with the little one. So friendly and helpful. They were nothing short of amazing. It turns out we weren't the only ones that got lost that night as there was another couple only about 400 meters back down the way from us too. Apparently we were the 8th and 9th call out this year already for the same location.
So, a warning to me and all other outdoorsies. No matter how good you think your map reading and navigation is, you can still be caught out. And make sure you're prepared. Luckily, we had plenty of layers and emergency blankets, etc. The other couple weren't so lucky, and we're setting in hypothermia.
And most of all. Hats off to all the volunteers that leave their tea on the table at 5.30 all over the country to go and help other people in need.
Sent from my SM-S711B using Tapatalk
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