Spring Bank Holiday Meet. Inchnadampf.
27 May – 3 June 1995
I have not been a regular ‘Whitsuntide’ meet attender as there have always been other pressures. Inchnadampf has been visited by the club several times indeed I attended the 1982 meet briefly while caravanning with the family at Ullapool. I will always remember my first meet in the area, before joining the club, when a bus was hired in Inverness to tour the West Coast. I was determined to join the meet this year but was not anticipating drawing the short straw and being volunteered as meet reporter.
Back in 1957 I had never been in northern Scotland, and the area left a big impression on me. The mountains of course are unchanged but their isolation has undergone change. It is now possible to class them as a long weekend break from London, and a modern day trip to compare with the one in 1957 would be to perhaps the Atlas mountains. Another change has been from meet circulars to the Bulletin. So inevitably I put this job off, and now, while actually missing a YRC meet, and sitting out the hottest summer for centuries, I am trying to remember why a small amount of rain had such an effect on the meet. The meet leader had arranged for us to camp within a stones throw of the back bar of the Inchnadampf Hotel. Cooking with the midges and the rain proved unable to compete with the bar meals on offer in any cases, and there was really no place where one could wander off with a shovel. The early morning facilities purchased from the Hotel raised a few complaints. Back in 1957, I don’t recall even visiting the Hotel, as there seemed to be no time between the mountains and a much needed sleep.
The weather preceding the meet had been good by all reports but it worsened as the days passed. Almost everyone arrived on the Saturday and Quinag and Canisp were bagged by early arrivals enjoying cloud and blue sky with light showers. Sunday and Monday were similar with good views from the tops but not without the scattered showers. Quinag and Canisp were again visited but usually by driving as close as possible, unlike the two early arrivals who had insisted on round trips from camp. Three members, suspected as Munroists, disappeared for these two days to do Ben Hope and Klibreck. A Corbett or 2 fell to another member. On Monday night, the rain set in in earnest and continued into Tuesday morning. Since two moderate days had been scored, the mountains lost their attraction to be replaced by the flesh pots of Ullapool and bird watching on Hanna island. On Tuesday evening again came the rain which lasted into Wednesday morning and the start of the exodus. Two members were drawn back to the real world. I joined a party to partake of Alan Linford’s hospitality in his caravan at Knockan just ten miles away. As the meet was not designated as an open one, Alan cannot be listed as a full attendee, but he still managed to give me two full sheets of bird sightings which I have unfortunately misplaced. In the afternoon, it was fine and a walk up to see the local caves passed a few hours. At this point there was really no comparison between 1957 and 1995, and I made a pledge to do something on the Thursday come hell or high water. But what actually happened was that the morning was again wet and everyone to a man left me. With hind sight it is easy to see that the rain was only at Inchnadampf. It was nearly lunch time and in cloud. I drove down to Lochinver and into the sun, and as near Glen Canisp Lodge as I could get. The walk into Suilven and back took me 7 hours, and I ticked off all the tops, unfortunately in a brief interlude when the mist was down. The whole ridge was clear before and after I reached it. Back in my solitary camp, and back into the poorer weather of Inchnadampf, I again set my sights on doing something on the Friday, and even though the morning was misty I set off for Conival and Assynt. The whole trip was in mist and some light rain, and at one time I thought that I had the mountain to myself. However, I was just slightly ahead of the crowd and on retracing my steps met several parties who, unbeknownst to me, had had me in their sights. While discussing the poor conditions with a couple from the north of England they commented that come the following Monday, and even before lunchtime, we would willingly swap the office conditions for the slopes of Ben More Assynt despite the rain. How true!
Back in camp by 4 p.m., alone, and not even wet enough to change, I finally closed the meet and left to stay overnight with relatives in Arrochar.
As you can appreciate, my comparisons with 1956 were rather depressing. Perhaps the attendance was affected by the other more exotic meets on this year’s calendar. I can only hope so, because Scotland has continuous marvels to offer, and the most memorable days in the mountains are not always those when the sun shines. I only hope this report does not upset Maurice Wilson too much. He had set his sights on Suilven, but was cheated by the weather.
F W
Attendance:
Cliff Cobb
Maurice Wilson
Frank Wilkinson
Alan Brown
Arthur Craven
Denis Barker
Ken Aldred
David. Smith
Roy Pomfret
Tony Smythe
Harvey Lomas
Eddie Edwards
Crianlarich Meet
30th Sept. 1995
Scottish meets normally attract a good attendance, but this one suffered from competition from Nepal. It was indeed surprising to put one’s head round the door of the Ochills M.C. hut and see the only other two members sitting in front of a roaring fire.
