So with a hospital appointment imminent, it was time to get out there and give it a bit of a test before the medical world tell me it doesn't need any treatment yet.
I'd planned to go out on my own on a hilly ten mile route with a couple of bail out points, as I wasn't sure just how far I would get without some toe joint pain.
But having mentioned this at work a couple of days before the walk, two colleagues asked if they could join me, Andy E and Andy H, and as I'm always happy to have some company, said yeah fine.
After paying the parking fee, putting on our walking gear, boots and rucksack, it was time to test that toe in the snow.
Heading south out of the village, we picked up the path along Harden Clough passing the farm on our left and a couple of sheep fields to the right on the way up to the road that drops down to Barber Booth, snow on the ground here was light and easy going.
Andy H and Andy E with Edale behind
After a short stroll up the snow free road between Mam Tor and Rushup Edge, we headed back into the snow, which was a bit deeper here, passing a keen photographer stood with camera and tripod hoping to get some good, still shots of the Vale below in a building bitingly cold wind.
Looking up at Rushup Edge and the ice to come.
I did consider taking my Spider crampons, just in case we had ice on the route, but as the other two guys didn't have them, I decided it would be an unfair advantage, after all this was only Rushup Edge, not Helvellyn !
But for the short climb up onto the ridge, I did regret not bringing them along, a part of the hill was extremely treacherous with snow covered ice just waiting to take one of us out.
Ninja or nerd but warm, yours truly with Mam Tor behind.
The route ahead, Lord's Seat on Rushup Edge
Andy and Andy trying to keep off a very icy path
As it was only just after 12pm it was still a bit early to eat, but the weather conditions weren't the best to be eating on Golborne, so while we had a wall for shelter, we took the opportunity to have a sit down out of the wind with hot Vimto, a chicken butty and a share out of the jelly babies.
A moody view
Not long after the stop, we encountered some snow drifts along the ridge and curiosity got the better of me, as I wanted to see just how deep they were.
I think I got a little bit more than I'd bargained for as my whole leg went straight through the snow
One very buried left leg
No it's ok guys I can manage !!!
The bleak beauty of the moorland on Golborne and our route up to Brown Knoll
Having left the path of Chapel Gate onto Golborne, you can see why any kind of stop for food on this exposed moorland would be a bit uncomfortable, especially in such a cold wind, as by now the temperature was well below freezing.
Brown Knoll in the distance, but the going was tough. unable to follow any path, due to the snow and ice, plus the ground was strewn with icy waterways not thick enough to walk on without going through it, and in some parts just too deep to wade through.
We tried to keep to the heather as much as possible but inevitably we were forced to walk through the icy water and deep peat bogs, one of which Andy H put his foot in up to his knee and needed pulling out, but it was all good fun zigzagging our way around the water trying to keep to a compass bearing, which made arriving at Brown Knoll that bit sweeter.
My toe joint at this point was ok, but we'd walked about 5 tough miles with another 5ish to go.
I could feel the toe starting to get sore, but at least my feet were dry, which was more than could be said for the other two guys. Andy H's feet were soaked now, I think walking into a peat bog up to his knees didn't help, his fitness wasn't great as a bad back had kept him off the hills for some time, and wait for it....he had cheap gloves on which didn't keep the wind out, consequently his finger tips were getting pretty cold.
So at this point in the day I think we would have cut the walk short if we'd had that option, but as we had passed the last bail out point at Chapel Gate, and as we were almost at Brown Knoll, the choice was turn back down Chapel Gate or carry on to Brown Knoll, on the planned route, descend Jacob's Ladder and follow the Pennine Way back to Edale, there wasn't much between the options in distance, but I figured the going would be better down Jacob's Ladder.
Wet feet, but still happy, well Andy E anyway
Finally we made it to Brown Knoll, 569m this snap was taken by a park ranger.
For a little hill, we were made to work hard to get to this trig point, now it was down hill most of the way.
As we couldn't see a path I just took a bearing off the compass and set it to a point which would put us on a path for Edale Cross.
We left the trig point about 2pm, in need of a sit down and a drink, thankfully it was only a short walk to a wall with a wooden seat built in to it, where once again we could get shelter from the freezing wind, and have a drink in some relative comfort.
Andy H was now suffering with very cold hands, and as my hands were warm and fine, I suggested we swap gloves.
A very slippery descent down Jacob's Ladder,
We were soon at Edale Cross, joining the Pennine Way for it's very last few miles(south), down Jacob's Ladder, into the valley, through Upper Booth farm, and out of that blasted wind.
Andy's hands were warm within 10 minutes wearing my Rabs, just goes to show, you get what you pay for.
The Vale Of Edale
The National Park authority doing their great conservation work trying to stop peat erosion on Kinder Scout and the surrounding area by ferrying up grass and heather seed by helicopter to be planted later.
Looking Back along the Pennine Way
Having just passed the farm at Upper Booth, guess who got cramps in his thigh, yeahhh Andy H. my toe was not good but apart from that I was fine, as you'd expect from a ten miles walk, a bit tired but good.
After all it's not a great distance as walkers go, but if you're not hill fit then er......, you'll suffer, and Andy was suffering, this guy was in some pain, but a least his fingers were warm. Andy E was fine, fitter and younger than us by a good ten years, and had really enjoyed the day.
We gave Andy a few minutes to recover, he was then able to walk again at a steady pace.
A promise of a pint in the Old Nags Head in the village was enough to spur Andy on the last mile or so, and I must say the thought of a roaring fire and a pint sounded blumin good to me too.
Baaaaaa
a bit happier near the end
Almost there guys
And yes that pint was very nice thank you, by a roaring fire as well, and yes I did buy them too.
The end of a very good day, but one which left me in a lot of toe pain for the next couple of days.
I guess I got my answer to the question, does my toe need medical treatment? absolutely
At the time of writing this up, now waiting for a Steroid injection, so fingers crossed it works and I can get back out in the hills pain free again.
