Meet Report: 18-19 November 2017.

This year’s AGM and Dinner were held in Settle just six miles from Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The Sunday activities included caving and walking. Turning the tables somewhat on 1899, there was a lecture by a Norwegian about Slingsby and this time not even the cavers got wet.

The Falcon Manor hosted the Dinner but did not feel up to the challenge of laying the tables for the meal in one hour so the meetings were held in the new St John’s Methodist Church about 15 minutes walk away. Thankfully, the weather was dry. Only a few members ended up in the wrong church to beat a hasty retreat from a different meeting. The 4pm AGM is reported elsewhere but was briskly chaired by the President, Mick Borroff, and completed in good time for the 5pm lecture. As the AGM is only for members, Ros Brown provided hot drinks and a biscuit or two for those guests waiting for the lecture.

Some recent principal guests’ talks have been considered rather too informal or uninformative for one or two members. Not so this year. Principal Guest, Knut Tønsberg of the Norsk Tindeklub and Alpine Club, gave an authoritative account of Slingsby’s week-long 1876 mountain excursion which culminated in his solo ascent of the final ridge on unclimbed Storen, the outcry which followed, subsequent ascents by Slingsby and members of the Tønsberg family and Slingsby’s critique of the Norwegian’s avoidance of snowcraft in favour of rock routes. Leavened with humour, an interesting set of old photographs and with its links to the YRC, the talk was well received.

The convenient location of Settle, close to Clapham, gave the two-dozen staying at the Club’s cottage at Lowstern a short journey back. Twenty-two others had only to climb the stairs at the Falcon Manor to find their beds.

Sunday breakfast at Lowstern was organised by Richard Josephy and while it offered a little less choice than the Falcon Manor’s it was appreciated just as much especially by the Club’s guests unfamiliar with YRC catering arrangements. Ten o’clock saw a split into the walking and caving parties.

The walkers left Settle Market Square to ascend to Attermire Scar, peek into Victoria Cave then past Winskill to Stainforth. The return leg via Langcliffe took in an exploration of the scheduled ancient monument of the Hoffmann continuous kiln at Craven Limeworks.

Along the way they had cold crisp sunny weather with clear views of Morecambe Bay and the Three peaks. The 6½ mile walk was led by Arthur Salmon supported by Frank Wilkinson sweeping up at the rear. They did a good job getting everyone back in time to drive over to Lowstern for Albert Chapman’s Afternoon Tea of eggs and ham with pineapple washed down with a cuppa before heading home.

Meanwhile, underground the four cavers, Tim Josephy, Michael and Richard Smith and novice Felicity Roberts had descended Lancaster Hole. Bridge Cavern was crossed to scramble up to see the Colonnades and back where the last three rejoined Tim who had a delayed descent because of a Combined Forces party exiting.

Richard led the way onwards with Tim’s guidance from the rear through Kath’s Way to Fall Pot and Montague West then Stake Pot. The High-Level route through Oakes Cavern took in the Minarets then through Cornes’ Monster Cavern and Snail Cavern to Main Line Terminus and the old iron ladder of Stop Pot. Four Ways Chamber was passed on the way to struggle up the sinuous narrow Wretched Rabbit slot to the exit. The four emerged into the still, mild air at dusk and headlamps were needed to find the stile out of Easegill then the route over the moor to Bull Pot Farm. Quite a demanding trip for a novice. A moment of concern was the lack of our rope at the Lancaster Hole entrance but the kind Forces team had carried it to the farm perhaps as part of their commitment to ‘help the aged’. The water levels were as low as any of them had seen them and all finished practically dry if rather muddy. Indeed, the clay was exceptionally slippery in places. Could this be because of the hundreds of cavers who passed that way during Ged Campion’s recent Eurospeleo conference?

Those staying overnight at Lowstern were ready for the cavers’ late arrival and had saved some food from the afternoon tea to feed them. Ten stayed until Monday or later though a deterioration in the weather discouraged outings. Ros and John Brown headed for the indoor climbing wall. Meanwhile, Knut impressed the Lowstern workparty with his axework when chopping logs.