Club Meets

1957/58. Thirteen Club Meets were held during the year, the average attendance, excluding the ” After Dinner ” Meet, was 22.

After nearly half a century of annual dinners held at the Hotel Metropole, Leeds, tradition was at long last put aside and the 44th Annual Dinner took place at the Majestic, Harrogate. Tradition dies hard in the Y.R.C., but in spite of one or two misgivings, particularly among some of the older members, the dinner was an unprecedented success and left nobody in doubt that the decision to move was certainly the correct one.

The ” After-Dinner ” Meet was based on the ” Tennants’ Arms ” Hotel, Kilnsey, whence a throng of Members and Guests dispersed to the hills and holes, to reassemble for a very good high tea which was followed by the out­standing event of the day, an auction of the surplus equipment from the Y.R.C. Himalayan Expedition. This was so successful that several articles seemed to have been sold twice, most buyers bid more than was their original intention and the sale realised £130 towards the Club’s outstanding debts for the Expedition.

The December Meet took place at Low Hall Garth; it rained and Lake Windermere rose 3 feet in 48 hours. Members who ventured outside the cottage mostly returned dry but were secretive as to where the time had been spent. The January Meet at the Hill Inn was attended by 58 members and guests. The Saturday was made memorable by the President rising at 6.45 a.m. to make tea for five misguided individuals whom the previous evening he had cajoled into accompanying him on the Three Peaks Walk. A party visited Holme Mill Pot and Ling Gill. After dinner R. Hainsworth of the Gritstone Club showed some most interesting films on climbing and pot-holing; Barn Pot was excellently rigged by the more energetic members, one of whom completed the expedition carrying a tankard of ale throughout. On the Sunday a party of 14 descended Sunset Hole, but were stopped by water.

The Saturday of the February Meet at Low Hall Garth dawned fine and clear for the 24 members who attended, and shortage of snow dictated rock-climbing and walking. However it was found that many rocks were coated with ice at higher levels and only one party attempted a really serious climb, but they too encountered ice on the last pitch and had to rope down. Snow began to fall at 4 p.m. and by the time all were safely gathered into L.H.G. it was obvious that there would be lots of wet soft snow in the morning. This kept some members in bed, others doing chores and still others busy with fire­side discussion. Lurid press reports about deep snow in the Clevelands frightened all but 12 members away from the mid-March Meet at the Blue Bell Inn, Ingleby Cross; a pity because the Clevelands, under sunshine and snow were a rhapsody of scenic beauty, and all the roads were clear. Saturday was a lovely day and four members who had arrived the night before enjoyed a glorious view from the triangulation point above Osmotherly, broke through snow crust up to the knees for the rest of the day and, amidst perfect vistas of rolling moors in virgin snow, found that the only other Hving creatures were those that left innumerable tiny footprints in the snow. The Tees-side members arrived in time to share an excellent dinner, followed by a showing of colour transparencies of the Club Himalayan Expedition, photographs of an exceptionally high order. Sunday was an even more perfect day, the Tees-side contingent spent it ski-ing on the hills above Great Ayton where stands the memorial to Captain Cook, others climbed Roseberry Topping and got overheated in bright sun and deep snow.

The dispositions of the nine men who attended the Easter Meet at Ben Nevis were, apart from the weather which was Alpine and the best available in all Britain, somewhat reminiscent of the memorable Cairngorms Easter Meet of 1950, (YRCJ 1952 26; 7(26): 295). Three members and a guest were at the Steall Hut (J.M.C.S.), another member and a guest were reported ‘ gone to ground’ lower down the Glen, while the President and two others enjoyed the fleshpots of Fort “William. On the Saturday the Steall Hut party had a pleasant ice and snow climb to the summit of the Ben by the Steall Gully, while on the Sunday the President walked on the Mamores and enjoyed glorious views of Bidean nam Bian. The Glen Nevis party Went up Coire Giubhsachan to the col between Aonach Beag and Cam Mor Dearg, and up the latter by its eastern arete, whence the view extended from Schiehallion in the east to Rhum, 50 miles away to the west. On Easter Monday parties walked from Binnein Beag to Sgurr a Mhaim, explored the Aonach Eagach Ridge, and skied on Meall a’ Bhuiridh’

Rowten Pot was bottomed by four men during the May potholing meet at Austwick, the last man down providing hilarious entertainment for the other three by swinging on the ladder into the waterfall, gyrating and repeating the performance several times, arriving at the bottom with water flowing from sleeves, boots and ears amidst the hiss of carbide fumes from his pockets. A match at that stage would have produced the picture of the year. The Skye Meet at Whitsuntide took place on the shores of Loch Scavaig, where sixteen members and one guest had a most enjoyable week. Several parties traversed the Dubhs, one visited the Inaccessible Pinnacle, another the Cioch, two parties traversed Clach Glas and Blaven, while another ascended Blaven in more gentle fashion by the South Ridge. On the last day three men climbed the Pinnacle Ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean.

