Cold Feet

With a select team of willing helpers, we finally cast the labelled balloons to the skies. It was a shame that, in spite of our best efforts, we only managed to sell about 150 balloons. Launching from a fantastically muddy field in a strong wind was not ideal but it was fun. The colourful cloud vanished rapidly westwards, disappearing over the school at high speed.


I have calculated that I have made a profit, but it is a modest one. The cost of gas, tickets, balloons and prizes all means that there is a fair degree of "front loading" before a profit is made. I had been counting on selling at least 300 balloons but, alas, I will just have to be content with this and move on. On the other hand, a huge amount of fun has been had inhaling helium and talking in funny voices.

Something of a salutary learning experience for all of us.
Ruth, Zoe and I all arrived fairly close to half past 12. I was originally going to pick up Zoe on the way through MK and drive on up during Saturday morning but the appalling weather in the Midlands caused a last-minute change of plan. I decided to catch the train and urged Zoe, over the 'phone, to do the same but in the end Zoe had driven up to Ruth in Sheffield on Friday night and Ruth had then driven them both to the Outward Bound Centre on Ullswater. I was picked up by Carl in his chip-fat-powered Golf (honest!) from Penrith station and we drove in just as the others arrived. It was good (at last) to meet Carl, who will be our second vital support in Antarctica. Steve set to work doling out ice-axes, crampons, food and other gear.
Amy and Phil arrived rather later than the rest of us, having struggled through the snow in Phil's tiny Yaris. The plan was that the remainder of the kit would be distributed among the new arrivals and off we would go.

So... the first disaster materialised. Poor Amy had not fully understood what was needed in terms of a suitable walking boot that could take crampons. Her boots were not suitable and there were no boots available to borrow. I have to say that Carl and Steve were not particularly convinced by my lightweight boots and crampons either (although I had used them successfully across the glacier on Vignemale in Summer 2005). In the end we had to abandon the planned afternoon walk up to a high camp near the Ruthwaite hut. Instead we went shopping for boots in Keswick. Amy had the best possible advice and chose a very stout pair of boots before we all headed off to find somewhere to stay overnight.
I shared a comfortable twin room with Phil and a walk to the Inn was followed by a very civilized meal and drinks. Not-at-all how I had expected to spend the night!
The next morning, following the usual glories of the traditional Full English Breakfast, we headed up to the far end of Patterdale and embarked on the climb up to the Ruthwaite hut. At about 11.00 a.m. we should have been brewing up in the hut after our first stop.

Second disaster: Neither the women, nor the men had a stove. I had simply assumed that Phil had the stove that I had seen laid out in the boathouse the previous afternoon. Similar unfounded assumptions had put all of us in a situation that would have threatened our lives in Antarctica. We felt suitably chastened (again). Steve and Carl, with an admirable lack of histrionics left us to make a decision. Ruth, Zoe and Phil took all the car keys for a thorough search and check of the vehicles before returning (with the recovered stoves?) for lunch. In an impressive two hours they returned, during which time Carl and Steve put Amy and me through various crampon-and-ice-axe-heavy activities across the steep hillside.
We ended up with two functional stoves, but not the ones we were expecting. One stove remained unaccounted for until the end of the weekend.
Considering how cold it was, we had a remarkably enjoyable evening in the hut and I was pleased to discover that my ancient sleeping bag is still up to the task required. Indeed, I slept very well.

Steve left us on Monday morning to be put through our paces by Carl during the day. We had a bleak walk over Helvellyn and down Swirral edge while practising some of the things that we would be doing in Antarctica. I collected some moss samples, although I can't help feeling that the distribution and discovery of suitable sites in the Ellsworth Mountains is going to be a very different story. After descending Swirral edge we put up the tents in the snow by Red Tarn. It was a relief to regain a bit of confidence in our campcraft by whipping the tent up at lightning speed and heating the snow in the stove to prepare a hot drink. Even so, it is daunting to experience how slow the process of making snow into hot water can be, even in the UK.
I am becoming very conscious of how much younger and fitter the other three are. I had no trouble actually walking but my basic pace seems slower than Ruth and Phil in particular. Perhaps I need to take the business of developing my own fitness more seriously?

The Snowfall that has closed College for two days has also wiped out what I had hoped would be two very productive days of balloon sales. It might be wise to extend the launch yet again when we return after the half term?