HERITA GE
The other staple with which it seems Dalton could simply not do without (apart from coffee) was tobacco, purchased from the bar at The Borrowdale Hotel. A self confessed chain smoker, all activities were accompanied by an ever-present Woodbine dangling from his mouth, although while stirring food he held it between his toes to keep ash from dropping in the pan.
“Give me wholemeal bread, porridge, coffee and cigaretes and I am quite happy”
Despite smoking like a chimney, Dalton remained fit and active for his entire life. He celebrated his 50th birthday in style by ascending Napes Needle solo, before lighting a fire to brew some coffee on the sloping, pool table sized top. A creature of habit, he repeated this impressive feat every year until at least his mid 70’s. His ease on tricky routes such as this, coupled with his close involvement with the Fell and Rock Climbing Club, point to him being an accomplished rock climber, but it is his exemplary safety record and skills as a guide for which he is most remembered. While over-wintering in Buckinghamshire during the bitterly cold conditions of 1947, Dalton’s wooden hut accidentally burnt down, presumably from an untended candle or errant spark from the fire. Forced to live under canvas in extremely harsh temperatures, he was soon admitted to Amersham hospital suffering from various broncho-pulmonary conditions and died aged 79 on 5 February. On his bedside table lay an uncompleted manuscript titled: Philosophy of Life. These precious pages have unfortunately been lost to the mists of time, without any trace of their no doubt impassioned contents. His passing was mourned by many, marked with glowing obituaries in several publications. It is the words of Mabel Barker, his close friend and climbing companion, in the FRCC journal that are most often quoted:
“I wonder how many owed to him their first thrills on rock
and rope…his picturesque figure and lovable personality have surely become part of the heritage of Lakeland so long as the hills endure and men love them.” Curiously, Dalton’s indelible contributions to the lives of
so many and the ‘outdoor movement’ in general are little known outside of the verdant Lake District valleys in which he practiced both his craft and philosophy. One has to wonder that if his manuscript had survived, perhaps his standing as one of the great characters of British outdoor heritage might be more significant? The path of adventure he forged not only demonstrated a profound understanding of the world around him but also greatly benefitted others. The word legend is often overused, but in the case of Millican Dalton I feel is entirely apt.
Thanks go to M.D. Entwistle for his wonderful biography: Millican Dalton – A Search for Romance and Freedom, from which much of the information in this piece is gleaned. The colour re-enactment images were shot by Tom for Extreme Lakeland, a book collaboration with Scottish photographer Nadir Khan, due to be released in early 2022.
Words and photos: Tom McNally
Tom is an award-winning adventure and documentary photographer based in the Lakes. Having been taking photos for as long as he can remember, Tom fuses his education in photography and social documentary with his love of adventure sports to help tell the stories of his inspirations with pictures.
Follow Tom on Instagram: @tommcnallyphotography
www.tommcnally.co.uk
26 | CLIMB. WALK. JOIN.
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