The Club’s first foray to England for Hogmany was a great success;
apart from the weather!
51 club members turned up and a traditional Scottish hogmany was
enjoyed on the Friday night. Some first-footers from the next door
hostel first footed us and reduced the average age significantly!
Saturdays weather was grim: mild, wet and windy. Nevertheless several
parties setout. David F, Jon B and Ingrid were the first out and braved
a very windy Skiddaw. Many folk including the Deans Francis and Sally
(+Eleanor), Alan,Caroline & Elspeth went for the Boat trip to Howton
to return over Place fell but the boat proved very popular and some late
arrivals at the pier failed to get on.
Another group (Dave W, Isobel, Dave B and Mary H) went to Ambleside
and climbed Wansbeck fell and experienced the pleasure of pints of
Theakstons at lunch time in the Mortal Man in Troutbeck before braving
the storm on the home-ward leg
Several folk including John & Helen Read, got up to Sticks Pass
and Raise but were blown back down. Keith managed about 4 wainwrights
and Alice and David H went over to Angle Tarn.
The hostel provided an excellent set meal for us all – afterwards
we were too full to move the tables for another ceilidh and so a singing
& music session was enjoyed
On Sunday the weather was windier but drier. Again several groups
tried the boat but it failed to get into Howton due to the swell.
Several parties then climbed Place fell from Patterdale (Dave W, Dave B,
Isobel, Mary H, Brian McD, Alan Stephens, John & Helen Read) and
returned along the lakeside meeting others en route.
Others (sue, cora mary cox) went to Red Tarn as did the McPartlins,
Sally & Francis took Lady Eleanor to Brothers Water, Jimmy &
Ruth went up to Sticks Pass as did Hugh, David F, Kate and Steve and
onto Raise but the high winds turned them back before Hellvellyn. The
Deans attempted to do Fairfield.
A slightly better day on Monday saw many parties on Hellvellyn at
last. Jimmy and Jon B went up and down Swirral edge finding the top 50 m
with some wet snow but not too tricky. Kate, Steve and Gordon went up
Striding edge and down swirral edge, Dave W, Isobel and Hugh went up the
windy way via the old man and came down swirral edge by which time the
heavens opened and everyone got very wet. The Reads and Dave & mary
went up to Red tarn, Place Fell was visted again – this time by David
F and Ingrid. The Deans went to Loughrigg fell and Alan, Caroline and
Mary Cox went over the Mell Fells en-route home.
A lot of others followed their example and the hostel was only half
full on the last night. The weather forecast was grim again and even
these hardy souls came home on Tuesday – no routes attempted.
[NB this info compiled from route cards – not everyone bothered to
fil them in – including Harrold!. Tut tut]
Dave Webster
