Day 34 Edale to Snake Pass Summit (should have been a rest day!)

 

We decided that instead of a Rest Day, we would break the long nearly 17 mile walk with an ascent of nearly 2700 feet into two parts. 

We set off from Edale together, and soon discovered it would very likely be windy for the next few legs! The Pennine Way was well signposted from Edale and we began the steady climb on laid down slabs for the first mile or so. After the first climb and a vicious wind, me and Alfie walked back down into Edale and Garry continued (after chasing his cap!)

 

Alfie and I found a cafe back at the bottom and had some breakfast there, whilst Alfie enjoyed a recovery rest in the sun.

Whilst I was munching away, Garry found  an old haunt, where he stayed on a youth club holiday in the 1970s. It's no longer used for the same purpose and the upstairs section had been removed and it is used for storing farm machinery now. 

After revisiting his thoughts from 50 years ago, Garry walked through a farmyard and then up a lane. He then began the ascent up Jacob's ladder, which was "hard work", a long steady ascent with many steps. Jacob's ladder was the old packhorse route walk and a steep staircase-like section. 

         

At the top of Jacob's Ladder were the Edale Rocks, quite a sight.

      

The terrain became quite rocky with a slightly indistinct path, which was much easier to follow when there were others there.

Once Garry got passed Kinder Downfall (a waterfall), which included a leap across some stepping stones, the path was a lot clearer and Garry saw me and Alfie hove into view. We had parked up at Snake Pass Summit  and walked 1.5 miles along the well marked path of the Pennine Way. The path was very welcome as it was extremely boggy either side. Even the path was covered in water in some sections.

Once back at Jenny and Andy's, Alfie found a sunny spot to chill again.

Quite a climb today for Garry (on rest day) but that now makes for a shorter 'easier' day tomorrow. 

Two slightly shorter (and less step!) walks for me today!

Tomorrow sees a walk to Crowden, the most northern village in Derbyshire.

A slightly later post of the blog today due to other news! There were some unexpected events for the last hour. Alfie went missing from the garden so we were all wandering around the locality calling for him, even the local children got involved.

All is well as he appeared following Andy onto house! We will never know where he had spent the last hour (although we all have our own thoughts!)

He wolfed down a bowl of food and still looks a little sheepish!