This year’s Easter trip to the Lakes had an added sparkle when Dave and Ali, after 33 years testing the waters, took the plunge and got married. Keeping it quiet until after the fact, the first the group knew about it was a message from Dave inviting them for a celebratory drink at The Badger Bar in Rydal. What a way to start a trip!
The days immediately before the bank holiday had lovely weather, but naturally it couldn’t last. Good Friday turned out to be rather less good than the name implied. Most of us stuck to relatively low-level walks and even so we were caught in icy horizontal rain on Loughrigg Fell. This resulted in a dash down into Grasmere to dry out in a riverside café. No such escape route for Nick and Tae who were making an attempt on the Fairfield Horseshoe. The icy rain on Loughrigg was punishing hail on the top of Fairfield. The horrible hail was coupled zero visibility and, in their anxiety to get down, Nick and Tae inadvertently descended into the wrong valley and had to get a lift back to Rydal.
Saturday was another blustery day thanks to Storm Dave, so we once again elected to stay fairly low. All that rain and hail made the waterfalls a sight to behold, so we headed over to Low and High Sweden Bridges to see the falls on the Scandale Beck. The roaring surge was truly impressive, but it was very cold for April and I was certainly glad to descend into Ambleside for a hot cup of coffee.
The weather Gods didn’t relent on Easter Sunday either - it was a bit drier, but still that icy wind. We elected to visit Grasmere by way of Alcock Tarn & Tae took the opportunity to make a second ascent of Fairfield. We received news of her success while we were tucking into slabs of cake at the Riverside Tearooms.
At long last on Easter Monday the sun came out, much to the distress of those who had to go home that day. There was cloud sitting on the summits up until lunchtime after which the sun broke through to reveal turquoise skies and views all the way to Scotland. Unfortunately for Tae her bus was at 1pm, so despite three ascents of Fairfield over Easter she never did see what the summit looked like!
Ali
Signs of Hypothermia:
At first shivering, low energy and cold, pale skin. Then mumbling, mild confusion and poor judgement.
As the hypothermia progresses shivering stops. The patient will experience increased confusion and may seem dazed or irrational, for example removing clothes despite the cold. Other symptoms may include muscle stiffness, lack of coordination (stumbling), slow, shallow breathing and a weak pulse.
What to do:
- Seek Shelter: Move the person indoors or to a wind-shielded area.
- Handle Gently: Avoid rough or jarring movements, as this can trigger a fatal irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrest).
- Remove Wet Clothing: Replace with dry clothes or wrap the person in dry blankets, sleeping bags, or towels.
- Insulate from the Ground: Place a backpack, foam mat, or thick dry material (like branches or heather) under them.
- Apply Heat to the Core: Focus on the chest, neck, and groin using warm, dry compresses or skin-to-skin contact.
- Never apply heat to the arms or legs, as this can force cold blood back to the heart.
- Warm Drinks & Food: If the person is fully awake and can swallow, offer warm, sweet, non-alcoholic drinks (like hot chocolate) and high-energy food.