On a long scorching day in July 1976, a walker crossed the Lake District from Pooley Bridge to the coast, climbing all the bumps in between, and attained a state of nirvana by lying immersed in a shady beck. The account, published in the Guardian's Country diary on 5 July 1976, describes how the walker, profusely perspiring, sought cooling breezes at a modest height.
The Pursuit of Nirvana
The walker recalled the late General Bruce, leader of early Everest expeditions, who sought to reduce his weight and declared that the ideal state—never quite achieved—was when drops of perspiration from his nose formed a continuous stream. The walker attained this nirvana on that day, as all-time heat records tumbled.
A Demanding Ascent
The ascent of Sergeant Man from Langdale, usually a modest expedition, became Herculean under the extreme heat. The walker considered bathing in Stickle Tarn but found its shore crowded with tents and picnickers, opting instead for a costume-less dip in a mountain pool behind Tarn Crag. Lying in the shady beck, with the sound of tumbling waters, was deemed the ideal state, especially with a cool inn less than half an hour away.
After reaching the summit of Sergeant Man, a refreshing breeze was encountered, but the view was disappointing due to heat haze. The walker concluded that summit views are finer in spring or winter.
