Today, being at a loose end (Wife out and a day off after the weekend), I decided that I would finally stand on spot height 636 the highest point of Kinder Scout (allegedly).

I decided to approach via the old PW (Grindsbrook et al)and return by the new ... the latter of which I haven't experienced before.

What a difference! My years of toiling up the slippery slopes of Grindbrook onto the plateau followed by the endless grind of peat groughs which sucked at your shoes in an attempt to make then disappear for ever. Ploughing a furrow more in hope than accuracy has been replaced by a gentle stroll to Upper Booth, a stoned climb up and a slabbed walk across most of the bogs.

Shame on the Peak Park. Let everybody suffer like us old timers had to.

(In fairness I spoke to a ranger I know in Edale and he told me that the number of recorded first day drop outs made the old route untenable).

Did you stand on Kinders true summit, then go via Kinder Gate to the Downfall and return via the new official way.
The last few times I have gone across via Kinder Gates, there was still quite a bit of navigatiob to do as once out of the trough, the path was virtually non existant. My last time across from the Downfall to grindsbrook was around 4/5 years ago.
Dave.

Slowcoach

As I'm sure you know, repairs to the PW over the last 20+ years have made a huge difference to the route.

The original route up Grindsbrook and across the plateau to Kinder Gates and Kinder Downfall is still available, and it's my preference except in vile weather. It is substantially unchanged, and one of my neighbours experienced the thigh-deep bogs within the last month.

The decision by the national government body (not the Peak Park, though I'm sure it was consulted, and anyway I won't engage in a pointless debate on exact names and roles over the last 30 years) was to repair the Jacob's Ladder route to the plateau edge. This was originally called the Bad Weather Alternative.

Anyone who knows the Kinder plateau, particularly those who are actually rather fond of it and all its moods, will know this was just about as good a response as could be made to the erosion of the routes. Even if it had been deemed possible and practicable to make a hard surface across the plateau, that would have destroyed the experience and the environment. I'd make a similar point about the two routes from Black Hill to Standedge.

Try to get over your disappointment, and remember there are still quite a few drop-outs on the first day, even though they use the Jacob's Ladder route. Similarly, there are quite a few drop-outs from Coast to Coast between Ennerdale Bridge and Borrowdale.

I assume that the point 636 shown on the map is the true summit, though standing there yesterday certainly raised doubts in my mind.

As Stottie rightly states,little has changed over this route, except parts of the footpath to the south of the summit are now flagged (which, in fairness, has been done exceptionally well).


It is only when you venture off this line that the good old fashioned bogs start. There is however, extensive work going on within the drainage channels which run off the tops. There are numerous wooden barriers across the watercourses causing a backup of water behind them. There are even more stoned dams which appear new as the stones have not yet weathered. They do, I confess, make excellent bridges across the really wet parts.

Perhaps Stottie can tell us whether they are erosion specific in order to stop the washing away of the peat cover or part of the "slow the flow" initiative which contains rainwater and slows it down so preventing flooding in the lower valleys.

I think I might try and have a look at Bleaklow today .... if I can find a reason to be out again. (I'll try "It's a shame to waste a nice sunny day" first).

I'm tackling the PW in June and certainly intend to follow the 'original' route up through Grindsbrook, if only to avoid the crowds strolling up Jacobs Ladder!

Slowcoach

Yes, the dams in the smaller groughs are there to raise the level of the water table as part of a plan to reduce wastage of the peat. There are several reasons why that's desirable, one of them being the colour of drinking water - it's very difficult to produce clear water from peaty catchments. I guess there will be a programme of spreading heather brash (chopped-up twigs of heather) and sowing grass and other seeds to stabilise the peat.

This has already happened on Bleaklow and has completely changed the visual impact of the groughs in the higher part of the PW there. The old image of a narrow stony or pale sandy bad, bed, steeply sloping sides of black or chocolate-brown peat, and a vegetation layer of heather, grass and other plants above eye-level is disappearing. The dark sides are now vegetated by the sowings of grass, which will hold the peat together and allow other plants to establish themselves eventually.

I guess there's much more on this programme in the Peak District info centres - there should be!

Having achieved sufficient Brownie points for 2 days out I revisited my days of youthful abandon by walking up Bleaklow again.... first time for 30 odd years

As you say, it is unrecognisable from the past. Initially a gravelled path followed by stone flags intermittently almost to the summit. And there are even stone waymarks (heaven forbid).

No more exhausted Pennine wayfarers floundering waist deep in the mire. No more lost souls sitting down whilst life gradually ebbs away and no bobble hats sticking out the peat whilst the wearer frantically fights for life somewhere below the surface.

Health and safety has much to answer for.

I think I'll give Black Hill a miss now, the thought of reaching the summit without 3 weeks of preplanning, the laying of survival rations every 50m and arranging the air ambulance to be on standby for your crossing is just too much for me to bear!



I found the small track up Higher Shelf Stones and came across the remains of the aircraft and the memorial plaque. Quite a moving discovery in such a remote place..... especially as I was on my own. I felt pleased that the remains have been left in situ. Long may they stay there.

http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrict44-61999.htm

http://www.myspace.com/david_demaine/blog/272349273

Tony, those are two fascinating reports. I'll have much to think about and contemplate as I make my way across Bleaklow in May.

Thanks for that.

Just in case you don't know (apologies if you do)

A short distance north of Snake Summit the PW crosses Doctors Gate. Immediately north of this crossing, if you look on the OS map, you will see a dotted track about 100m west of the route.

This, in fact, leads directly to the summit of the Higher Shelf Stones (though only part is shown on the map). At the summit trig point turn and head along one of the tracks heading directly for Bleaklow summit. These pass the wreckage site (or the one that I picked did!)