Meet Report: 20-22 September 2019.

The joint weekend meet began with 20 people sitting down for a welcoming meal at Lowstern. Both clubs were enjoying being sociable around a roaring fire: a good time was had by all! Michael Smith told us of his afternoon of ornithology at Attermire Scar. Colin Smith, Steve Auty, Bruce Hassell, and Mike Godden went to Austwick via Thwaite Lane and returned to Clapham across the fields.

On Saturday we awoke very early and were blessed by unseasonably, gorgeous weather. After a hearty breakfast, and some discussion, people began to levitate towards the hills.

Dave Ormerod, Bruce Hassell and Steve Auty from the Wayfarers’, scaled Ingleborough via Trow Gill, then descended via Little Ingleborough, down to Cold Cotes, returning to Clapham. Martin Tomlinson and Steve Crossley, also from the Wayfarers’, climbed on the bolted limestone routes of Giggleswick South. Martin said; “Neither of us had done much climbing for a while so having bolts made for a more relaxed experience. It was a lovely sunny day, it’s not often it can get too hot in late September”.

Bill Gibbs, Michael Smith & Dotti Heaton climbed Ingleborough via the Norber Erratics: en route they met up with Martyn Trasler.

John & Carol Whalley decided to go it alone and walk from Lowstern, via Newby and Newby Cote. They only met one person on the Newby track. when they arrived at Little Ingleborough it was thronging with hordes of walkers enjoying the fine weather. they sat for lunch at the top of Ingleborough where they were met by BG, MS, MT & Dotti. The wind was fierce so they didn’t hang around for long. They descended via Sulber Nick and Long lane, whilst Dotti and her crew descended via Gaping Ghyll and Trow Gill, where they went their separate ways: Dotti via the Estate; Bill and Martyn headed back via Clapham Beck; and Michael via Moughton.

Colin Smith and Mike Godden drove to Hutton Roof and did a circular walk around Farleton Fell.

After a pint in the Bunkhouse they were in good time for a marvellous meal cooked by John Sutcliffe and not forgetting our MC Alan Clare.

Alan Palmer and guest’s arrival was delayed until Saturday morning by hold-ups on the motorway. They ascended Ingleborough.

Two camped, John and Michael. In the early hours of Sunday there was a brief light shower which was soon dried up by the breeze. Knowing of the forecast for  early heavy rain, they struck camp at first light while their tents were still dry and made an early start on preparing breakfast. The heavens opened within an hour or so and lightning soon followed so most people drifted off home after a very enjoyable meet.

Attending: Alan Palmer, Brian Coupland, Bruce Hassall, Carol Whalley, Colin Smith, Dave Ormerod, Dotti Heaton, George Chambers, Ian Crowther, Lulia Squires, John Jenkin, John Sutcliffe, John Whalley, Martin Tomlinson, Martyn Trasler, Michael Smith, Mike Godden, Mike Wallis, Steve Auty, Steve Crossley, Susan Whittle, Trudie Philpott.