Club Meets
1929.—Hard frost (but not the frost) and brilliant sunshine reigned on the first day of the Hill Inn Meet, January 26th. Some twenty-five mustered at dinner, of whom Devenish and Slingsby had detrained at Hellifield, 3 a.m. and come via Gordale and Fountains Fell. A famous mountaineer with a singular name paid us a flying visit and gave us a lecture illustrated by unique slides, some of them produced by very simple effects. We were never quite clear as to what station the Professor was driven to catch a train at the late hour of his departure.
Sunday was a wild day, one party, after watching two cars come to grief on Buckha’ Brow, deciding to return home by train.
February 10th was the first of eight days continuous frost with keen east wind and very low temperatures, followed by a fortnight of severe night frosts which have entirely cured the British nation of any further wish for an old fashioned winter.
The idea, inevitable among a club of townsmen, that it would be worse in the country must have been responsible for the failure of the Meet at Middlesmoor, March 2nd-3rd, at which only four turned up. The weather was glorious, and on Sunday summer-like. Such snow as there was lay in shadow on the slopes ; from the tops it had gone.
The Easter Meet had to be transferred from Ogwen to Pen-y-gwryd, and Lockwood saw to it that men enjoyed themselves.
Glorious weather at Whitsuntide favoured the Club’s first visit to Wastdale since pre-war days. Eighteen attended, and much fine climbing was accomplished.
Spring and Summer were exceptionally dry, but people seem to have forgotten that it was often unpleasantly cold up to the middle of June, especially in the south. Even pot-holing was unable to break the drought, till August, though all the rain there was occurred for the benefit of three cave expeditions in June, and ruined one.
The Hawnby Meet, 13th-14th July, came in the glorious heat. It is singular that this delightful spot and its opportunities for magnificent walks from and to Thirsk again attracted only a small number, five.
For the first time, and probably the last, August Bank Holiday (5th) was chosen for a Gaping Ghyll expedition, No worse weather has been experienced at our camps there since the Great Flood, 20 years ago. The break up of the weather began a week before, and culminated in a storm which lasted from 2 p.m. Saturday until late on Sunday. The Derbyshire Pennine Club, who were with us, had an unfortunate experience, but each man had on Monday afternoon an opportunity of making the descent.
September was a good month, except the days of the Langdale Meet, 21st-22nd. The rain was not, however, heavy enough to stop some climbing being done on Pavey Ark.
In October a return meet with the Derbyshire Pennine Club was held at Castleton, when sixteen members were conducted through the Blue John Cavern after dinner, and visited Bagshaw Cavern at Bradwell next morning. Unfortunately a correspondent of one of the papers which cater for “ hicks ” got into the Blue John Cavern, and represented the visit in his rag as an all-night search for radium, with scare heads to suit. Puttrell came off worst, as the romancer got hold of his name, Some doubt as to what was at the bottom of the Glory Hole in Bagshaw Cave led to a return visit in May to tick it off, a very simple but very muddy job.
1930.—Beautiful weather attended the Chapel-le-Dale Meet, January 25th-26th. More men than ever, forty in all, sat down to dinner, the President was duly invested with the “ Chain of Office,” and a presentation made to Jack Buckley after ten years of office as a Secretary.
Later on the President disappeared, and was only found after a long search by a roped party which extended from cellar to garret and over the roofs of the Hill Inn and adjacent barns.
From the Flying Horseshoe, Clapham, 8th-9th March, a good muster along with the Derbyshire Pennine Club went out into the darkness after dinner and visited Clapham Cave, some even reaching Lake Avernus. Sunday was devoted to Pillar Pot. Unfortunately a wet cold mist came along after one o’clock and drove us away. A number of men made the descent and some did also the shorter Fluted Hole, adjacent.
The official Meet at Easter, 20th April, was at Coniston, and it is understood the weather was not particularly good. A party of nine visited Fort William and came in for the right side of the average. The Highlands were perfectly dry (bar some slight showers on Tuesday morning) for the whole Easter week. Monday was a scorching day without a single cloud. Under such conditions, as seen from Carn Mor Dearg, Ben Nevis resembles a magnificent Alpine peak. The Tower Gully was climbed by all parties, and in addition a Castle Gully, while Carn Mor Dearg and Aonach were traversed over interesting snow ridges, and Stob Corrie Easain above Loch Treig done later on.
Kettlewell, May 10th-11th, saw the revival of “Scouts and Outposts.” Half a dozen men were driven round to Middlesmoor and endeavoured to pass through a line strung out along the Whernside Fells. Everyone had a good day in spite of the Arctic weather, but the continuous mist interfered with scientific scouting.
Whitsuntide this year was favoured with almost ideal conditions, at least until Monday evening. Members of the Rucksack Club had been invited to attend and a dozen or so of their number had responded. Probably the largest camp Gaping Ghyll has ever seen was pitched on Saturday night. It must be recorded that Eustace Thomas achieved distinction by driving his car right to the camp, the first time this had been done, though motor bikes are now a regular occurrence. Two large parties, Ramblers and Rucksackers combined, did the Flood Entrance and Exit in splendid times. It would seem that this route is becoming less difficult, or is it that the leaders are getting more accustomed to it ? The Booth-Parsons crawl was done twice, Slingsby in a fit of enthusiasm at having achieved it one way, insisting upon doing it the other ! The original string laid by Booth and Parsons still remains ; without it the route would be much harder to follow. This was a most enjoyable Meet and though the engine caused us some anxiety, for the most part it did its work well, but we should like to see a new one installed the next time we go.