Thursday walk, January 6th 2022

15 of us met at Fox House in a distinctly cold wind with the promise of snow to come. A couple of members had already excused themselves in anticipation of difficulties returning home and others announced their intention to cut the walk short should the weather deteriorate. A brisk walk over mainly frozen paths took us to the top of Burbage where we met the first flurries of snow and a strategic retreat was beaten by 4 members. Having agreed to just one stop we arrived at Upper Burbage bridge and one of our less choice lunch spots, cowering behind the newly rebuilt wall, at this point another 3 members left to walk back along the bottom of Burbage. The rest of us pressed on in deteriorating visibility on a slightly modified route round rather than over Higger Tor, skidding over icy patches hidden by snow. Turning just before Carl Wark for the packhorse bridge we found that not all the ground was frozen and wallowed our way to the path below Burbage. As we walked through Longshaw the weather improved and the now settling snow evoked memories of winters past. At the gatehouse a kind man offered to top up flasks with hot water should we have the need. The Longshaw car park featured an abandoned BMW so we waited to ensure the safe departure of our friend and proceeded back the to our off road parking pushing the odd vehicle along the way. Thanks to all for their company on what turned out to be a ‘proper winter walk’.