Meets
Christmas Meet – Blencathra Centre
3rd to 5th December 1993
The weather forecast for Friday night promised winds from the Southwest rising to 50 mph with rain; the rain clearing the Lake District by morning and possibly moving in from Scotland by Saturday afternoon. Unlike the time when the forecaster missed the chance of a lifetime to announce that a hurricane was imminent, the forecast was accurate and arrivals on Friday evening were blown in on clouds of spray, making the turn from the A594 into Threlkeld doubly hazardous. The navigation began at that point for those of us who had not previously visited the Blencathra centre which the National Trust has converted from a sanatorium into holiday accommodation.
The Salutation Inn in Threlkeld became the focus for most people through the evening, the tiny snug being packed with YRC men driven from the central room by the log fire which was so hot that no-one could remain in front of it.
Anyone who awoke in the night heard the rain driving against the windows. I, for one, was fervently hoping that the weather forecaster was right otherwise it would turn into a most unpleasant day.
Coming down to breakfast one was impressed with a magnificent panorama, not the eggs bacon and sausages, but the one from the picture window showing the hills southward as far as the tip of Gable, with St John in the Vale in the foreground and Derwentwater and surrounding hills to the right. There were touches of snow on the highest tops highlighting the pictorial effect.
As usual, members and friends sorted themselves into like-minded groups and headed in various directions. When 43 members attend a meet it is impossible to track all the activities in detail. I can only write accurately of the party of five in which I was included.
On leaving the Blencathra Centre, the temperature felt reasonable, but the coldness of the wind was surprising as we walked along the Skiddow House track before turning up onto Lonscale Fell and heading over Little Man towards the summit of Skiddaw.
On this ridge we found a dusting of snow underfoot, just enough to make it seasonal. Looking back, the ridge of Blencathra above 2000 it was covered with white from end to end.
It was here we met David Smith and Mike Godden making use of the short break from the kitchen to get a breath of air. We did not encourage them to hang about to admire the view over distant hills with glimpses across the Solway, but rather reminded them of their responsibilities to the other members and suggested that they should start back without delay to begin organising festivities. Between Skiddaw and Little Calva we had a short break for food and thermos flasks of tea sitting in the heather out of the wind, before detouring slightly for a view of Dash Falls.
On Great Calva it was decided to head for Skiddaw House and then make our way along the track back to base rather than going up Blencathra and finish in the dark.
It was a good day’s walk; strenuous enough to be satisfying with good going underfoot, views most of the time, and a variety of interesting conversation.
Mulled wine had been announced for 6.30 p.m., and well before that members were sitting at the tables. The mulled wine began to bring out the stories of the day and others to do with YRC life. Several hilarious ones emerged, one on the verge of political incorrectness which has given us another source of humour. The politically incorrect one concerned a hoax perpetuated on the Secretary by one of our long standing members, and involved falsifying an application for membership, and was recounted with gusto and a high standard of mimicry.
Another story originated during the day when several senior members arrived at a swollen beck with water rushing high over the stepping stones. One who considered himself more able than the rest jumped across and, although built more on the lines of David than Goliath, manhandled a gate back to the others to help them across, only to find that they had already fallen in.
Through the dinner, the shape of the day and the image of the Yorkshire Ramblers’ Club appeared
“. . . Raven Crag but it was running with water so we moved round the corner . . .”
” . . . the fox just sat up there on Carrock Fell amongst the rocks watching the hounds below . . . “
” . . . flying Meteors in the 1950’s . . .” ” . . . when I got to the reference the script was in Latin . . .”
” . . .It was quite a small boat when I went to Antarctica . . . the Americans do not co-operate . . . “
“. . . painting exhibitions . . .” “. . . pensions . . .” “. . . next expedition . . .”
“. . . Himalayas . . .” “. . . replacement for the Journal . . .”
“. . . Hobcarton End . . .” “. . . Newlands round . . .” “. . . Glen Etive . . .”
After the Christmas pudding, cheese and biscuits, thin mints and coffee had gone down, eventually the conversation subsided to allow the President to propose the loyal toast. Then washing up could start.
For the evening’s entertainment, John Devonport showed slides of the 1985 Saastal alpine meet. David Smith showed miscellaneous ones and Graham Salmon excellent shots from the Gouffre Berger. Chris and Alistair Renton advanced the technology and showed a video they had made setting out the history of the Club.
