PW day 00: Sun 21 Feb 2016; Home to Edale
Walk descriptor | Pennine Way | Day | 00 | ||
Date | Sun 21 Feb 2016 | Start to end time | n/a | ||
Start point | Home | End point | Edale | ||
Miles today | n/a | Cu miles | n/a | ||
Ft today | n/a | Cu ft | n/a | ||
Route miles left | 277.79 | Route ft left | 42,187 | ||
Today’s weather | Thick cloud, driving rain, gale force Westerly wind, about 8C | ||||
Today’s location (the red cross in a circle shows where I am at the moment) |
GPX based track of today’s walk (click button to download file) GPX |
Commentary
Today marked the start of the Pennine Way adventure and it really was a day of contrasts. I set off from London (St Pancras) where the weather was benign – mild, at about 14C, and dry. Getting off the train at Edale was like stepping into a different world. The temperature had dropped to about 7C, night had fallen, and the rain was lashing down. I barely made it from the train to the platform shelter before I was soaked. Cagoule, overtrousers and full goretex kit was essential for the 2 mile walk to the youth hostel.
I reached the hostel, hidden away up a side valley, after about 30 mins and it was a fantastic port in a storm. Thank goodness for drying rooms! Soaked clothing and rucksack are now gently saunaing in the drying room as I write this (on probably the slowest internet connection in the world – honestly, morse code would be quicker).
I’m hoping that tomorrow is going to be a bit less hostile as I set off for the walk “proper”. Up Jacob’s Ladder, over Kinder Scout, Black Hill and Bleaklow to Crowden – names to conjure with but places better not visited on a day like today. So here’s hoping for sun and calm – a vain expectation perhaps, but looking out of the window it does at least appear to have stopped raining for the moment.
I am very glad not to be camping tonight! Next installment tomorrow!