Tranearth Hut above Torver - January 2009.
A convivial, cold and damp weekend in the Lake
District.
Leaving Bedford on Friday night in thick fog and -4degC didn't bode well
for the weekend, but as we drove north, conditions improved a little and
we arrived at the car park at about 11pm. (For those who do not know the
location of the hut, it is on the S side of Coniston Old Man and about a
20 minute walk from the parking area along a rough undulating and, on the
night in question, very icy track.)
When we arrived at the hut, John I. was already there having spent
two days enjoying the diminishing ice-climbing above Haweswater and along
the west side of Thirlmere. The remainder of the BMC contingent, arrived
shortly afterwards making a total of 8.
This was a joint meet with Tunbridge Wells MC and two of their members had
already spent a couple of days in the Lakes and an additional one had only
just arrived. The remaining four appeared in the wee small hours from
distant Kent.
Saturday dawned foggy and very
cold. John I. went ice climbing above Low Water with two
TWMC
members, Stuart, Derrick and Richard set of for the “Old Man” and
Brian, Paul and John headed in the direction of Harter Fell.
A good day was had by all, there were no mishaps on the ice. Stuart et al
had a good day although Richard suffered from the cold in spite of seven
layers of insulation. Brian and co explored the upper part of the
Dunnerdale Valley and descended from the summit of Harter Fell almost to
Hardnot Pass in a 25k circuit - getting back in the dark at 6pm.
The evening was very convivial. Some of the Tunbridge Wells brigade chose
to trek to the distant Church House Inn allowing us to share their monster
cottage pie with those who stayed behind. Others reluctantly ate gourmet
vegi, or whatever was to hand. Later we sat round the huge fire, finished
the wine, and put the world to rights.
Sunday dawned cold overcast and drizzly. Some of the fit, and not so fit, went running, while the most remainder did a local walk in the gale force wind and later heavy rain. John I decided to explore the 'gear sales' in Ambleside. We were all back at the hut soaked cold and ready to depart by early afternoon. <John Clark>
Full Winter Conditions in Snowdonia. Despite wintry conditions trapping members in their own drives, 11 managed to reach the Gwydyr MC hut in Capel Curig and these included two friends from Southampton (the A-team). However some had to park their cars on the A5 because the lane to the hut became impassable during Friday night.
On Friday, the first two cars
arrived in the early afternoon. Two went off to check out the ice
climbing in Cwm Idwal whilst others stayed in to welcome the latecomers.
(Most of the Cwm Idwal routes were in condition including the Devil's
Appendix and we were surprised to find climbers walking in to do these
routes at night!)
The evening was spent sharpening crampons and axes and allocating
equipment.
Saturday. The A-team were away by 6am to
sample the delights of Cwm Idwal. and then recover at
Pete's Eats
Four more followed at a more leisurely pace but had to pay the price by
queueing. After one false star on a collapsing pitch, they completed a
multi-pitch route as a rope of four. The others enjoyed the riverside
walks to Betws y Coed via the frozen Swallow Falls.
That evening brought more crampon fitting whilst others went to the
Tyn y Coed Inn
for food and drink.
Sunday. The A-team had another
dawn start to tackle the impressive Face Route on Cyrn Las. The Swallow
Falls team had winter skills training on the Cwm Glas approach to Parsley
Fern Gully and the remaining members went scrambling on Crib Goch.
<John Isard>
Mild March weather in the Brecon Beacons. 10 members stayed in the Cantref Bunkhouse, south of Brecon. The Nissan hut profile belied the comforts found within but the absence of a drying room could have been a problem if the weather had been wet; also the kitchen/dining area was too cramped for ten.
The first cars arrived mid-morning on Friday and four set off on a long anti-clockwise circuit from the Bunkhouse to the Brecon Beacons and returned to find that most of others had arrived.
Saturday. After hearing about the Brecon
Beacon walk, many chose to walk variations on Friday's circuit while
the original four walked the impressive ridges of Camarthen Fan and
returned to the
Dan-yr-Ogof show caves through the extraordinary limestone scenery.
After eating in the bunkhouse, most went to
The White Swan,
Llanfrynach for a drink.
