Club Meets

1975-76

Excluding the Annual Dinner, the Ladies’ Evening and Working Parties the Club held 14 meets during the year with an average attendance of 25, the same figure as in the previous year. Because of a misunderstanding over the booking of the Grampian Club Hut the Glen Etive Meet in February had to be switched to Low Hall Garth. The August meet in Cleveland was transferred to Hutton-le-Hole through lack of suitable accommodation at Levisham. The joint meet at the Robertson Lamb Hut in September had to be cancelled because of the severe drought of this exceptional summer and autumn, though in the event very heavy rain fell two days before the date of the meet. Working parties were held at both huts and the Ladies’ Evening was fully subscribed. The 83rd Annual General Meeting was held at the Cairn Hotel, Harrogate, on the 18th November, 1975, and was followed by a Special General Meeting and by the 62nd Annual Dinner. The President, J. B. Devenport, was in the chair and the principal guest was Tom Price. 140 members and guests attended and 79 of these were present at the after-dinner meet at Sparth House, Malham. The Christmas meet was held at the Horseshoes Hotel at Egton Bridge from the 5th-7th December. 28 members and guests sampled the Cleveland Way between Whitby and Ravenscar or the Rosedale Circuit to Westerdale or climbing at Wainstones. Astute members took full advantage of shoppers’ trains to return in good time to sample the hotel’s real ale, an excellent dinner and Mr. Sam White’s informative talk on the history of the area. 48 members and 9 guests attended the New Year meet at the Marton Arms, Thornton-in-Lonsdale. Gale force winds and heavy rain made difficulties for those who attempted the Three Peaks, and for a sizeable party down Ireby Fell Cavern. Well-being returned with dinner and a witty, expertly illustrated talk by the Hon. Secretary’s friend, Harold Eccles, on the Pyrenees, the Dolomites and the Alps. The traditional February meet at Low Hall Garth attracted an attendance of 50. Hard ice on the by-roads was unfortunately not matched in gullies or on the tops, though all parties found exercise and entertainment. The catering by Dennis and Margaret Driscoll was, as always, four star, and so was the after-dinner talk by Peter Boardman. L.H.G. was the venue for the next meet in lieu of Glen Etive at the end of February. It was warm enough to have brought out an adder on the track up Green-burn, and 13 members on the meet. It was too wet for enjoyable climbing but walkers had a good circuit from Glenridding. Two members only camped high and snugly on the Haystacks in March despite low cloud, high winds, water-spouts over Bleaberry Tarn, and intermittent rain. At the Easter meet at Glen Lyon six members and two guests had four long and strenuous days in good hard conditions. For the first pot-holing meet of the year, based on Lowstern in May, 19 members made the through trip of Easegill and Lancaster Hole. 11 members and 2 guests made light of the carry-in at Spring Bank Holiday for a vintage meet at Fionn Loch. Parties ranged from Slioch to An Teallach, the weather was splendid with views as far north as Foinaven, the situation remote and magnificent. The Welsh Threes attracted 24 walkers and a hard-working support party of 8 for the Long Walk in late June. The grind up Elidir Fawr was over before the sun got at it but later the sun won and temperatures were high to be followed by evening sunlight over cloud-filled valleys. Strategically placed cans of beer helped 19 walkers to the finish. The weather for the July meet at Lowstern was also superb. The potholers tackled Dale Head Pot, walkers were on Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent, a party visited Attermire Scar, the cooks opted for the New Inn, and the first lot back prepared dinner. 11 members assembled rather improbably in the Tea Shop at Hutton-le-Hole on Saturday the 21st August. Severe moorland fires precluded moorland routes. All parties therefore honourably took to the valleys—a pleasant interlude if hardly vintage Y.R.C. Drought cancelled the joint meet in September. The October meet was held in mid-Wales at Llanbedr. There were Chinese pheasants, peacock and pea-hens, goats and croquet hoops on the lawn of the hotel. This gracious impression was dispelled next day by the traverse of the Rhinog ridge, which though not as high as some Welsh hills, proved rough and tough, especially in the prevailing mist, which rapidly obscured the one narrow trod through crutch-high heather. Sunday was sunny—some went to Rhinog Fawr to see where they should have gone the day before, some canoed and surfed, some went up Cader Idris. After a lapse of ten years the Club returned at the end of October to High Force, High Cup Nick, Cauldron Snout and Cross Fell. The meet was greatly enjoyed by 20 members and guests.

