It's been a wet weekend in Yorkshire. Our planned hillwalking weekend got off to an exciting start when we arrived in the Dales to find that the road up to our barn bunkhouse was under water. The owner very kindly ferried us up in his 4x4 via an alternative wild track over the moors in the dark. It was three at a time in the jeep while the others sheltered in the pub in Chapel-le-dale.
I went up with the first students and was delighted to find a very comfortable bunkhouse! Our home for the weekend. Put a brew on and relaxed while we waited for everyone to arrive.
Rain and winds put the group off the idea of bagging some classic Yorkshire peaks, so we turned our attention to the vallies, rivers and waterfalls - of which there are many! Started at Catterick Force, Stainforth Foss and a few others before going for a 'Yorkshire Tea' at Malham Cove. Janet Foss was next...
Then a hike up into Goredale, where springs and rivers were literally appearing out of the ground.
At least the rivers were putting on a good show.
This morning when we went to leave, we discovered that overnight heavy rain had blocked the road again! We were stuck!
On closer inspection, it was clear that it was totally impassable. Almost waist deep.
Yesterday there wasn't even a river here!
We returned back to base and spent the morning playing games in the bunkhouse, while the rain poured on down.
Aled and I later went to check the 4x4 track that we had arrived on, with the hope that we could perhaps drive the mini-bus out that way? It was a rough track, but we were thinking that we might risk it - until we came across another big ford! That wasn't there the other night!
We hiked nearly 9km checking out all the ways off the hill, but were forced to conclude that we ought sit it out and wait for the waters to subside. We were both well soaked and had been through water higher than our boots, but at least my Rab waterproofs did their job!
A last check on the main road, showed that the waters were now even higher! Back to the pad for more tea and food... but how long will supplies last?! We should have left a 10am... it's now 16:37... could be a long night?!..
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