The OMC are rebuilding their cottage, with a rearwards extension which doubles the size and adds badly needed washing facilities. With the work still incomplete, we made do with a solitary tap, and slept in the carpetted loft.
The meet organiser delegated the meet report to the other members, and a spin of a coin decided that the member from Middlesborough would provide the coal, and the lad would write the meet report.
On Saturday, Derek and Cliff set off for Cruachan, and climbed from the power station up to a top, and thence to the summit. The forecast wind and heavy showers arrived about midday, coming from the South West, and the completion of the horseshoe was left to another day.
The lad drove to Craig Meagaidh, and climbed all 8 tops and 3 Munros in a clockwise circuit with plenty of excursions to outlying summits. Snow was covering the high plateau of Meagaidh, and cloud made finding the cairn an interesting exercise. Unlike on Cruachan, the bad weather took much longer to reach the East, and a good day was snatched in spite of a depressing forecast.
On Sunday gales and torrential rain made any further excursions a pointless exercise in masochism, so we all went home.
It is interesting to reflect that the journey from Yorkshire has become so much quicker in recent years. One can leave the Leeds area at 4.00 pm, and be in Crianlarich before 10.00 pm, having eaten well on the way.
We thanked Cliff for again organising the meet, and we look forward to the next one.
Attendance:-
Cliff Large
Derek Smithson
Ian Gilmore
Low Hall Garth
Mid-Week Meet
10 – 12th October 1995
The track to Low Hall Garth appears to get narrower and the potholes deeper as the years go by. Nevertheless, nine members were able to take advantage of a Lakes mid-week Meet, and found the cottage in excellent condition, though some surprise was expressed at the availability of a telephone and the laying of tarmac outside the cottage. Double yellow lines have not yet materialised.
Taking advantage of the fine weather on Tuesday, several members took short walks, including one over Boardale Hause and Beda Fell, returning in fine autumn sunshine along the shore of Ullswater. Members sat down to a find meal in the evening, followed by a visit to the Three Shires (Inn, not the Stone).
After a fairly leisurely but gargantuan English breakfast, parties dispersed to the well-known haunts, though the weather remained overcast and breezy all day.
Pike O’Blisco and the Carrs, the Wetherlam/Carrs Round and the Crinkles were all visited, though one party inadvertently visited Upper Eskdale via Long Top. They took care however, not to miss the quite excellent repast and slide show in the evening.
Thursday dawned rather wet and remained so for the day. After another fine breakfast members were in no hurry to venture out, through Tilberthwaite and its environs were visited. Around mid-day most members reluctantly drifted away into the mist of the afternoon.
All concluded what a fine innovation this mid-week Meet had been, and hoped for a repeat performance.
Our thanks are due to Alan whose enthusiasm extended far beyond the excellent cuisine he provided to the general bonhomie of the Meet.
T. E. E.
Attendance:
Eddie Edwards
Mike Godden
Geoff Hooper
Ian Laing
Gerry Lee
Alan Linford
Bill Lofthouse
Chris Renton
Harry Robinson
Swaledale Meet
27th – 29th October 1995
The shortage of water in North Yorkshire could be well understood by the 26 members who walked the dry fells that autumn week-end. The weather was glorious, both on the Saturday and Sunday. Below is recorded the routes followed by those present.
Congratulations to Alan Brown for encouraging so many of us to be at the Punch Bowl Inn, Low Row, since it could have been a depleted attendance considering the large party of men scaling the Himalayan heights. Other than the two or three guests, everyone present had more than a few grey hairs!
The Inn was an excellent base. Peter Roe, the landlord, made us welcome and supplied all our needs. It was good that we could celebrate Harry Stembridge’s 93rd birthday at the Saturday evening dinner. Afterwards, David Laughton’s slides of the Kamchatka Penninsula and his commentary were much appreciated.
Here are the routes followed by those present:
Saturday
Three Swaledale Peaklets: Reeth-Framlington Edge via Langthwaite (no comfort stop allowed) over Calver. Then crossed the Swale River at Low Whita bridge up Gibbon Hill, returning to Reeth by various routes (Dennis Armstrong, Frank Wilkinson, Derek Smithson, Derek Collins, Mike Hartland [potential member], Jim Rusher).
Marrick Abbey: via Framlington Edge and Southwaite (David Stembridge, Bill Lofthouse).
Great Shunner Fell: Lovely Seat returning via Muker (Raymond Ince, Richard Gowing, Bill Todd, Alan Brown, Arthur Craven).
Nine Standards Rigg: from County Boundary Road (Maurice Wilson, Cliff Cobb).
