Meet Report: 26-28 April 2019.

Probably due to being just one week after the Easter weekend, the Spring LHG meet was attended by a select band of members and one prospective member.

Friday afternoon saw Team Humphreys clock up a tour de Tilberthwaite, via the newly repaired track previously frequented by the 4×4 crowd, the repair of the bathroom light and the rehanging of the oven door. Team Smith (this time a one-man band) arrived late afternoon via a wet Long Sleddale and Kentmere Pike, in time to celebrate the day’s achievements with beer, soup and rolls whilst devising an initial plan for the rest of the weekend. Team Salmon arrived at a much later hour after a seamless journey from Leeds and a faultless West Coast mainline service from London. Another round of soup, rolls and of course, beer, completed the arrival protocols and bed beckoned at a civilised hour.

Saturday morning dawned full of promise with broken cloud permitting intermittent sunshine. Of course, promises can be broken so plans were made to accommodate whatever the day chose to throw at us. Taking the adage “an army marches on its stomach” as her guide, the meet leader provided breakfast of cereal, toast and a full cooked to fortify the crew for the day’s activity. The advanced party of Salmons and Smith departed for the Three Shires Stone intent on the Crinkle Crags while Humphreys x2 completed the domestic operations. JHH set out for Wasdale on commercial business after dropping RCH to intercept the early trio somewhere in the vicinity of the Three Shires Stone, said stone being absent for repairs. Departure was slightly delayed by one almighty traffic jam on the LHG track as two vehicles attempted to reach the ford only to find four Langdale Ambleside MRT vehicles heading up the track to Cathedral Cavern (mercifully, a training exercise). With much reversing, bleeping, disgorging of personnel and parking up, order was restored and Team Humphreys flew up Wrynose to meet the advance party with perfect timing.

JHH disappeared off to Wasdale to talk Scafell Souvenirs, whilst the trekking quartet struck out for Crinkle Crags via the Difficult Step, suggested by Arthur Salmon. By now, the sun was playing more hide and seek before the drizzle took over, rapidly becoming rain showers of some force. The showers came and went, the cloud rose and fell, and views tantalised with hints of sun in the valley.

Although, when we reached it, the difficult step was damp, it was crested with less difficulty than it’s name suggested. Had we been but five minutes later we might have had more entertainment as a distinctly menacing squall of soft hail struck. Mercifully we were safely located in a well-protected rest spot, tucking into coffee and morning nibbles. This was far more comfortable than the two chaps we encountered shortly after who had stopped on the col, fully exposed to the incoming precipitation. Some assistance with navigation was given, a promise made to look out for them at the ODG and a we wished them a cheery good day as we headed on towards the Three Tarns. Our party was concerned by their apparent lack of basic kit but hoped that Lady Luck might look kindly upon them.

Having reached the tarns and established that some feet were starting to register an excess of dampness, that some over-trousers were suffering from a small but annoying design fault and that the ODG remained untrodden ground for one of the party, it was decided to descend via The Band for some appropriate refreshment in the hallowed hostelry. A young German chap was heading up, fully loaded for a night wild camping on the tops. He gave a much greater sense of preparedness for the conditions than those we had previously encountered.

It being April, the farm was in full lambing mode with various stock movements going on, with and without canine assistance. RCH headed off to get the first round in, while the remaining trio were given an impromptu farm tour by the nine year old lad who was keen and proud to show off their operation. Eventually, all were reunited at the ODG including the chaps we met earlier. Having delivered a sales pitch for LHG to one group in need of more substantial accommodation than their tents and slightly soggy sleeping bags were likely to offer that night, we struck out on the final leg of the day, back over Blea Tarn to LHG. B Salmon, having been eyeing up all available options during the day opted for a wild swim in Blea Tarn (no wetsuit required!) while the meet leader cracked on to ensure supper was ready for all in good time.

Team Whalley had arrived that afternoon, so the party was complete. Tea and cake were on the table for everyone’s return and the drying room pressed into action to handle the day’s kit once the dehumidifier had been recovered from underneath a wood pile. Although the chicken curry had spoiled somewhat, supper was completed by several rounds of pancakes with lemon and sugar/maple syrup. Smith was chief tosser and no losses were sustained. Plenty of beer and wine flowed and all succumbed to deep slumbers.

Sunday hinted at a better day weather wise so after a repeat of the breakfast offering of Saturday, JHH departed for southern lands and the intrepid sextet ventured forth to Wetherlam via Wet Edge, Great Carrs and Swirl Hows. Wet Edge was deemed a slog although it was interesting to try and identify from a lofty view point where the hydro electric scheme had been inserted into Greenburn Mines. It won’t be long before there is very little sign at all. Smith spotted a Ring Ouzel, an unusual find in this area. The closer we got to the tops, the greater the population density became, probably as the weather was far more conducive to a day’s hiking than 24hrs before.

Having traversed the Prison Band (unable to explain its name), we crested Wetherlam, meeting a group familiar with LHG and most complimentary of its facilities and location, before striking out for the top of the Tilberthwaite track and our return to base. Time was starting to play a role in decision making as trains needed to be caught and so a degree of rapid descending was required. The route has been named “Directissimo” as a result. A fair degree of scrambling was required; there appeared to be some fairly recent rock fall on the upper section which had redesigned the path somewhat. Smith had received a missive from home requiring rapid attention and had set off ahead of us from Swirl Hows. According to later reports, he may have found the better option off the lower reaches.

More tea and cake on our return replenished energies before the Salmons raced off to rejoin the West Coast Line at Windermere and the Whalleys hit the road to return home. Hut tidying completed RCH stayed one more night before departing Monday morning at a ridiculously early hour to complete the weekend’s activities.

Attendees:

Rebecca Humphreys (Leader), Jason Humphreys, Michael Smith, Arthur Salmon, Barbara Salmon (Prospective Member), Carole Whalley, John Whalley