Meet Report: 9-11 December 2022.

Thursday saw the early arrival of four members amid wall to wall sunshine. Mike Godden went for a walk on Dalton Fell where the view across Morecambe Bay was stunning. The Hut Warden as ever got on with hut jobs.

On Friday Mike G, Ian Crowther, and John Jenkin  joined the monthly luncheon team in the Tempest Arms at Elslack. Members and guests arrived at Lowstern during the day and after pitching their tent, Mike and Helen Smith headed for Langcliffe to follow the by-way to Malhamdale passing Jubilee Cave and returning via Stockdale Farm and Attermire.

Saturday morning dawned with the hut residents surprised to discover it had snowed during the night.

Mike G and Alan Linford had planned to go bird watching at Leighton Moss and duly set off in dubious road conditions. Due diligence was the order of the day. Eventually they arrived at the Leighton Moss Visitor Centre where coffee was enjoyed, but not the sheet ice that covered the car park and the walks to the hides.

They met some other birders who had actually seen the resident bittern and otters enjoying the frozen water conditions. Alan and Mike finally admitted that the walking conditions were too difficult and returned to the visitor centre for more refreshment.

However, Ingleborough seemed to be the preferred destination for others and Mike and Helen Smith, Helen Brewitt, Peter Chadwick, Robert Crowther, and David Hick walked from Lowstern to Clapdale Farm then on via Trow Gill and Fell Beck to the Horton track before turning left and on to Ingleborough for lunch. While there, they experienced the rare sighting of brocken spectres. Snow buntings were seen and distant views of the Lakes enjoyed. The return was made via Little Ingleborough, Long Lane and the Lakeside Bar. All on snow covered ground.

Mick Borroff, Conrad Tetley and John Sutcliffe parked in the snowy car park at Leck Church and did a very enjoyable round of Great Coum and Gragareth. Following the path beside Leck Beck they startled a deer in the mist. After visiting Ease Gill Kirk and Cow Dub they continued up the Gill to the bridge just below County Pot. Climbing out of the mist they enjoyed bright sunshine over the trig point on Crag Hill and on to Great Coum. Turning south they enjoyed great views passing the County Stone to reach Gragareths’s trig. Finally they descended to the Three Men Cairns and joined Leck Fell Lane back to the church to finish an excellent walk of 22km.

Our Meet organiser managed to spend some of his time on Norber and our President took advantage of the snow on her skis.

John and Carol Whalley explored the local lanes and Tim Josephy did a circuit of Austwick, Wharfe and Feizor.

Rod and Yayoi Smith traversed Thwaite Lane to Austwick enjoying the new snow but arrived at the Game Cock before opening time. This enabled Austwick Church to be visited with great interest before a drink in front of the welcome fire in the pub.

Members eventually found their way back to Lowstern and the warmth of the log fire. Seven day visitors made up the entourage.

Expressions of appreciation were duly made to the Josephy Team for their efforts in preparing a very enjoyable Christmas Dinner.

All in attendance were easily persuaded to sing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” in good heart and voice – particularly the FIVE GOLDEN RINGS.

Sunday dawned partly cloudy but fine. Some made their way home but others stayed and enjoyed short days out. Mick, Bev and Conrad  went for another snowy walk from Buck Haw Brow over to Feizor where the temptations of the cafe were resisted before climbing up the track to the corner of Wharfe Wood. They walked across In Moor and up to the trig point on Smearsett Scar before heading over towards Stackhouse where they ascended through the bracken up to the path above Giggleswick Scar and back to the layby. Another very pleasant outing of about 12 km. Helen Brewitt walked in the same area but didn’t meet up.

Mike and Helen Smith, with Peter Chadwick and Richard Smith did a 14k circuit from Bell Busk to Kirby Malham and back, utilising parts of the Pennine Way. The Whalleys walked locally in the Ingleborough Estate, and there will have been other activities that the writer doesn’t know about

All in all the meet was a great success with members and guests renewing acquaintances with their friends.

Attendees:-

Mick Borroff	Mike Godden	Steve Richards	Richard Taylor
Helen Brewitt	David Hick	Wendy Richards	Conrad Tetley
Ged Campion	Becca Humphreys	Richard Sealey	Carol Whalley
Peter Chadwick	John Jenkin	Helen Smith	John Whalley
Ian Crowther	Richard Josephy	Mike Smith	Frank Wilkinson
Robert Crowther	Tim Josephy	Rod Smith	Philip Wilkinson (G)
Roy Denny	Alan Linford	Yayoi Smith
Beverley Eastwood	Harvey Lomas	John Sutcliffe