One of the days we spend in the Peaks, my dad and I took a hike from Edale, where we were staying, up to Mam Tor, along the ridge, and then back down to Edale. We had driven a few times through the pass near Mam Tor, and I thought that it looked like a great place to hike, with views over the valley. The man at the tourist center as good as promised us nice weather, so we set out, climbing up from the valley.
The view really was beautiful over the green, lush valley and the hills around. The sun kept flirting with us, coming out and then hiding behind the clouds.
Eventually we reached the top of the ridge, where a stone-paved pathway starts, and you could basically see in every direction.
At the end of this pathway was the official summit of Mam Tor. All of the sudden, it was insanely windy (as you can see from my wild hair, below). I had to put my jacket on and almost lost it because the wind was so strong.
We proceed down the ridge, when all of the sudden it started pelting down rain. Because the wind was so strong, the rain was literally coming at us sideways (from the right). It was amazing how much more wet our right shoes were than our left! There was no shelter, so we just sort of had to keep going, as our path became more and more river-esque. Luckily, it was probably a 10 to 15 minute shower, so eventually the sun came out and dried us out a little.
The vegetation on this side of the ridge was much different- more heather and grass, and not nearly as green. It was really beautiful, especially since the sun decided to come out in earnest!
Between the sun, rain, then sun, the green fields, and the enclosures of cows and sheep that we hiked through, we felt that we had a truly English hiking experience!
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| Us with Mam Tor in the background. |
Eventually we reached the top of the ridge, where a stone-paved pathway starts, and you could basically see in every direction.
At the end of this pathway was the official summit of Mam Tor. All of the sudden, it was insanely windy (as you can see from my wild hair, below). I had to put my jacket on and almost lost it because the wind was so strong.
 |
| Hello, windy hair! |
We proceed down the ridge, when all of the sudden it started pelting down rain. Because the wind was so strong, the rain was literally coming at us sideways (from the right). It was amazing how much more wet our right shoes were than our left! There was no shelter, so we just sort of had to keep going, as our path became more and more river-esque. Luckily, it was probably a 10 to 15 minute shower, so eventually the sun came out and dried us out a little.
 |
| You can see the rain shower clearing off on the left. |
The vegetation on this side of the ridge was much different- more heather and grass, and not nearly as green. It was really beautiful, especially since the sun decided to come out in earnest!
Between the sun, rain, then sun, the green fields, and the enclosures of cows and sheep that we hiked through, we felt that we had a truly English hiking experience!