Sunday. Two parties ran and walked circuits in the Black Mountains above Crickhowell, while others stayed to explore Fforest Fawr. <John Isard>
Cold dry April winds in the White Peak. 9 stayed in the Sabine Barn bunkhouse in Birchover. Our numbers were boosted by two friends from the TWMC. Although the barn has a bunk capacity of 15; any more than 10 would have been intolerable at meal time and the sleeping area wasn't partitioned from the kitchen/eating area.
Two spent Friday climbing at Wildcats Crags above Matlock Bath and checked out the the extensive recent tree clearance at Black Rocks. They returned to find that the TWMC party had arrived, opened the hut and then retired to sample Birchover's excellent pubs.
Saturday. While two completed an
impressive 40km circuit of the White Peak, the TWMC party had a very full
day climbing in the High Neb area of Stanage Edge. Five Bedford climbers
went to Birchen Edge, where two of them completed their first gritstone
leads and the remaining three, practically climbed themselves to a standstill.
That night two dined at
The Druid's Inn and nearly everyone completed the
night at The Red Lion. However one member spent the whole evening at
Buxton Opera House watching Mozart's Magic Flute.
Sunday. Virtually everybody was walking or climbing at Stanage based around the 'Popular' area. Despite an enthusiastic start all the climbers were soon running out of energy. Meanwhile the one exception was visiting friends in Edale. <John Isard>
A wet May weekend by Blea Tarn. The rustic charms of this loft wear a bit thin when everybody is soaked to the skin. We managed to squeeze in 14 members on Friday night but one only stayed for a single night.
Saturday promised bad weather and it delivered,
though there was a slight improvement towards the afternoon. Most people
did variations on the Langdale Horseshoe and one intrepid party carried
ropes and a rack round after a misguided attempt to climb on White Ghyll
crags. The rain returned in the night and ....
......continued into Sunday. This was just too much for most of the
members although a few went for a run before driving south.
If only they had been as patient as the last two hardy souls, because the
weather started to clear towards midday and just got better and better.
<John Isard>
A Sunny June in Snowdonia. 11 people attended this meet in what felt like 5 star accommodation after the last meet –ironically the weather was so good that most of the time was spent sitting on the terrace with views out to Anglesey.
Saturday. The weekend coincided with the opening of the restaurant at the top of Snowdon. Seven of us felt duty bound to pay homage to it so via three different routes and quite by coincidence all met up on the top. In true British style there were queues everywhere whether it was to ascend the top of Snowdon, get into the building or to use one of the remaining functioning loos – the rest having broken down within hours of opening. The weather was perfect – its not often one can linger on the top of Snowdon to suntan, enjoy the view or people watch. We all agreed that the building’s architecture was very tasteful albeit already too small. The other four went climbing on the Idwal Slabs that were equally busy with the only inclement weather created by a helicopter doing a rescue. The evening barbeque started with Pimms on the terrace followed by an assortment of other beverages and only a very brief visit from the insect wildlife. Thanks to everyone who helped to make it an excellent evening – especially the 2 cooks – Brian and Ges.
Sunday. Another perfect day saw 4 people climbing in 'The Pass' at dawn as Nadeem and Trannum had to leave early. John and Jo went onto do the “Jammed Boulder Gully” scramble which sounded more like a caving experience – however it is the hardest scramble in the book and now is ticked! (P.S. Rope needed on this). I for one have made a mental note never to do it! Brian did a Sunday run, Paul a Sunday shop in Llanberis. Alex, Mollie, Barry and Linda - had a “gripping” time on Crib Goch in perfect weather, the latter two went on to do the Snowdon Horseshoe. Barry and Mollie plan a winter ascent on Crib Goch to ensure a more challenging experience in less obliging weather!
An excellent weekend with a number of “firsts” for some which included scrambling, Snowdon Horseshoe and leading on a multi-pitch climb. Amazing what one can achieve when the weather is good! <Linda Exelby>
Late July in
Stair. Situated in Newlands Valley in the Lake
District, this hut can accommodate 21 people in 3 distinct rooms. Toilets
and shower facilities are excellent plus a good sized drying room. We had 18
people and very good weather, warm without too much sun plus some
excellent views if a little clagged out at times.
