Meet Report: 6-8 December 2019.

It is that time of the year when there is excitement in the air and everything feels special and this meet was no exception. To spend time with friends from scattered places around Britain for laughs and chat is something that the YRC is good at. We also made some new friends and there were two prospective members present Jennifer and Peter.

First arrival for the meet was Mike Godden on the usual Wednesday walking group get together, this was a good opportunity for him to secure a bottom bunk in the members’ room at the weekend. Richard Sealey was not far behind carrying out some quick repairs to make sure Lowstern was in tip top condition. The Smiths arrived on Thursday evening from another celebration in Barnsley. Dotty Heaton helped to put up the Christmas tree at Lowstern on Saturday morning, but could not stay for the meal because of a family celebration.

There had been a good turnout for the meet and all beds were taken with several electing to camp, this was not such a good choice as the wind reached speeds of over 40 miles an hour and I can certainly vouch for that!

As usual there was a mix of activity with everyone despite the weather taking to the hills and paths around the Dales and into the Forest of Bowland.

On Saturday, Mick Borroff, John Sutcliffe, Helen Brewitt and Daniel O’Leary did a mid-level circuit of the Kingsdale valley below the cloudbase. Having crossed Kingsdale Beck, they traversed below George’s Scar to Braida Garth and dropped down to the bridge over the beck, and up to Yordas Cave, a former Victorian show cave. They donned headtorches and went underground to find evidence of recent flooding where the water had backed up from the gravel choke to a depth of two metres. Back in daylight, they climbed up to the Turbary Road and into the mist doing some pothole spotting before returning to the car via the Cheese Press stone.

Richard Josephy went on a low level walk with a round of Norber, and Crummackdale, then back via Clapham Bottoms and the estate.

Carol and John Whalley with Robert Crowther walked to Feizor via Thwaite Lane and Oxenber Wood, enjoying the delights of Elaine’s Tearoom before returning.

John & Ros Brown with Paul & Phil Dover and Peter & Ann Latham had a pleasant walk around Stocks reservoir. The weather was damp and cloudy but it gave ample opportunity to catch up with each other’s exploits over the last year.

On Friday Helen and Mike Smith walked to Ireby Fell Cavern and looked in as far as Ding pitch, then with very wet underfoot conditions went up to the three men of Gragarath then back along Leck Fell road and the Lancashire Way to Ireby and the car.

On Saturday Helen & Mike, with Peter Chadwick, Richard Taylor and the two Prospective Members Peter and Jennifer did a challenging walk from Lowstern, up Ingleborough, to Horton, Pen-y-ghent, Brackenbottom where they packed into Tim’s car to return to Lowstern but arrived back after the slide show had started. Tim meanwhile had completed the reverse of the route in an hour’s less time probably as he was facing into the rough weather and less likely to pause.

Before our evening meal we were entertained by slide shows from Mick Borroff and John Sutcliffe respectively of the Dolomites and walking in the Pyrenees.

The main event of the weekend was the Christmas Dinner prepared by Bill for more than 30 people. It was also a great surprise that all the crockery and cutlery was donated by Bill to the club for future use, and wine donated for the meal ensured that the was a great deal of bonhomie and chat during the evening whilst the storm outside of the hut was forgotten in the revelry.

On Sunday morning Peter Chadwick , Richard Taylor and Philip Dover felt the call of the wild (winds). The decision was assisted by the prospect of escaping hut cleaning and the desire to work off the effects of Bill’s generous wine provision and the 160 degree proof chasers of white rum.

Peter was self- appointed navigator and despite this they went by way of Clapham – Long Lane on a circuit of Thwaite Scars , Crummack, Nappa Scars , sensibly avoiding the pub on the 8 mile circuit. The weather was much improved from the Saturday- it would have been difficult to have been worse.

Helen & Mike parked in Earby and went over Thornton Moor to Pinhay Beacon using a section of the Pennine Way. They returned via Elslack and the remains of both the Roman fort and the Beeching axed railway. Weather was hail showers and strong winds.

It goes without saying that Bill’s generosity and hard work made the 2019 Christmas Meet one that will go down in the annals of the Club history. Thank you Bill!

Alan Linford

Participants

Mick Borroff, Helen Brewitt, John Brown, Ros Brown (G), Ged Campion (Saturday Dinner),  Peter Chadwick, Albert Chapman (Saturday Dinner), Robert Crowther, Paul Dover (joint leader), Philip Dover, Bill Gibbs (joint leader), Iain Gilmour, Mike Godden, Richard Gowing,  Becca Humphreys, John Jenkin, Richard Josephy, Tim Josephy, Ann Latham (G), Pete Latham, Daniel O’Leary, Simon Raine, Richard Sealey, Helen Smith, Michael Smith, John Sutcliffe, Richard Taylor, Jennifer Tennant (PM), Peter Tennant (PM), Carol Whalley, John Whalley.