YCH Saturday Social 02/04/22

Four seasons in one day!

Fortune favours the brave…this was certainly the case for those who joined for our most recent social ride. Despite the testing conditions of snow, ice, wind and rain in the days leading up to the weekend, 15 tough souls turned up in force for a morning of moorland exploration of the best kind…on two wheels!

A new month called for a new route, this time heading south, deep into the heart of the national park and into Rosedale. It all began with the familiar road climb up the New Way, always a good warm up for the adventure ahead. Once at the summit of the moor, we beared forwards, away from the early sunshine and into the imminent snow clouds - a fitting scene for such a stunning location. We hit a soggy yet sensational section of singletrack, negotiating puddles, rocks and of course sheep until joining the old coal line where we would venture across the once busy railway to the famous Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge.

Greeted by head-on sleet and snowfall, we surged ahead in search of our next bridleway, again boggy but brilliant. Looping back round we joined the George’s Gap Causeway, climbing over cobbles northbound to the Trough House trail. From here, we split into two sub-groups, one headed for Glaisdale Rigg and the latter taking on the steep and techy Waterfall descent. Just before the rigg, the first group speeded their way down to Street and eventually back to base, whilst the others continued directly down the dale, below the Waterfall and rejoining as one in the Great Fryup Dale Cafe for a well-earned refuel by the warm fire.

Another fantastic route with a great bunch of friendly folk, thanks to all who came long for the ride and we hope to see you all again soon!