It was fitting that the week-end of June 20th/22nd should have been chosen for the Club’s first attempt on the Welsh 3,000’s; the President, with 25 members and guests who assembled at the Climbers’ Club hut at Helyg, found themselves in good company, for on the Sunday, the very same walk was being made a final fitness test by Sir John Hunt’s climbing party before leaving for the Caucasus. Y.R.C. operations started up the P.Y.G. track in low cloud and drizzly rain at 4.30 a.m. on the Saturday. Crib Goch, Crib-y-Ddisgl and Snowdon led to bacon and eggs at the Rucksack Club hut at Bewdy Mawr. Then Elidr Fawr—a long grind—Y Garn, Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach, Tryfan to the M.A.M. hut at Glan Dena. At this point the President and eight members were still going strong; five of these finished the course over the Carnedd to Bethesda, three arriving at the Douglas Arms at 9 p.m. and the other two at 11 p.m.

The July Meet at Lowstern was attended by twelve potholers and six hut workers. Eight men descended Flood Entrance Pot and did the through route, returning by Bar Pot.  A support party of four lowered the ladders after the last man of the ‘through’ party had gone down the 130 ft. pot, these and the fife lines were tailed through to Bar Pot, where they were event­ually hauled up to the 100 ft. pitch on a line lowered by the support party, who then rigged the pitch and brought the through party up, the whole operation taking 8 hours. Persistent rain washed all thoughts of fresh air out of the minds of the President, nine members and a guest throughout the August Bank Holiday Meet at Low Hall Garth, but much valuable maintenance was done inside the cottage. The meet at Lowstern at the end of August, was attended by the President and 24 members and guests; half this number pot-holed while the remainder indulged in hard labour connected with drainage. The potholers divided into two parties and traversed the Ease Gill/Lancaster systems in both directions, not without difficulty for the Lancaster to Ease Gill party who missed a light left by the other party and emerged from County Pot three hours overdue.

The Club’s contribution to the Joint Meet with the Wayfarers and Ruck­sack Clubs at the Robertson Lamb Hut in Great Langdale was 22, which shows how popular this annual occasion has become. The high lights of the week-end were the successful ascent of a new route up Tarn Crag by the President, and his companion, and the pioneering by two other members of a new climb named ” White Wall ” up Blake Rigg. This very severe route was not quite finished on the Saturday and rain on the Sunday prevented a return to complete it. Perfect weather prevailed for the October Meet at the Rose and Crown Hotel, Bainbridge, where the attendance was 14. Walking included, 011 Saturday, Lovely Seat, Great Shunner Fell and various routes to Hardraw for tea; on Sunday, Semmerwater and an ascent of Addleborough.

1958/59. Fourteen Club Meets were held, including the After-Dinner meet and two separate meets at Whitsuntide. The average attendance, excluding the After-Dinner meet, was 25.

The 45th Annual Dinner was again held at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, and the following day was one of the most memorable in the Club’s history. About 80 members and friends assembled in the Lowstern Plantation, near Clapham, for the official opening by E. E. Roberts of the Club’s new ‘Lowstern Hut.’ After the ceremony a large body of members entered Clapham Cave, some groped their way to the top of Ingleborough in poor visibility, others walked to Gaping Gill and all reassembled at the New Inn for high tea. The success of the December Meet at the White Lion, Cray, where 23 members enjoyed fine weather and Christmas fare, was such that many clamoured for this to become one of the annual fixtures. Activities were various, Yockenthwaite, Addleborough, the head of Semmerwater Valley and Dodd Fell for the walkers, with Buckden Pike and Great Whernside thrown in on the Sunday; Lowstern Hut for the workers, while four potholers claimed constructive work with spades on Birks Fell.

Saturday morning of the January Meet at the Hill Inn dawned crisp, clear and frosty. A goodly sized party watched the winter sunrise from the top of Whernside and were back for breakfast, to carry on and complete “The Three Peaks.” Fifty-six sat down to dinner, after which the President was invested with the Chain of Office; the Photographic Competition showed the usual high standard, Barn Pot was found to include a new hazard, Beam Crag was pushed up at least 2 grades, the older members invented a new form of shove-halfpenny and the younger ones, heralded by the sound of a hunting horn, departed in the early hours to spend what was left of the night on the summit of Whernside. On Sunday tradition was upheld and Sunset Pot was bottomed. Of the eight living ex-Presidents five were present at the meet and a message was received from a sixth. The Club has held this meet at the Hill Inn for some 63 consecutive years with only one exception, the year of the fatal accident to the Landlord’s father.

