Kinder sunset / night-time shenanigans

I met my reliable accomplice in all things adventurous, Alex, on Saturday afternoon in a frozen-solid Edale. We wandered up onto Kinder via Grindslow Knoll in the hope of catching the last of the sunshine in a clear blue sky, and weren’t disappointed.

We had already decided that the best plan was to chase the sun westward, partly because that’s what any sensible person would do, and partly because we both like taking pictures and sunset is cool.

The first stop was in the little dip at the top of Crowden Clough to take photos, involving jumping over stuff. Predictably, it was the first stop of many. Also predictably – because I’d checked before leaving the house – a Wolf Moon rose at 17:15. It was directly opposite the setting sun, and pretty spectacular against the spotless sky.

Also, Alex managed to jump over it.

After that we turned west again, to be presented with the beginnings of a glorious sunset.

After that we passed Kinder Low trig point and switched on torches between there and the Downfall. There was some ice, but it definitely wasn’t “in” for climbing. We turned and followed the frozen river upstream to Kinder Gates.

The ground beyond the Gates used to be the place of navigational nightmares. Increased traffic over recent years meant we needed only a cursory glance at the map and just followed footprints / our noses.

A short while later we picked our way down Crowden Clough and then accelerated into the fastest sector of the night as we approached the Old Nag’s Head back in Edale.

We tucked into some dinner, Alex had a pint of something geographically-appropriate, and we retired to the car park whilst congratulating ourselves on another brilliant excursion. Big thanks to the Old Nags Head for finding an apple crumble for Alex mere minutes after telling me I couldn’t have one because you’d sold out. Huge thanks to Alex for agreeing to the suggestion of running across technical ground in the dark while it’s bloody freezing, and for Dairy Milk, and photographic expertise as always. Big thanks to Kinder for being fun and not swallowing us in a big grough.