We stayed at the YHA in Malham, a place which has become something of a home-from-home for me over the past eighteen months or so.
Because of having less than 12 hours between sunrise and sunset, we set off from Horton-in-Ribblesdale at about seven in the morning while it was still dark, to make sure we could finish while it was still light. There was frost on the ground, but an indication of almost perfect weather for later. I was assigned to the middle of the group of about 40 participants.
During the approach to Pen-y-Ghent the soles of one participant's boot came asunder. I provided gaffer tape for him to repair it with, but it ruptured again, so he made his way alone back to Horton (a route he knew well) – in the afternoon, he re-joined the walk wearing a pair of brand new boots he had managed to buy in Skipton.
It all went well until the ascent to Whernside, but by then it was hot, with not a breath of cooling breeze, and I was suffering from having eaten too much lunch too quickly, which seems to be a hazard of this kind of work when timing is tight. Everybody was happy and relaxed at the top, so we continued our merry way around, without any major incidents that I can recall.
As often happens, I ended up at the back with the slowest walker. Providing support to walkers to are struggling seems to be what I am best at, rather than surging ahead with the fast walkers who really don't need that much support.
We finished well before dark, and returned to the hostel for a jolly good meal.
It was my third time of leading on this route, but first time I had actually walked every inch of the way.
For the record, the three peaks of the walk are listed here.
1. Pen-y-Ghent (694m)
2. Whernside (736m)
3. Ingleborough (724m)
Congratulations to all the participants, especially to those that I looked after.
