Wart: (noun) a member of Dark Peak, running at night on the fells

The warting season is held between September and March meeting at the club hut behind the Sportsman pub, Lodgemoor. We often have 'away days' where we visit the more remote areas of the Peak District. See the calendar for details. (A normal Wednesday run is about 10 miles which takes about 2 hours.)

Map Reading

Anyone is welcome to join us but must stress that a personal assessment of one's fitness, mountain craft and some might say mental stability be undertaken. You should also be familiar with the terrain we are likely to cover and know the bearing to get you safely off the fells in the event of an emergency. This is because the weather and terrain can sometimes be severe and personal safety is of the utmost importance. In the unlikely event that you become detached from the group, you must have the ability to look after yourself and make your way back to the transport.

Equipment

The FRA (Fell Runners Association) requires you to carry the following during an event:-

  • Whole body cover
  • Other body cover appropriate for the weather conditions
  • Map, compass and whistle (plus the ability to use them!)
  • Emergency food
  • Spare torch or batteries
  • Emergency bivvy bag

This should be the bare minimum you carry when running at night. Before you leave home, assess your kit to be able to cope with the worst case scenario for the local weather forecast. The Mountain Weather Information Service is as accurate as any. Be aware of the danger of hypothermia. This can develop even during warm weather if you suffer exhaustion or slow down because of injury. It occurs when body surface heat is lost rapidly and you have insufficient fuel to maintain core temperature of 37 degrees C. (You die if the core temperature drops to 28 degrees C.)

These runs are organised to be challenging but the social and enjoyment factors are also important.

Links to more information on Fell Running, Kit, Hypothermia and Mountain Safety.