How did a casual chat about a possible camping holiday between two teachers end up with seven members of staff climbing England’s third highest mountain for charity a few weeks later?
It all started several weeks before the end of term when Alan Hart and I were chatting one lunchtime about a possible camping trip in the summer. The conversation soon turned into not only camping for a few days but climbing a mountain also! As I’d climbed Helvellyn last October and it was a popular, straightforward route that seemed to be the final suggestion for this summer mini-break.
A week or so after this Richard Moreton sadly lost his brother-in-law when he accidentally fell whilst walking in North Wales. It had been playing on my mind that if this ever expanding group of staff were going to do this then why not raise money for charity? The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue had been very helpful and supportive to Richard’s family so it seemed appropriate to donate the money to them.
Alan Hart, Chris Grace, Dave Eccles, Matty Prentice and I all met at the Forton motorway service station on the Tuesday lunchtime after we broke up. Arriving an hour or so later at the National Trust Campsite in the Great Langdale Valley to find Richard and John Fazakerly had already camped the night before and were out climbing Scafell Pike! We decided to pitch our tents and take it easy in some of the first summer sunshine we’d seen since May. When the two keen climbers returned we made our way down the valley for a pub tea, a game of pool and a few glasses of lemonade!
We woke up on Wednesday morning to find the valley was shrouded in mist, there were a few showers and it felt more like October. Rain was expected and we all thought we’d be in for a day of trudging through driving Lakeland rain. Still, we were going to do it and not one person grumbled.
The walk started at the information centre at Glenridding (a half hour drive away) and we were out the cars, kitted up and posing for a starters photograph by 10:30am. Looking all the part of experienced walkers we set off up the valley under gray skies and occasional drizzle. Half an hour later layers were shed as it was becoming warm and patches of blue sky could just about starting to be seen overhead. We followed the path up to Red Tarn, having a few stops along the way and taking the walk at our own pace, it wasn’t a forced march after all!
By lunchtime we had reached the shores of Red Tarn, the summit of Helvellyn was covered in mist which was swirling and barrelling down into the basin of the corrie, short, sharp gusts of wind were threatening to lift us (well Mr Hart) off our feet! The prospect of heading up into the mist, along the narrow path up Swirral Edge seemed a little less appealing at this point than it did when we were discussing it in the Stickleback Tavern the evening before.
Strung out in a line, we made our way up the arête, pausing briefly for a break at the top before the scramble up to the summit of Helvellyn. The cloud had started to disappear and the views behind us towards Patterdale were fantastic. Taking care scrambling up, as one wrong step would mean a fall of a few hundred feet into the tarn, we one-by-one reached the ‘car park like’ top of the mountain. Magically the clouds parted and we were rewarded with views across to Thirlmere and even as far as Lake Windermere for a few moments before the weather closed in again. After posing for a group photo at the trig point we had lunch in the shelter near the summit. Although the photographs don’t imply, it was actually quite cold. I was wishing that I’d brought a hat and gloves, then again, this was England in July at almost 1000 metres.
We picked our way down over another scramble of rocks to the start of the famous Striding Edge, if you wish to know any more about this well-known Cumbrian landmark just ask any GCSE Geography student and they should be able to bore you senseless! Striding Edge is well walked and we carefully navigated our way around the side of the ridge passing several other walkers and climbers on the way. An hour or so later we were almost back down in the valley floor, John and Richard having fully utilised their walking poles, me having regretted not bringing mine and Chris having acquired a new nickname! But what happened on Helvellyn, stays on Helvellyn!
We reached the car park again at 5:30, some staff perhaps a little more sore and achy than others but all of us having a sense of smug achievement! The ‘Magnificent Seven’ walking group had conquered its first challenge, who knows; perhaps this will become an annual event?
Mr Halewood
===========================================================
On Tuesday 24th July, Mr Halewood, Hart, Grace and Moreton are planning to climb Helvellyn in the Lake District. Helvellyn at 3117 feet it's the third highest mountain in England.
We would like people to sponsor us in order to raise money for the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue. Alternatively, people can donate directly on their website:
www.ogwen-rescue.org.uk/
Mountain rescue teams across the country work very hard in dangerous situations. Few realise it's a voluntary organisation. One member of staff recently lost a relative in a walking accident in North Wales. The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team not only implemented a professional search and rescue operation, they also provided, and continue to provide the family with invaluable help and support.
Please give as little or as much as you can to any of the staff mentioned above or donate on line. Thankyou.
