Captain Cooks Monument, Roseberry Topping from Gribdale Gate Car Park

Captain Cooks Monument, Roseberry Topping from Gribdale Gate Car Park.

It's been a while since I've been able to get out walking for various reasons, so now Christmas is over and the New Year is here, I was able to make a start at getting some exercise and enjoying the countryside again.

However, that's easier said than done - What was intended to be a gentle re-start, turned into a very painful and traumatic day out.

I had stupidly not put on my micro-spikes as 'it seemed okay in the snow', but a solid stretch of ice sent me airborne up on the moor top and I landed with a bump. Then thinking that won't happen again, it did! and I got another bash. Then to cap it all, having succumbed and finally put on my spikes - these superb 15 year old Kahtoona spikes showed signs of wear and tear by working loose at the front of my boot and causing me to catch the bundle of chain on a protruding rock. I was sent diving forward and landing on sharp rocks on solid ground.

This time it really did hurt, lying there wondering if anything was broken for a couple of minutes, the pain came from my left elbow and left knee which had taken the brunt of the fall, plus a hole in my walking trousers and slight damage to my Mammut winter coat. Fortunately nobody saw my tumble - so I was at least thankful for small mercies.

The weather closed in as I reached Roseberry topping and I experience blizzard conditions at the top, so it was a careful and slow hobble back down.

My adventures didn't stop there though. Having cleared away the snow from my car, I slowly drove downhill down the snow covered Dikes Lane in the direction of Great Ayton. I couldn't have gone any slower - but very soon, I was sliding downwards via this gentle decline, with my speed increasing, there was little I could do, I had no option but to put my car into the sides of the lane, once, twice and then again to attempt to arrest the 'out of control' car. The third brush with the hedgerow sent me side-wards as I approached a much steeper hairpin bend. There was an escape lane (a farm track) to the right on the bend, but the car before me had managed to slide into there. I had no option but to allow my car to skid round the bend side-wards. After the hairpin, there was another steep bank with a car stuck at the bottom - I knew that if I carried on I would plough straight down into it, probably at very high speed. So I allowed my car to crash into the side after the bend and finally arrest my descent. Oh my lovely new car ! but at least I'm okay. There was a very small, steep embankment on the opposite side that I could temporarily ditch my car, so I drove it across there and gave myself a minute or two. I think that experience rates as the most scariest few minutes of my life. I certainly know that my car is not suitable for this type of terrain.

So, for the next hour and a half, myself a a couple of others who had experienced similar drama's used my spade (and a wheelbarrow we found) and tried to make the road safe for other users by spreading rock salt onto the bank. This finally made the road 'driveable' and I tentatively headed for home, battered, bruised and traumatised !!

So much for a gentle local walk ! I'm going to the lakes next - It's safer!