1976-77

The Club held 13 meets during the year excluding the Dinner, Working Party Meets and the Ladies Evening.  Average attendance at meets was 26. The 84th Annual General Meeting was held at the Cairn Hotel, Harrogate, on the 20th November 1976, and was followed by the 63rd Annual Dinner. The President, J. B. Devenport, was in the chair, and the principal guest was Peter Boardman. 139 members and guests attended the dinner. The after-dinner meet was held at Sparth House, Malham. The Christmas meet was held at Kentmere with a generous covering of snow. Saturday started clear and sunny with a keen frost and slowly deteriorated into soft snow and low cloud, this milder weather persisting on Sunday. 55 members and guests enjoyed the DriscolPs superb catering and even more superb tolerance. Heavy snow and reports of chaotic road conditions did not deter 58 members and guests from assembling at the Marton Arms in January. The summit of Ingleborough and the bottom of Bull Pot of the Witches marked the extremes with some skiing midway between. Dinner was followed by a talk and slide show by John Whalley and Dave Judson on their expedition to Ecuador. An enjoyable and energetic Himalayan re-union weekend was spent by survivors of the 1957 Jugal Himal expedition at L.H.G. in February. 5 expedition members, the 1956 and 1957 Presidents and the 1957 Secretary made up the party. The Glen Etive meet at the end of February was notable for excellent weather—low temperature, good visibility, some sun and no wind. Ski-ing conditions were first rate, the Aonach Eagach was in superb condition, and the only peak that was perhaps neglected was the Buchaille. Three members canoed down Loch Etive and camped two nights to climb Cruachan and several of its satellites. Attendance was 28. The high level camp in March was scheduled for the cave in Dovedale. Very heavy rain on Friday night confined the six members who graced the bar at the Brotherswater Hotel to the shelter of their cars. The cave was occupied for breakfast on Saturday, and proved not entirely comfortable in a strong north wind. 8 members took part. The Easter Meet at Lowstern was not a success, only five members putting in an appearance over the weekend. For the Spring Bank Holiday Meet the Club returned to Kintail, but to a new camp site at Achnagart. The weather was poor, with low cloud, stiff winds, snow, sleet and rain and there was a great deal of snow even on the blunter hills. The ridges north and south of Glen Shiel were visited along with outliers like Ben Attow and Ben Sgriol. 25 members and guests attended. The Long Walk in July was the Wasdale Skyline. 46 members and guests were involved. The majority were based at L.H.G. and were ferried across Wrynose and Hard Knott for the start and finish at Wasdale Hall. A smaller group camped in Wasdale adjacent to the widest selection of malts outside Scotland. The morning started damp and cloud remained low until evening. Because of this and since there were no feeding points parties tended to be dispersed throughout the day. The Gaping Gill meet in September was a great success, enjoyed by 24 members and guests. The Craven Pothole Club kindly allowed the use of their winch for the descent of the main chamber, Bar Pot was also rigged, South East Pot and the Whitsun Series were visited and the Pool Traverse completed. The October meet was held in Galloway, at the White Laggan Bothy. This involved a carry-in of about one-and-a-half hours. The area is rugged, liberally sprinkled with small lochs, and boggy and has a feeling of remarkable remoteness. The bothy is excellent and was comfortable on Friday for eleven Club members who all made over the Merrick next day. On Saturday night there were 36 in the bothy including 6 more Club members, and a mixed party of 13 architectural student which did little to encourage the acceptance of a mixed club. The Working Party meets were hard-working and successful: the day climbing meets at Attermire and the Roaches less successful.

