The Winter solstice walks have become a North West caching tradition, which is now in its 8th year. For some reason, there is a perverse enjoyment in getting up before the larks and climbing to a remote summit in the cold winter weather for day break, to try and see the sunrise.
The Plan.
To view day break on Dog Hill (i.e. Nautical Twilight).
Where/When.
- Saturday 9th January 2016.
- Meet at 5.45am. We aim to set off no later than 6.00am.
- Assemble at the the base of the track leading to Green Withens Reservoir (see waypoints).
- The event officially runs at the trig point (listed coordinates) between nautical twilight start, 6.56am, and civil twilight start, 7.40 am.
The location is readily accessible via the M62. There is very limited parking immediately at the meeting point (don't block the gate) and there are a number of alternative parking places which are included as waypoints. Please don't park on this de-restricted main road, do use parking areas and take care when walking to the meeting point. Also allow time to walk to the assembly point, approximately distances are shown on each waypoint.
A roll call will be made before we start off to ensure that all who have logged a will attend are present. We will then walk up Dog Hill. There is an old water board track leading much of the way, before we turn off, up, and onto less used paths.
The plan is to reach the trig point for Nautical twilight start, 6.56am, and leave at Civil twilight start, 7.40 am. We should hopefully see the full sunrise as we descend, this will occur at 8.22 am. We should return to the cars around 9am; there are existing caches in the area that we may visit on the return walk so this time may vary dependent on popular demand and the weather.
Once we have arrived at the trig point we will provide a log book for everyone to sign and another roll call will be made to check everybody has made it. Please let either Foinavon (Paul), Bargee (Iain), or meltdiceburg (Greg) know if you are planning to head up a different way so we can expect you at the summit.
Warnings.
The initial walk along the track shouldn't be too tough, but once we turn off it we climb up narrow footpaths leading up and across the moor to the trig point. These could well be boggy with potential areas of difficult terrain. Proper walking footwear and clothing is essential. It may be below freezing, drinks and hair were frozen in 2009. There could be wind and rain, last year the conditions were particularly tough. Do not treat this walk lightly, it is a remote moorland summit. We will do our best to look after everyone but bringing your own torch and GPS etc is recommended for obvious reasons.
Astronomical spiel.
This event has always been associated with the winter solstice even though it has never occured on the actual date of it. This was because for the 2009 event Foinavon just did a play on words for the event title. This event aims to match the latest sunrise of the year, this does not occur on the shortest day (i.e the Winter Solstice). If you are curious to know why, Google it.... something to do with the length of a Solar day in relation to 24 hours.
The definitions of twilight are:-
Astronomical Twilight - The stars begin to fade and dissapear. On the day of the walk that will occur at 6-13 am.
Nautical Twilight - The horizon becomes visible and sailors can navigate. On Jan 10th its at 6-56am.
Civil Twilight - This is what people regard as dawn.. 7-40am.
Sunrise - The disk of the sun becomes visible - 8-22am.
Previous years.
2008 - Round Loaf 
Conditions - Perfect, Clear, Crisp, Dry
Attendees - 9 caching teams
Sunrise witnessed - YES
2009 - Winter Hill
Conditions - Thick Freezing Fog
Attendees - 45 caching teams
Sunrise Witnessed - NO
2010 - Cheetham Close
Conditions - Perfect, Clear, Crisp, Dry
Attendees - 54 caching teams
Sunrise witnessed -YES
2011 - Pendle Hill
Conditions - Very Misty, Windy, Low Cloud, Cold
Attendees - 26 Caching teams
Sunrise witnessed - NO
2012 - Round Loaf.
Conditions - Cold at first with ground mist but cleared at sunrise to give the best sunrise we have seen
Attendees - 19 Caching teams
Sunrise witnessed - YES
2013 - Lad Law
Conditions -Cold, Low Cloud, Dry
Attendees - 27 caching teams
Sunrise witnessed - NO
2014 - Winter Hill
Conditions - Dry overcast, Low Cloud
Attendees - 30 caching teams
Sunrise witnessed - NO
2015 - Black Hill
Conditions - Gales, rain, hail, low cloud, hard going throughout
Attendees - 39 caching teams
Sunrise witnessed - NO (although it was spotted when everyone had gone!)
Wonder what this year has in store for us?
Historic statistics.
For eight years people have been accompanying Foinavon in all weathers at silly hours of the morning.
It is tradition to have a look at the regular attendees, but let's not forget the total of 229 attended logs over the history of the events.
8 Winter Walks
Foinavon
7 Winter Walks
Bargee, Lodgebarn
6 Winter Walks
The Magna Defender
5 Winter Walks
FFloss, Gruftymilo, Lizzardman, Carlos and the Birdie crew, Scubaclogger, Team Slug, Walker-clan