We drove to Starbotton, walked along the River Wharfe to Buckden then began our ascent, a bit of a hike but well worth the effort. Endless views from the top with Ingleborough and Penyghent in the distance.
The "Fox" War Memorial just along the top from the summit cairn has a lovely story.
The cross commemorates five Polish crewmen of a Wellington bomber, which crashed into the mountain in a blinding snowstorm in January 1942. Four were killed outright and a fifth badly injured. However, the rear gunner Joe Fusniak survived because the rear turret snapped off the fuselage and was thrown clear. One by one he found his dead companions and then the surviving comrade who he wrapped in a parachute against the cold. Then, despite having a broken ankle, he set off for help. Initially he went the wrong direction but spotted the tracks of a fox in the snow. Knowing the animal would go to a farm in search of food, he began an agonising crawl downhill tracking the fox.
He eventually reached White Lion pub in Cray, where he was initially mistaken for a German flier before convincing them to launch a rescue attempt for his comrade.. but it was too late. Joe was instrumental in having the cross erected on the fell and included a fox's head in honour of the creature that saved his life.
A superb hike to end our time here in the Dales.
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| BUCKDEN PIKE SUMMIT |
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| "FOX" WAR MEMORIAL |
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| LUNCH AT THE TOP |
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