Sunday morning was dry but very windy and the members departed in their various directions, some to visit older members, some on the long drive South, some back onto the hills and rocks. Our small group spent the morning ascending Blencathra in a wind which threatened to blow us off the mountain, before descending by an easy route. On the way down we met two of the Club’s officers on the way up, who told us yet another hilarious story of a committee member being left in a car park on the way to a committee meeting, and how, miles further on, only when he did not respond to conversation was it discovered that he was not asleep in the back of the car.
I am sure that I was not the only member to drive home in a happy frame of mind.
The meet report would not be complete without thanking everyone who made it a success, but particularly thanking David and Mike for the sheer hard work they put into the weekend.
J.H.H.
Attending:
The President Arthur Salmon
| Ken Aldred | Denis Armstrong | Alan Brown |
| David Brookes (G) | Derek Bush | Albert Chapman |
| Clifford Cobb | Alan Clare (G) | Derek Clayton |
| Arthur Craven | Ian Crowther | Robert Crowther |
| John Devonport | Eddie Edwards | Iain Gilmour |
| Mike Godden | Ralph Hague | David Hick |
| Jeff Hooper | John Jenkins (G) | Tim Josephy |
| David Laughton | Gerry Lee | William Lee |
| Harvey Lomas | David Martindale | Rory Newman |
| Peter Price | Chris Renton | Alistair Renton |
| Harry Robinson | Graham Salmon | John Schofield |
| Michael Smith | David Smith | Peter Swindells |
| Tony Smythe | Trevor Temple (G) | Philip Wilkinson (G) |
| Frank Wilkinson | Maurice Wilson | Roy Wilson |
Lowstern
7th to 9th January 1994
Friday afternoon saw the meet leader preparing chilli con came, and the arrival of the first two pensioners, who immediately took advantage of the sunny afternoon to go see the waterfalls above Ingleton. They were disappointed by the lack of water in the stream, despite the floods elsewhere, but delighted by the colours. More members arrived during the evening and later into the night after the reporter was in bed.
The reporter was chosen in the time honoured manner. For a potholing meet it had to be a non-potholer. And in the same manner the invitation had to be accepted.
The potholing party came back on Saturday with that distinct, verbally obvious attitude that comes from having a good and successful day. The novices talked of their lack of strength and/or technique to climb ladders, and the experts pretended, as usual, that they didn’t have to struggle. At least the club now has some younger experts who make this almost believable. This seemed to be a feature of the meet. There were fewer pensioners and the average age may have been as low as forty. The success of the day had been that all ten of the participants had bottomed Ireby Fell Cavern.
Most of the rest of the meet spent the day on Ingleborough which had lots of interesting snow. We cut steps, kicked steps and one member used crampons “step-in” of course. One party reached the summit plateau four times and finished by traversing on steep snow just below the summit from North to South, returning to Clapham via Horton. The weather was cold in the wind on the tops, but fine until late evening when those visiting the New Inn had to face very heavy rain. But this was after a great meal.
Sunday started no earlier than Saturday, with the first member up at about eight o’clock, but this time the electricity had run out, so the day started with hunting for a fifty pence piece. There were noticeably fewer people for breakfast than had been at dinner. Some had slept elsewhere and one or two left early on Sunday. The first party out went for a short walk up Gragareth. The top was in thick mist, as it had been the day before, and the snow was all soft and unexciting. Few felt like a lot of exercise, but a party of three went digging in East Kingsdale. The clean and tidy appearance of all the others met indicated a restful day not to be investigated.
D. A. S.
Attending:
| David Atherton | Alan Kay | Alan Linford |
| Ms White? (G) | Alistair Renton | Arthur Salmon |
| Bill Todd | Bruce Benzley (G) | Claire Hewick (G) |
| David Smith | Derek Srnithson | Eddie Edwards |
| Ged Campion | Graham Salmon | Ian Crowther |
| Joel Corrigan (G) | Jon Riley | Lisa Stanbury (G) |
| Mike Kinder | Nick Welch (PM) | Peter Price |
| Richard Josephy | Terry Long (PM) |
Ladies Weekend
18th to 19th April 1994
The Meet was based on the Eccle Riggs Manor Hotel, Broughton-in-Furness. Friday, for those who arrived early, caravaners in the main, was memorable only for heavy rain, hail, thunder and snow in higher places, with one brief sunny interlude around teatime.
Saturday started fine, with some blue sky and a covering of snow. After an interesting drive up the Duddon Valley, from Broughton, those participating in the nearest thing to an organised walk met at Hinning House Close Car Park more or less on schedule.
