As the darkness fell, the members scuttled into the warmth of Lonscale’s communal room, as Peter and Alan busied themselves in the kitchen preparing Chilli and jacket potatoes, despite the challenges of the ovens. Plans were made, discarded and remade, alcohol was consumed and friendships were renewed. The views across the valley were crystal clear and the stars incredibly bright. Tomorrow looked good.
Saturday started at 7 for Aaron, Andy, David (H), Mike and Mick; earlier for Peter and Alan who were on breakfast duty. And at 7:45 the 5 plus the President set off for Hall’s Fell to do the Blencathra, Great Calva, Skiddaw circuit. A light coating of snow, plus occasional drifts made Hall’s Fell ridge tricky in places, all the more so with the wind which was bitingly cold and gusting at 40-50 mph. The views were also disappointingly white above 600m making the summit pauses limited to a quick map check.
Dropping down to valley the team met various YRCers treking up to Skiddaw house and Ian & John aiming for Jenkin Hill. David turned south on the Cumbrian Way & Mike and Andy decided to skip the unappealing Great Calva and turned straight to Skiddaw. Aaron, Peter and Mike stuck to the plan. Another cold windy summit saw Andy & Mick back at 4, with Aaron, Mike and Peter arriving just over an hour afterwards.
Blencathra saw a number of YRC summiteers, with Richard (G), Derek (B) and Barrie summiting via Doddick Fell and Arthur and his guest Ray via Sharp Edge. Did Iain follow the crowd? No he ‘Did Knott’ (and Great Calva). Skiddaw saw 2 parties flirting with her, but both Harvey and a team of Rob, Peter and Pat sensibly opted for a descent to Keswick. Rob, Peter, Paul and Pat returned via the old railway line; Harvey, who claimed he went higher, opted for the bus back to Threlkeld. Alan, Derek (S) and David (M) opted for a ramble round Derwent Water.
Saturday night’s dinner started promptly at 7, despite some scepticism, and was a 4/5 course extravaganza. Duly feasted on soup, roast, mince pies & Satsuma’s, Christmas cake (the best I’ve tasted in ages) and cheese, Members returned to the evening's drinking and reminiscing.
Sunday started damp, and a number of members decided, to slope off home. Iain, Frank and Rob did another circuit to Keswick; Mike and Peter walked over to Latterigg and back; Paul and Richard (J) did Skiddaw House. Andy and Mick abstained from cleaning and did Clough Head via Fisher's Wife's rake. The committee meeting duly commenced at 2:30 PM, but with Arthur missing. He had set off with Ray to race up Hellvellyn, but lack of parking change forced then over to Dunmail Raise. It quickly became apparent that Dolly Wagon Pike was not going to be a quick enough ascent but meanderings and detours meant they were not back to Blencathra until 3:15.
Intermittent weather, wonderful food; another 1st class Christmas meet.
Attendees:
Alan Linford, Alan Wood, Albert Chapman, Andy Syme, Arthur Salmon, David Hick, David Martindale, Derek Bush and Barrie Wood, Derek Smithson, Frank Platt, Frank Wilkinson, Iain Gilmour, Ian Crowther, John Jenkin, John Lovett, Michael Smith, Mick Borroff, Patrick Jeffcoate (G of Peter Green), Paul Dover, Peter Chadwick, Peter Green, Ray Gumbrell (G of Arthur Salmon), Richard Gowing, Richard Taylor, William Robert Ibberson
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