CLUB MEETS

1947. – Twenty-nine men were at the Hill Inn on the 1st February. A picture by Heaton Cooper was presented to Davis Burrow on his retirement after 17 years as Hon. Secretary. ” We came in for a fore­ taste of the eight weeks of snow and snow-blocked roads which were to follow. There was little snow coming up on Friday night, Saturday was bitterly cold with a N.E. gale, Sunday was worse with much drift and several inches of snow in the night, so that the eight who stopped on were lucky to escape. A large party ascended Ling Gill and cut steps up a magnificent ice curtain over the waterfall; another visited the Marble Steps area.

It was a great disappointment that the Meet at High Force, Teesdale, had to be deferred a fortnight and then abandoned in the awful winter. The same thing happened to the Coniston fixture in March, though conditions on the West turned out to be actually better than in the East.

At Easter ten men travelled to Fort William. The Highlands were found suffering drought, broken with great violence on the Saturday ; they had experienced much cold but had entirely escaped the heavy snowfalls of the rest of Britain. Ben Nevis Gullies Nos. 2 and 5 were climbed and another fruitless search made for Samuel’s Cave.

The weather for the camp at Newby Moss, 3rd-4th May, was miserable. Much snow was found still lingering in Pillar Pot.

At Whitsuntide nine men made the long journey to Enniskillen, staying once more in our friend Mr. Barbour’s house, at Killesher, three for the week. Heavy rain’fell on Saturday night, and the attack on the great new Reyfad Pot near Noon’s Hole was defeated by the amazing amount of surface water. Pollnagollum of the Boats was done again, while Chubb and Roberts trekked to Polliniska and discovered that great pot-holes exist in the peat diggings on the very Border. Holmes was out in August again and visited five there and in Cavan.

The Clapdale Camp in June suffered fearful rain. Four men, however, followed Disappointment Pot passage to the old finish.

The Meet with the Wayfarers’ Club at the Hill Inn in July was more fortunate and successful. The Three Peak Walk was done and Sunset Hole entered.

Nine men camped by Lost Johns’ for August Bank Holiday. Only two knew the cave, the others gained much valuable experience of this intricate cavern. High wind and mist took the edge off enjoyment outside. A search afterwards soon found the recent new discoveries on these fells.

At Great Langdale, Robertson Lamb Hut, i9th-2oth September, there were thirteen Ramblers as well as Wayfarers and Rucksackers. There was much climbing, even as far as Great Napes, and good weather.

In late October we had another delightful walking meet of over twenty members at Miss Burnett’s, Wass.

To the Buck Inn, Buckden, December 5th-8th, twenty men came, Spenceley cycling over the snow-covered Fleet Moss in the dark on Friday from Garsdale and back to Penrith on Sunday. Three walked back to Ramsgill, and Blair cycled over Park Rash and past Middlemoor. There was climbing on Kidstone Crag and a new minor pot-hole was found above.

1948. – In the last days of January a strong gale raged at Chapel-le-dale and the seven who went over to the Y.H.A. Dentdale had a grind back, while others had a bad time on the fells. Ingleborough, Whernside and Alum Pot were visited. There was a lantern show indoors, as well as a wonderful show cave in the barn on Saturday night.

There was a climbing meet at Almscliff on 29th February. Easter was as early as 28th March and was preceded by summer weather of which we enjoyed the last hazy four days. Fox had been a week at Glencoe Hotel, and the two Shaws doing peaks from Kingshouse, when Chadwick arrived on Thursday after a night in Glasgow and a tramp over Rannoch Moor from Rannoch Station, repeated by Armstrong, Fred Booth, and Holmes on Friday. The spiky ridge of Aonach Eagach was entirely free of snow, but there were many tricky slopes on Bidean nam Bian. Shadbolt’s Chimney and other climbs and peaks were done. The break came on Monday but Fred Booth and E. E. Roberts forced the Ben Vare horseshoe. Fox went on to Ben Nevis, the Mamores, and hunting down Samuel’s Cave.

