Mickleden Straddle - Woodhead Mountain Rescue's View

 

Steve  asked me what it’s like being on the hill providing safety cover for fell races; so here is a short piece on the Straddle.
It’s always an early start to get on the hill in time for a fell race. The MS starts at 10.30am but the team meet up at HQ at 8.00am to pick up kit and get into sections (small teams that operate together). There were around 30 team members who volunteered to turn out for the race, so getting them all in place can be a logistical nightmare.

Photos by kind permission of woodytyke

By 8.30am my section were reluctantly getting out of the team vehicles at the shooting cabin below Pike Low. It was already blowing a force 6 with rain and low cloud but we had to get to Bull Clough by 9am with a stretcher, gases, medical bag, shelter, cas bags (big fleece sleeping bag) and our personal kit. From Bull Clough I headed up to the top of Cutgate. We were in our mountain shelters by 9.30am.
For the next hour we hunkered down, whilst outside there was driving rain, gales and a surprising amount of ice.
A point worth noting; I had a base layer, fleece, light weight water proof, belay jacket and Mountain Rescue jacket on plus 3 layers on my legs, a buff and mountain cap on my head and this was in a shelter. I was “just” warm enough, another hour and I would have started to get cold. Think about this when deciding what you put in your bumbags if you’re going out on the hill in this sort of weather.
I got out to shout encouragement (and occasional abuse) at the runners as they went through. The rain had stopped by then and the wind dropped slightly. Occasionally we had a HPM team cross through on a reccie. Mark P’s team emerged out of the clag and I instantly recognised their silhouettes. Later Brent came through, it’s nice to be able to give out “encouragement” rather than receive it.
Two runners dropped out at Penistone Stile. They were escorted back to the team vehicle before being driven back to Langsett. Thankfully no one needed any help off the hill this year.
After the sweep runner came through for the first time I started to walk back as I was on beer selling duty. I passed the two other sections at Bull Clough and Hingcliffe Common who would remain on station until the sweep runner returned.

By now the runners were passing me. The lead group were way ahead.
The Team remained on the hill until we were sure that all the 250 people taking part were safely down.
Back at the barn it was obviously a tough journey out with many commenting how hard the trip out had been but even with the bad weather most of the team would rather be on the hill than at home watching tv.
Ian www.Everythingoutdoors.co.uk