Some ventured onto the climbs, some even for the first time. The rest went
for walks of differing distances.
Saturday night was passed happily in the hut then the same again on Sunday. The only real mishap was two people who had to sleep out in a car as they failed to identify the gate. Discussions followed about how to prevent this. One suggestion was to have balloons tied to the gate post by the key holders. Plan to be confirmed by management. Highlight for the writer was Saturday’s walk with personal mountain leader in the form of John Clark. No chance of getting lost for the member who frequently does! <Mollie Dunlop>
Not camping in the Peak District for August.
It was supposed to be camping on the The Gower Peninsula but most of the
campsites were full for the school holidays. An ominous weather forecast
forced a late move to Pindale Farm in the Peak District where the camping
cannot be booked.
The attendance dropped to three so we decided to drive up on Saturday
morning. Unfortunately Pindale Farm campsite was full and a quick survey
of the campsites on our return to Hathersage confirmed that this was going
to be a one day non-camping meet. We climbed at Lawrencefield and then
Millstone Edge, until the midges forced a retreat and finished the day with
an good pub meal in Birchover before returning home with our unused
tents. The weather had been excellent but the Gower would have been
a wash out. <John Isard>
North Yorkshire Moors in September.
9 members were
expected but one cried off with car problems. Our camping barn was
on two floors connected by an outside staircase and it would have been
quite cramped if filled to its twelve person capacity.
An early party spent Friday cycling north from Sutton Bank and
returning via Rievaulx before joining everybody else at Sinnington with
stories of the ancient Cistercian Abbey.
Saturday provided the best weather and two started an epic tour of the North York Moors with a traverse of Rudland Rigg. Three went climbing on the steep polished limestone of Ravenswick Quarry and the rest explored the area around Rievaulx.
Sunday brought more autumnal conditions. Some spent the day near to the east coast; others cycled around the central moors from Hutton-le-Hole and one set off for a holiday in the NW Highlands. <John Isard>
October storms over Ullswater - steamers
cancelled!
A very wet and
windy weekend for twelve members in Patterdale, staying at the cosy Agnes
Spencer Memorial Hut.
The first party arrived on Friday morning and had a wet walk over
Skiddaw. The remainder arrived on Friday evening after battling through
the half term traffic.
On
Saturday, several made attempts on Helvellyn via Striding Edge, though
some were driven back by the conditions and spent the remainder of the
afternoon in the pub. One member went gill scrambling and ended up
jumping fully clothed into a plunge pool when pushed off the scramble by
the force of the gill.
Others walked the ten miles up Ullswater to Pooley Bridge planning to get
the last sailing of the steamer back to Glendridding. After having
stopped for a delicious scone/cake in the Pooley Bridge teashop they found
that the last sailing was cancelled due to the conditions on the Lake.
Fortunately there was an Ullswater Steamers minibus to take stranded
passengers back to Glenridding.
On Sunday the rain reached almost biblical proportions. Three runners did a lap of Place Fell and another member went for a short walk to test out new waterproofs. The remainder had an early lunch and set off for home through the deep puddles on the Patterdale road. <Ges Atherton>
A wild November weekend in Snowdonia. Seven brave souls arrived at the hut in Nant Peris on Friday night in torrential rain; the less brave stayed home and drank wine by the fire in Bedfordshire (I'm guessing). The Brave drank a lot of wine - not only by the fire but also at dinner and in the pub.
Those that made it out early onto the hills the next day continued to battle through rain and wind though some members of the group were forced to turn back. However, the few that persevered were rewarded with a clearing day, dropping winds and delightful views from the top of Elidir Fawr. A few members did not make it out at all and held up the clubs good name in the local climbing shops and reviewed Petes Eats (but .....Don't have the chips). There is always one who will wait out the weather, disappear out on their own, solo something hugely scary, return after dark and eat 3 dinners - or was it 4?
Sunday brought more of the same weather. In these conditions, the best thing to do is find a scramble. Everyone headed out together, 2 were turned back early due to wet rock and weak hearts, a third almost made it to the top but an injury prevented summiting. Finally 4 of the original 7 made it to the top of Llechog. It was fantastic to get out and despite the weather it was well worth it. <Jo Clark>
Christmas Dinner meet in Malham (December 2009).
