Put wood in'th oyle

Date: 2nd January 2017

Julie and I had set a tough challenge for the year 2017. Between us our 2016 adventures had included a first ever ski-tour culminating in a night at the fabulously appointed and wood-panelled Silvretta Hut, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, and a three week trek including views of Everest and an ascent of Mera Peak. For the sake of both sanity and bank balance, it was quite important that 2017 should assert itself early and make the point that you don't need to go to Switzerland, Peru, or Nepal in order to get your mountain kicks. Otherwise, things were going to be either very disappointing or very expensive.

So? Where in the UK should we go to kick-off of our 2017 campaign? Where could we expect to find a suitably assertive UK mountain? Of course, Yorkshire!

And so it was. The objective for our first ascent of 2017 was to be Pen-y-ghent, that bastion of the Welsh language strangely dislocated in the Yorkshire Dales. The forecast was good and hopes were high for one of those pristine and crystal clear UK winter days. They're sometimes hard to find, but when one comes along it's a thing of rare beauty and it's an obligation to make the most of it.

As we headed across the high moors from Malham Cove our first sight of Pen-y-ghent did not disappoint. There she was, her ship's prow profile sitting proud and sparkling white against an expanse of blue sky. Unsurprisingly, we were not alone. The path up was occupied by a fair smattering of family groups out for a New Year head clear. Dogs were particularly prominent and enthusiastic as ever.

We paused halfway up as the low angled sun swung around the southern buttresses and threw long shadows across the snow covered slopes. The cold air ensured haze free views to the distant Ingleborough and Whernside. Tomorrow, we'd be on the motorway system heading back south, back to the flatlands, back to begin another year's work. But today we could drink in the refreshing cool air, embrace the big skies, and rejoice in the glory of the UK hills.

So yes, it was a stunning start to 2017. The challenge had been thrown down, 'OK 2017, shows us what you've got' and thanks to Pen-y-ghent, 2017 had risen to that challenge with a bit to spare.

As is our tradition after a return from a mountain day, we later headed into Settle for some tea and cake. The spot we found was popular and the only table left was crammed into a corner quite near the door. Given my experience of the modern world and its 'born in a barn' generation I was dreading a disrupted tea stop spent hopping up and down to keep chilling drafts at bay. I need not have feared, without fail, every entrant and every departee took the trouble to stop and carefully make sure the door was closed behind them. I believe the phrase is: 'Put wood in'th oyle'. People of Yorkshire, we are kindred spirits, I salute you.

Thanks to Julie for companionship and to the folk of Yorkshire for having the common sense to shut a bloody door!