Somewhat later they were pursued by one family who, having spent the night at Low Hall Garth, attempted to cross to the Duddon valley by Wrynose Pass. Turned back by snow at the top they faced a frantic drive round by Coniston and Broughton.
The main party followed the Duddon downstream to Birks Bridge and then took to the eastern side of the valley over common land and water-logged farmland to Thrang, Tongue House and Loft House, re-joining the Road approaching Seathwaite. Here the party met its lirst major challenge in the form of the Newfield Inn, into which certain members were seen to disappear at only 1130 hours!
From hereon there were two groups following more or less the same course at about a forty minute interval. Passing High Wallowbarrow Farm and Wallowbarrow Crags, the party returned up the west side of the valley to Grassguards. A few returned directly to the cars at this juncture, but most followed Grassguards Gill in order to climb Harter Fell from the south west, an undertaking not made any easier by the Forestry Commission. The first party was on the summit well before the heavy snow commenced, the second group not fairing quite so well. The descent from Harter Fell to Birks is steepish at the best of times but a covering of snow made things more invigorating. Some twenty-nine persons took part and more than half completed the walk. Other walks took place according to usually reliable sources but details were hard to come by.
Forty-three sat down to the Meet Dinner on the Saturday evening.
Sunday dawned and stayed fine, a brilliantly clear day with snow from about 1800 feet. Seven couples took part in an uncoordinated assault on Black Combe, a modest hill but exceptional viewpoint. Some started by way of Whitcomb Beck, others from a higher point further north. There were sundry encounters on and around the summit. Outstanding views of the Lakeland hills, Howgills and Pennines provided a fitting end to the weekend for those involved.
I. L.
Members and Guests:
| Mike & Marcia Godden | The President, Arthur Salmon | John & Janet Hemingway |
| Roy & Margaret Salmon | Dennis and Joan Armstrong | Ian & Una Laing |
| John & Pat Schofield | Alan and Madge Brown | Gerry and Margaret Lee |
| Geoff and Mary Schovell | John and Irene Barton | Alan and Angie Linford |
| Michael, Helen and Richard Smith | Derek and Yvonne Bush | Bill and Brenda Lofthouse |
| David and Elspeth Smith | Cliff and Betty Cobb | Nevil and Mary Newman |
| John and Barbara Sterland | Ian and Dorothy Crowther | Harry and Margaret Robinson |
| Herbert and Elma Wunsch (G) |
Low Hall Garth
28th to 30th January 1994
The annual meet at Low Hall Garth this year was a great success, even though there was room for improvement in the weather department.
In total twenty members attended and two members came for the day.
Most members arrived on Friday and, as usual, there was a shortage of beds resulting in the younger members having to sleep on the floor. When I arrived there was only a handful of members in the hut so off I went to the local hostelry.
Saturday we were woken by Andrew with cups of tea in hand. Most members did not rise too quickly as the weather outside left a lot to be desired. Breakfast was fully English and enjoyed by everyone. Due to the weather conditions, most members went on low level walks.
A party of six set off by way of Tilberthwaite to Coniston and Tarn Hows. Derek Smithson set out by himself to Carr Crag, Three Shire Stones and then Blea Tam. The President, President Elect, Iain Gilmour and I set off towards Carrs but I had to retreat as my new plastic boots were giving me quite a bit of pain. The other three continued and went onto Coniston Old Man and then down to Coniston. The two David’s also went to Coniston, while David Smith and Alan Linford attended to the water at the cottage before heading to Lingmoor Fell.
All the parties returned safely, the last back being the President, President Elect and Iain Gilmour. (It is said that Derek Bush holds the record for being the last back at Low Hall Garth.) The evening meal was excellent and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Many thanks go to Andrew.
The rest of the evening was spent discussing the day, and a few of the members went down to the local pub and returned with Tim Josephy on his way back from the Cairngorms.
Sunday morning again saw Andrew with his cups of tea, which were most welcome. Breakfast was again full English. The weather was a slight improvement on the previous day but still pretty poor. Some members made for home early and others opted for low level routes. Our party, David Smith, Iain Gilmour, Derek Bush and I, went for a brisk walk round Whitbar Scar before heading home.
All in all, this was an excellent meet, although the weather was not too kind,
Thanks must go to Andrew for his excellent catering and organisation.
