Originally Posted by
Harry H Howgill
Fairfield Horseshoe in the Snow
It was a grim midwinter’s day
When Billy rang me up to say:
“Grab your kit, despite the snow,
We’ll give Fairfield Horseshoe a go.”
So off we set all full of beans,
Up the Nab through Christmas scenes.
Fresh tracks made, lively banter,
Lads together, at a canter.
Even though the view soon vanished,
Thoughts of maps were quickly banished.
“A dozen times we’ve all been round.
We’ll recognise familiar ground.”
Blazing trails through the frost,
Without a thought of getting lost.
Summit reached; no soul there,
“Its us brave boys; no others dare!”
We looped on round the great horseshoe,
Map still in bag and compass too.
Then spot some stud marks on the floor,
“They’ve done an anticlockwise tour!”
“Well done to them” we all did say.
More tough souls had braved the day.
Its odd we didn’t meet them though,
But visibility is zero.
“Well that’s our navigating done!
Chase those tracks, enjoy the run.”
We sped on down, a happy group,
Certain we’d complete the loop.
Then suddenly as we descend,
Appears the sun; a long lost friend.
Delight at first, then someone blabs:
“That’s not High Pike, this one's the Nab!”
We then all twigged what this view meant:
Those tracks were ours! From the ascent!
“Our navigator’s for the sack!”
We’d not looped round, we’d come straight back!
There were no others, only us.
Silly fools. But that does,
Send a message: In the clag
Get your map out of your bag!