1977-78

The Club held 11 meets during the year excluding the Dinner, the Ladies’ Evening and Working Parties. Average attendance at meets was 28. A Special General Meeting was held at the Cairn Hotel, Harrogate, on the 19th November 1977 to amend the rules by the addition of Rule 20 which defined temporary membership. The 85th Annual General Meeting followed and was in turn followed by the 64th Annual Dinner. The President, F. D. Smith, was in the chair and the principal guest was Peter Livesey. 124 members and guests were present. The after-dinner meet was held at the Fell Hotel, Burnsall. A round fifty members and guests turned up for the Christmas meet at the Coledale Inn, Braithwaite, a new venue which was much acclaimed. The obvious route taken by many was the round from Causey Pike via Grasmoor to Grisedale Pike. After venison for dinner Jack Woodman was pre-sented with a suitable bottle to mark his fiftieth year of membership. The Marton Arms at Thornton in Lonsdale seems to be taking over the mantle of the Hill Inn for the January meet and 42 members and guests assembled there on this occasion. Cavers tackled Lost Johns including the Old Roof Route and Ireby Cavern. Walkers were on Gragareth and Whernside, climbers (despite the cold) on Twistleton Scars, and at least one member maintained tradition by completing the Three Peaks. There was snow in plenty for the Low Hall Garth meet but not the kind to tempt one into gullies. A strong head wind and blown snow made the round from Wetherlam to Coniston Old Man something of an effort. 40 members and guests more than filled the hut but failed to outreach Denis Driscoll’s catering. For the Glen Etive meet in February the Club were again allowed the use of the Grampian Club Hut. Glencoe was comprehensively frozen, the day was clear, the wind fresh and very cold. One party skied, another tackled the North Buttress of Buchaille Etive, two others made the circuit of Sgurr Dhonuill by different routes and with superb views from Jura to Skye and north across Ben Nevis. 30 members and guests had a memorable weekend. Although the attendance was only 12, staggered between Friday and Sunday, the Easter Meet in Glen Feshie had a good camp site at Ballintean, good snow, and plenty of activity on Cairn Gorm, Cam Ban Mor, Sgor Gaoith and Sgoran Dubh Mor. 16 members and guests camped at Blackbeck Tarn on Haystacks in April. The site offers a splendid choice of tops—Green Gable, round to Steeple, Red Pike and High Stile, Dale Head and Robinson, with climbing on the Napes ridges, on the north side of Great Gable, Gillercombe and Birkness Combe. The late April meet at Lowstern was greatly enjoyed by 26 members and guests. The potholing party bottomed Sell Gill, the walkers had a good day on Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough, the new pot-belly stove was much appreciated. The Spring Bank Holiday camp was at Loch Clair, Torridon. 29 members and guests had a superb week with almost continuous sunshine. All the main peaks of Torridon were traversed, the Munros on the Coulin Estate were all the more attractive for their remoteness, a party visited Slioch, and two others climbed on the triple buttresses in Coire Mhic Fearchair. The Long Walk in June was back in Yorkshire and covered the 7 peaks. The start was from Whernside Manor near Dent (camp or bunkhouse), the finish was at Hag Dyke a few hundred feet below the summit of Great Whernside, which was kindly made available to the Club by the Scouts who own it. The day was perfect for walking, sunny but not too hot, with firm going underfoot. Albert Chapman at breakfast, and the support party for the rest of the meet, provided superb service. The venue for the July meet was South Wales where seven members made the through trip in Ogof Fynnon Ddu from the top entrance to the bottom entrance. For the joint meet with the Wayfarers’ Club, 17 YRC men were splendidly entertained at R.L.H. and 15 more entertained themselves at LHG. The President of the Wayfarers led a mixed party from both clubs from Cockley Bridge via Mosedale and Scafell Pike back to RLH. The LHG contingent were out on the Crinkles, Bowfell and the Lang-dales. Parties were climbing on both days on Dow, Scout Crag and Tarn Crag, Middle Fell and Pavey Ark. The October meet in Derbyshire in October eventually found a base in the Derwent Hotel at Bamford. There was low cloud and rain on both days. The main party traversed Kinder from Yorkshire Bridge via Crookstone Knoll and Blackden Edge, returning via Jacob’s Ladder and Edale. Hardier spirits sampled Stanage and Dovestones Tor. 23 members and guests participated.