On both days of the April meet at Pateley, parties went to Goyden Pot, and did the new 70 yds. of ” Break Through Possible.” Sunday was an oddly hazy day with some delightful walking up Ravensgill and round Guyscliff.

Arrangements for the Northern Ireland expedition at Whitsuntide presented great difficulties, but the final decision to hire a lorry and to stay at Killesher, together with days of continuous sunshine made the Meet an astounding success. Thirteen men stayed the week and six new deep pothole’s and a minor one were done, four over 200 feet and all 10 to 15 miles away, five close to the Border. It was discreet to interview the police and we received most useful advice as to the lanes practicable so that for the big pot in Eire the lorry was taken almost up to the Border. We owe much to Frank Stembridge for his organisa­ tion and to Chubb for his devoted labours in catering and cooking. The continuous practice on long ladder climbs and in rigging new pitches was just what the younger members of the Club wished for.

At Chapel-le-Dale in June we were warmly welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Kilburn who have now returned to the Hill Inn.

Fourteen Ramblers and four Wayfarers camped at Gaping Gill over August Bank Holiday. The Craven Pothole Club was holding a protracted camp and it was agreed that we should use their gear, which we largely set up, the big overhead gantry saving much time on the many runs up and down. Our third descent of the Boulder Chamber Pot discovered abandoned ladders at the bottom. A small party went some way into the Grange Rigg (A. G.) Pot, the scene of the accident. The previous week-end an enterprising party had their first view of the Great Chamber by the route of the Flood Entrance.

Perfect weather was enjoyed in Langdale on nth September and Gimmer Crag was popular – Pallid Slabs, Asterisk, A, B, C and other climbs being done. Sunday was atrocious, but Raven Crag and Scout Crag were climbed, with a new route by McKelvie and Kelsey.

Six men after a complicated bus journey arrived at Bainbridge on ist October and on Saturday crossed the fell to Buckden in mist and rain. Sunday was clear and bright and the walk was continued to Lofthouse via Great Whemside and Mewfa. Led by the discoverer others ticked off the wet little Underset Pot.

Horton in Ribblesdale. For the 24th October weekend Bartlett came early with four members of the active Club he has formed at the R.M.A. Sandhurst. With two others of our men Gingling Pot was done on Saturday by a very long carry and a late return.

Many people must have been intending a visit some time to the Cross Fell area, for no less than twelve dined at Appleby on Friday, 10th December and twelve more came on Saturday, a day of cloud on the high ground. Six went by bus to Kirkland and groped their way over Cross and Dun Fells, passing an enormous opencast mine, and a big radar station. Four went up Rundale and down the Maize Beck to the remarkable black limestone gorge reported by Ellis where the river changes course from S. to E. This unmistakable landmark makes it possible to find High Cup Nick in the densest fog.

Sunday was brilliant. A number went fell walking by Swindale beyond Shap, others to visit Jingle Pot and Windmore Edge Cave recently noted in the line S. of Swindale Pots above Brough. From Catterick Bridge and other points the drivers had a bad time in dense fog after dark. The Crown and Cushion was well equipped and reasonable ; we were well fed and very comfortable.

1949. – Low cloud both days and rain both afternoons with a gale on Sunday was our fate at the Hill Inn, 22nd-23rd January. Thirty men had a wonderful dinner on Saturday night, followed by the usual gymnastics in the barn ; fifteen arrived on Friday. Two couples visited Easegill Kirks (Burton walked there and back) and proved there are two Kirks, the upper the more perfect, and unknown. A party went into Hackergill Cove, Dentdale.

The meet at Edale was to do the long rough tramp to Marsden, 18 miles airline, on the 27th February. Several parties came on Saturday from the Flouch Inn on the Penistone main road over the footpath to the Derwent and then by the route planned by Marshall. There were 21 for the night at the Church Inn and three more on Sunday morning, one by the 4.30 a.m. from Bradford. The high wind troubled the trampers on Sunday less than expected, about a dozen all reached Black Hill about the same time in fine weather, and fourteen seem to have got through.