Milton Mountaineers

Taking a group of 'Unsighted' people up England's Highest mountain peak

The call came from Ranger Headquarters

A group of blind people were coming to scale Scafell Pike (The Highest Lake District Peak)

Volunteers were required to help guide the blind people 12 blind people with at least 24 helpers.

Meet at Seathwaite Farm yard at 08:00 o Sunday 20 June

Please park down the lane leaving room for the farm traffic 

 

Sunday came two groups formed in the farm yard

Milton Mountaineers and National Park volunteers

The MM leader took charge

"Would all the 'unsighted' people please raise their hands, then the volunteers can choose a person to guide"

Hands raised there were two volunteers for each unsighted people

Putting my hand on the mans shoulder "Hi I am Bill" He replied "I am Henry - I come from Glasgow"

 

As we set out a lady joined us

"I am Joan" introductions made we set out holding Henry's arm as he showed me,

'Mind the rocks just here - Let us stop a while

I described the scene

'A stream down below'

"i can hear the ripples"

'I am unable to hear it'

"When you loose your sight your hearing improves"

'a small tree down by the stream'

"how deep is the gully"

'About twenty feet I hadn't thought to say that sorry'

"Its alright just bits of information to help complete the scene'

We continued to ascend the rocky path until we reached a point where Great Gable came into clear view

I described the scene "There is a wall over there" he said

'Can you see it' I asked

"No some one did the walk and made a Talking Book of it and sent each one of us a copy"

The path became more rocky; in places both of us helped him over, but for most of the way he felt where to put his feet

Reaching the summit he requested to be take to the massive cairn he then walked round; feeling his way hands never leaving the stone cairn. When he reached the memorial plaque he read it out to us feeling each letter with his fingers

A mist had descended oblitering the landscape.

 

On the return journey we descended from the cloud in to a clear view up Borrowdale to the distant Skiddaw

I mentioned this remarking how it would have been a good view from the summit

He replied "I feel sorry for you sighted people you have to take what God sends us, we unsighted can imagine what weather we want    

A girl had come up behind us "Is that Henry? She asked

"Yes! Is that Gillian"

He then went on to explain Gillian was an international blind skier and went on the say how her husband shuted instructions as he skied in front

They felt their way across a travers across a vertical cliff. Then a smooth walk along a grass path back to Seathwaite Farm

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! you have given me a very unique experience Wild Rose ... well done ... form has no hold on such story telling ... i was completely engaged .. well done .. seeing views from both sighted and un-sighted is very cool ... nice job!
E.
ps. the names of things and places i.e.Seathwaite and Scafell and Borrowdale bring flavor and a sense of old England to me .. tho i have never been ... i appreciate the rich, deep history.

[Wild Rose]

Place names > I got a job and we live here
The experience is true I was an LDNP voluntary warden. From all the things we did as VW's this was the most unique and rememberable

Thanks for reading and the comment

[Einstein Noodle]

i kind of got that impression...that you live there and the story is true ... volunteering always enriches those volunteering more than those one helps .. like owning a good dog ... we get so much more than we receive ... i think you are fortunate to live in such a wondrous, history rich place ..

[Wild Rose]

As an 11 YO townie I was given dads old racing bike
At 12 I joined a cycling club > Toured The Yorkshire Dales _ Peak District
At 35 came to live here on the Lake District boundary > Heaven - lakes and mountains on our dorrstep

[Einstein Noodle]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh sounds magical ... i am retired in the Ozark Mountains ...a life long dream .. we have little towns like Wolf's Bayou, Flippin', Fifty- Six ... Eureka Springs ... all great eclectic places and people ... Flippin has an exotic pet store ... of all things to have in a tiny little town...an exotic pet store ;)))))))))

[Onlyme]

Wild Rose this was amazing to sit and cherish and simply enjoy this fantastic story of Milton mountaineers. About Henry and Gillian. And the lake Districts.

[Wild Rose]

My pleasure to take you with us
As voluntary wardens we got up to a wide variety of activities From litter picking on your walk (patrol) builing fences/dry stone walls
Water safety course, winter travelling course
We could go to any area and get travel expenses (for a day out walking and filling in a report form
Henry and Gillian (Not their real names were inspirational) All they required was a guiding hand on the trickier parts

[Onlyme]

That sounds fun and interesting great way to enjoy the outdoors.

[angel]

Especially interesting to me, as I expect to be blind in a few years, at the rate my sight is diminishing. Thank you for the story.

[Wild Rose]

First sorry to hear your sight is failing
Ma in law lived with us
She was sitting next to me watching TV
She put her hand down and felt the rim of her cup then found the handle - When she put the cup down I asked could she not see
Well just a bit now
She had been sliding her hand along the wall and touching furniture
I though it was for balance
We got her a talking book from the social, Blue Badge and free TV licence
I close my eyes to go up and down stairs - don't really know why

[angel]

To see what it's like. I do it a lot; practice, sort of, I guess. Thank you for your kind words.

[augustus]

It certainly makes you and me appreciate the wonders of sight and how we take it for granted! Thank you for an eye opener!

[Wild Rose]

Yes certainly > The girl 'Gillian' was inspirational
A coat full of badges for downhill skiing ON the normal ski runs following shouted instructions

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

wow love this thanks so much for sharing this with me that means a lot
its well written and felt i was there
was it a true story or fiction. I believe its true.
anyway thanks for showing it to me enjoyed it immensely!

[Wild Rose]

True - don't remember the names
It was a very unique and remembered experience

[Flowers of Eternity]

This is a magnificent work!!!!
I really enjoyed reading it
And the insight you gave is so heartwarming and kinda true..
Good job!!

[Wild Rose]

Thank you for reading The guy had been in the same trade as me (A Process Control Instrument technician in a chemical plant)
He went for a daily 5 mile walk in a Glasgow park

[Flowers of Eternity]

Oh I see. Is this a true story? Or is it inspired by your friend?
Your welcome!

[Wild Rose]

True story > I was a Lake District national Park voluntary warden at the time Seathwaite Farm is about 30 miles from home > I have a few writings on here (with pictures)

[Flowers of Eternity]

Really?? That is so cool.. You just have a wonderful and unforgettable experience!