Initially I had not intended to attend this meet, but Fred Gomm persuaded
me to accompany him and we drove up together, stopping off at the Station
Café at Hillifield for lunch on the Friday. I can definitely recommend
this clean welcoming café which is only a few miles from Malham. The
bunkhouse at Malham was a pleasant surprise, being warm, spacious and
comfortable. Fred and I dropped off our gear and went for a walk into and
above Malham Cove. The towering cliffs and the limestone ‘pavement’
on
the top and the area in general were a revelation to me, as I had never
been there before. Dusk was falling as we returned to the bunk barn to be
greeted by people who had arrived in our absence. As the evening
progressed the rest of the group filtered in. I had wondered how many BMC members attending the meet I would know, and was pleasantly surprised
to find that there was only one face to which I could not put a name.
It was good to see Stewart and Gina, Brians Pinsent and Wilson, Ann and
John Clark and Jo, Linda and John, Ges, Derek, Simon, Barry and one or two
others, to whom I must apologise for failing to recollect their names.
Molly turned up, looking very glamorous in her new hairdo. I shared my
evening meal with Fred, who had intended to go out for a meal until he saw
that no-one else was going to. At least there had been no
misunderstanding between us, as on the infamous occasion at Cwm Eigau,
when I cooked a meal and was sitting down to eat it, and there came a
plaintive cry from Fred, “Where’s mine Bill?”
Saturday
morning dawned bright and cool. Brian Pinsent had organized a treasure
hunt in the environs of Malham and Malham Cove. We had to find four clues
cunningly hidden in walls and other places. Each of the clues was
contained in a soap box, together with a few sweets to help motivate us.
Fred and I left a little after the others so could not just follow other
people without needing to use map or compass. My GPS device was put to
good use, but did not really help us with the third clue, which took us a
very long time to find as we did not immediately locate one of the signs
mentioned on the guide sheet. Eventually we found all the clues and
returned to Malham for lunch. Afterwards we retraced our steps to Gordale
Bridge, and then into the spectacular Gordale Scar, meeting several of the
others. Again this was a revelation to me, and I decided I must return
sometime to explore the area more fully. The scramble up by the waterfall
looked inviting, and I thought fondly of how much Fred Coleman would have
enjoyed himself as the water splashed around him. He loved scrambling
besides, and sometimes in, streams flowing down steep rocks. A recent
operation to his thumb meant that Fred Gomm was reluctant to risk further
injury to it, so we eschewed the scramble and instead made our way onto
the top by a steep grassy bank to the southwest of the Scar. Fred wanted
to go onto Malham Tarn, but the light was going so I made my own way to
the road near Street Gate and back into Malham.
At the AGM it was agreed that one meet a year should be designated ‘The Fred
Coleman Meet’. Fred was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. An
original founder member of the Club Fred was the best company possible on
or off the hill. I miss him still, as I am sure everyone else does.
Mike and Rebecca Kellett drove down from their home in Scotland just in
time to attend the dinner at River House in Malham. Like several other
couples they met each other through the Club, and it was good to see them
again. The food at the dinner at the Hotel was very good, but I was not
the only one that thought the vegetables were a bit ‘thin on the ground’.
If we had thought that finding the four clues earlier in the day was all
we had to do, Brian quickly disabused us of any such notion by producing
some fiendishly cunning quizsheets, which we had to complete and solve
using the four word clues. Inevitably brainiac Mike Kellett was the first
to solve the riddle. The atmosphere in the hotel for the dinner was very
welcoming and Ann is to be congratulated in sourcing such an excellent
venue and for all the hard work involved in organizing the meet.
Sunday
morning found quite a few people leaving for home, but Fred and I made our
way in the bright cold air back into and above Malham Cove and onto Malham
Tarn, which made a pleasant change from the usual Sunday trip onto Moel
Siabod on meets in North Wales. On the way back we
met up with Ann and John and made our way back together. I had
really enjoyed my weekend. Thanks Ann and John for organizing it, and to
Fred for persuading me to go.
<Bill Douglas>