Meet Report: 5-7 January 2018.

Michael Smith, in need of some exercise post Christmas traversed Lingmoor Fell from the cottage and then joined a select group at the cottage on the Friday evening to sample the excellent soup provided by Robert Crowther. The aroma of this was sufficient to entice Messrs Denny and Trasler back from their quest for other refreshment, somewhat earlier than usual.

Saturday dawned clear but windy (very). The sensible option was followed by Mike Godden, John, Roy and Robert who visited Tarn Hows in their quest for coal. Messrs Chadwick, Trasler and Dover (part) ascended The Carrs, Swirl Howe and Wetherlam. The Smiths and Richard Taylor went by way of Tilberthwaite and an indistinct high level path above Coniston Mines up Coniston Old Man, Swirl Howe and back to LHG.

Whilst the day was not cold the tops were no place to linger as standing up was a challenge. They were followed on the route by Mick Borroff, David Hick and John Sutcliffe who, wisely, decided to eschew the high level path, but preferred to arrive back in the dark. The final visitors to the windy heights were Richard Josephy and Nick Welch who went by way of Goat’s Water to Dow Crag. The wind, true to its word, blew Nick over and caused a gash to his leg, a bruised rib and a small fracture to the radius. He was then able to carry out some market research on Westmoreland General, which passed with flying colours. As a result the rest of us were able to enjoy larger than expected portions of the dinner expertly prepared by Robert, ably assisted by his charming assistant Roy Denny. We were joined at dinner by Jim and Sandy Gregson, Arctic old hands who regaled us with anecdotes of trips they had made. They stayed for the subsequent main feature film, provided by Michael Smith, which showed an Oxford University party retracing and re-photographing a Spitzbergen trip of 1923. Beer, courtesy of the Three Brothers brewery was provided by Richard Smith in “The Mop and Bucket”, the smallest pub in Britain.

Sunday dawned clear and cold. Michael Smith had just come of age and was desperate to collect his bus pass and as a result, left early but not before stopping near Lancaster to walk from Braines Cragg and up Clougha Pike to be rewarded by stunning views.

John Sutcliffe, David and Mick made a first ascent (for them at least) to climb Whitbarrow Scar and also enjoyed a 360 degree view from the cairn at Lord’s Seat.

Richard’s T and S and Peter were anxious to get up high to enjoy the windless summits and snow. From the Old D-G they ascended Rossett Ghyll to Esk Hause, Richard T and Peter continuing up Great End and back by way of Stake Pass.

Richard S, once he had escaped the two millstones, returned to the cottage by way of Esk Pike, Bowfell. Crinkle Crags and Pike O’Blisco. Both parties were rewarded by hard snow and the best views of the year.

Attendees (in whole or in part)

Robert Crowther (Leader), Mike Smith, Richard Smith, Mick Borroff, David Hick, Roy Denny, Martyn Trasler, Richard Josephy, Mike Godden, Nick Welch, John Sutcliffe, Peter Chadwick, Paul Dover, John Jenkin, Harvey Lomas, Richard Taylor (scribe)