A. R.
Attending:
| Arthur Salmon | Derek Bush | Derek Smithson |
| David Smith | Alan Linford | Bill Todd |
| Gerry Lee | Raymond Harben | Andrew Duxbury |
| Iain Gilmour | Eddie Edwards | Alistair.Renton |
| Arthur Craven | John Barton | Cliff Cobb |
| Ian Lang | Trevor Temple (G) | David Martindale |
| John Sterland | David Hick | |
| Day Visitors: | Ken Aldred | Tim Josephy |
Glen Etive
18th to 20th February 1994
Although the majority of members and guests usually arrive on Friday evening, one member camped at Tyndrum on the Monday, in time for the blizzard on Tuesday. On Wednesday he was rewarded with calm sunny weather and superb snow conditions which tempted him onto Ben Lui. His move was then to Glen Etive and Ben Starav on Thursday, where he lost a lens from his sun goggles.
Another member camped at the top of Glen Etive on the Monday, experiencing weather similar to the Tyndrum single. High winds were experienced on Thursday and Meal a Bhuiridh and Aonach Mor were ascended during the week.
Thursday evening saw the arrival at Inbhirfhaolin of the usual early birds. The Glen was beautifully lit by the setting sun, highlighting the frozen river. The river bed stones looked like a collection of brown polo mints with centres of snow driven against them from the north east. However, the prospect of good weather on Friday was dashed when our “ace” forecaster drew attention to poor weather the next day.
The hut showed signs of considerable improvement works, and warmth was ensured from a new multifuel stove. The wall separating the small kitchen area had been removed and most of the room panelled. Apparently the intention is to convert the old wood store into a kitchen, leaving the whole of the down stairs room available as a lounge/dining area. A considerable improvement to that experienced in the past.
Friday saw seventeen members and one guest engaged in expeditions to Beinn Achaladair, Beinn Sgulaird, Stob Ban (Grey Corries), Sgurr Eilde Mor, and Bheinn na h-Uamha. Two members went skiing in the White Corries where it is written on the Fairy Winds that aerials, moguls and other ethereal flights (of fancy) were possibly achieved. Well! After that lot, who knows what the next day might bring.
Saturday dawned showing signs of rain alongside the potential for brighter patches. Numbers had increased by six, and twenty three members and guests set out to experience the varied conditions of the day. Beinn Sgulaird was again ascended, and the party on Ben Starav found the sun goggle lens which had been lost on the Thursday. Other tops were Beinn Teallach, Beinna Chaorainn, Stob Coire nan Lochan, Aonach Beag NE Buttress, Crowberry Gully-Buachaille Etive Mor, and Carn a Chuillinn Glen Doe. Two members travelled to Drumochter to nordic ski, but faced with gale force wind, extreme cold and a walk in carrying skis, drove back to Alt a mhuilin for a pleasant afternoon walk in the lee of Ben Nevis. Walking in Glen Etive was enjoyed, and with the area being squeezed between two fighting weather systems, some very strange cloud formations were observed.
Sitka deer were seen near the hut, and a buzzard was observed on a concrete post by the Fort William Distillery, apparently observing traffic on the A82. The previous day a large flock of Whooper Swans were seen on Lochnan Gabhar – Glen Gour.
Most members commenced their various journeys home after breakfast on the Sabbath. Superb views were experienced from Rannoch Moor across Black Mount to Stob Ghabhar where the snowfields shone brilliantly in the morning sun.
Twisting and SC Gullies were the target of two groups on Stob Coire nan Lochan, and another party ascended Beinn Dubhchraig on their way south.
Some members intended staying until Monday with plans to ski in the White Corries and ascend Ben Achaladair.
Altogether, twenty four members and guests enjoyed their weekend with good snow and ice conditions.
F. M. G.
Attending:
| Denis Armstrong | Beinn Achaladair |
| Adrian Bridge | Stob Ban (Grey Corries) |
| Derek Bush | Aonach Beag |
| Albert Chapman | Meal a Bhuinidh |
| Ian Crowther | Bein a Chaorainn |
| Eddie Edwards | Carn a Chiullinn |
| Iain Gilmour | Beinn na h-Uamha |
| Mike Godden | Beinn Teallach |
| Richard J ones (G) | Ben Lui |
| David Handley | Ben Starav |
| David Hick | Aonach Mor |
| Howard Humphreys | Stob Core nan Lochan |
| Cliff Large | Beinn Sgulaird |
| Harvey Lomas | Beinn Dubhchraig |
| John McLean | Crowberry Gully |
| Doug McLean (G) | Twisting Gully |
| Dave Martindale | SC Gully |
| Peter Price | Sgurr Eilde Mor |
| Alistair Renton | SC Gully |
| Graham Salmon | |
| David Smith | |
| Derek Smithson | |
| Barrie Wood | |
| Daniel Wood (G) |