The February meet at Low Hall Garth was outstanding only for the absence of snow. Twenty-three members got wet on the Saturday, but were able to spread out over the hills on Sunday. The Easter Meet was held at Muir of Inverey, in the Hut kindly lent by the Cairngorm Club; it was attended by the President, 14 members and one guest. Two members climbed a snow gully on an un-named spur of Macdhui, others carried skis to a patch above the 3,500 ft. contour, but on the Sunday and Monday bad weather and shocking visibility curtailed most activities, though one party reached its objective, the summit of Beinn a’ Bhuird. The Aurora Borealis provided a fine display on the Saturday evening. The last week-end in April saw the President and 16 men at Lowstern Hut, now becoming comparatively luxurious. Bull Pot in Kingsdale was bottomed after rigging throughout with electron wire ladders which were found so much easier and quicker to handle than wet rope ladders.

For the first time in the long history of the Club two separate meets of a week’s duration were held at Whitsuntide, a potholing meet in Northern Ireland and a climbing meet in Wester Ross. The Irish meet took place, by the kindness of Mr. Barbour, on the Club’s old hunting ground at Killesher, where the President and eleven members camped beside the lovely Cladagh River. A new road had been built, running within a few yards of Pollnagollum, and although this somewhat upset the map-reading capabilities of the older Members, it saved a long carry of tackle and was greeted as a glorious boon by all. During the week many potholes were bottomed and some of the well-known systems were pushed beyond the limits of previous exploration. Two new holes were found and bottomed. Noon’s Hole, the deepest pothole in Ireland, was found to be 320 ft. deep, not 250 ft. as previously recorded. Potholing was at its best, there were caves with incredibly beautiful formations, there were caves with lakes where rubber dinghies were used, where flooded passages yielded to swimmers in exposure suits, and where siphons were passed by diving. Sixteen members and two guests attended the Wester Ross meet and pitched their camp on the shore of Loch Clair, by the courtesy of the Laird, Colonel Gibbs. Parties covered Beinns Alligin, Dearg and Eighe during the week. Slioch proved a very long-drawn-out ascent and was very cold on top in spite of brilliant sun. Sgurr na Rhuaidhe, Sgurr Fhuar-thuill, Beinn Liath Mhor and Maol Cheandearg were climbed in shimmering hot sun but always pursued by the cold north-east wind on the tops. There was fishing in the hill lochs, and rock climbing on Liathach, Beinn Eighe and Sgurr na Rhuaidhe.

In contrast to the previous year the June Meet at the Climbers’ Club hut at Helyg Was held in fine and clear weather and 24 members and guests set off from Pen-y-Pass soon after dawn on Saturday to tackle the 3,000’s. Route finding was easy, breakfast was served at Bewdy Mawr by a support party, the crystal clarity of Llyn Cwm proved irresistible to many of the walkers and a second feeding point within sight of the summit of Glydr Fawr, established by the President and the Hon. Librarian, was a vital factor in the success of the walk. Another support was ready at Glan Dena, kindly lent by the M.A.M., and the bunks were available for a short rest. Plain sailing over the Carnedds to the finish at Bethesda was made easier by at least three more support parties and 14 members and guests completed the full round, two of them for the second year running. At the potholing meet held jointly with the Gritstone Club in July any hope of reaching the Master Cave in Lost Johns’ was spoilt by a cloudburst on the Saturday morning, but nine men did a sight-seeing tour of Lancaster Hole and then encountered deep water in the main drain. Sunday’s plans were upset by a rescue call at 3 a.m. to the fatal accident in Dow Cave, but six members laddered Alum Pot. Thirty-seven sat down to the joint dinner at the Hill Inn on the Saturday night and both Clubs showed collections of films and slides.

Ten members spent a restful Bank Holiday week-end at L.H.G. mostly walking owing to congestion on the climbs. The attendance was 20 at the High Force Hotel in Teesdale for the last week-end in August. The long drought had created such unusual conditions that two members were able to scramble up the watercourse at Cauldron Snout and three others climbed the High Force. Another three, at the suggestion of the oldest member, took ladders and ropes to White Rigg in the hope of discovering a cave behind the waterfall, but a scramble up the rocks showed the landing devoid of any cave. The Club contingent at the joint meet with the Wayfarers and the Rucksack Club at the Robertson Lamb Hut in September was 24 strong; this meet has become so popular that R.L.H. was full and there was an over­flow into L.H.G. This was a pity as the unavoidably dual character of the meet caused by its very popularity made it difficult to get together in the evenings. There was climbing on Pavey Ark, Gimmer, Dow Crags, Bow Fell and Crinkle Crags, but the overflow at L.H.G. spent their time building a High Dam to ease the water supply.

The last meet of the Club’s year was at the Millburn Arms in Rosedale, a centre not visited for some years. Attendance was 25, which would have strained the accommodation had not a cottage been available. A party tramped down Wheeldale and found the Roman Road, now forbidden to horses because it once suffered from tanks. Some new routes were found on two outcrops within a mile of Rosedale Abbey.