Pub Crawl: Low Row to Langthwaite (Red Lion opened especially early – excellent beer), Framlington Edge to Hurst (pub closed for 17 years), via road to Reeth (Black Lion – indifferent beer), return to Punch Bowl Inn, Low Row – excellent (Derek Clayton, Trevor Temple [guest], Denis Barker).
Tam Hill: to Nine Standard Rigg and back (Conrad Jorgensen, Ken Aldred, John Schofield).
Gunnerside Gill: Melbecks Moor (David Laughton, John Wright).
Melbecks Moor: Low Row via Langthwaite up Mill Beck past Old Gang Mine to Gunnerside Gill. East edge of Swale valley via Swinners Gill, Gunnerside to Low Row (Ian Laing, Gerry Lee).
Sunday (only recorded routes)
Great Pinseat: via Surrender Bridge, Healaugh Edge, return via Friarfold Rake, Lead mines, Healaugh (David Stembridge, Arthur Craven, Richard Gowing, Derek Smithson, Bill Todd, Alan Brown).
Great Shunner Fell: and return to Muker (Dennis Armstrong, Jim Rusher).
P.S. Congratulations to John and Pat Schofield on becoming grandparents. Samuel John was born during the Meet, hence John’s early departure.
Present:
Ken Aldred
Dennis Armstrong
Denis Barker
Alan Brown
Derek Clayton
Cliff Cobb
Derek Collins
Arthur Craven
Richard Gowing
Mike Hartland (PM)
Raymond Ince
Conrad Jorgensen
Ian Laing
David Laughton
Gerry Lee
Bill Lofthouse
Jim Rusher
John Schofield
Derek Smithson
David Stembridge
Harry Stembridge
Trevor Temple (G)
Bill Todd
Frank Wilkinson
Maurice Wilson
John Wright
North Wales Meet
26-28 January 1996
Held at the Chester Mountaineering Club Hut Llanberis
The Chester Mountaineering Club Hut is a small, pleasant building situated on the lower slopes of Snowdon, near the Mountain Railway. Readily accessible from Llanberis, it is a relatively easy find for those armed with a post war map. However, those consulting Medieval Grimoire in search of its location will have less success.
Several Club members arrived early on the Friday of the meet looking for the solitude of the weekday hills. One member scrambled in the Aber Falls area, finishing atop the ancient cairn of Drosgl. Another climbed a deserted Tryfan by its snow-clad north ridge.
A small amount of snow fell overnight and after a hearty breakfast, combined with the usual procrastination and refusal to accept responsibility for the day’s outcome, a large presidential party set forth for Snowdon, by way of the Llanberis path. On joining the railway track at Clogwyn Station they met with a fierce wind, blowing powder snow into every crevice and slowing progress considerably. In contrast, the summit was found to be perfectly calm. This strange phenomenon occurred on all the relatively high peaks ascended during the meet.
Moel Cynghorion was then climbed after descending via the Snowdon Ranger path. Here two options presented themselves; was there enough daylight ahead to complete the ridge to Moel Eilio, or should they make good their escape down the valley? One member had grave misgivings about the former choice and lost no time in making his feelings known to the rest of the party. The President was quick to nip these mutinous mutterings in the bud. “Onward!” he roared, with a flamboyant swish of his ski-pole. Thus inspired, the erstwhile mutineer strode off at such a blistering pace that he was not again seen until descending the final peak of the range. The party arrived back at the hut with daylight to spare and in good time for dinner, which is more than can be said for the other hill party that day………
These miscreants, having spent a successful day exploring the Eifl group of hills on the Lleyn Peninsula, decided to forsake dinner and head for the fleshpots, no doubt in an attempt to re-enact those hedonistic, drug-crazed Llanberis parties of yore. Alas, the place didn’t live up to its reputation, they had to settle for a plate of chips at Pete’s Eats and a dressing down from their hungry comrades back at the hut.
After a sumptuous dinner, the peace-loving contingent retired to the sitting room, content with idle fireside chatter. The warlike faction remained in the dining area and were soon engaged in a vigorous and increasingly loud debate. At one point, a senior member burst into the sitting room and declared “I’ve had enough!” Whether he was referring to the argument or the wine is still unclear.
Sunday saw more unpredictable weather, but this did nothing to dampen the spirit. Most areas were visited, the Moelwyn and Eifl groups being favourites. On the Snowdon range, Y Lliwedd was ascended from Pen-y-Pass and Cwm Dwythwch was explored by both Man and Dog.
All in all, an excellent meet. Thanks to Tim Josephy for the fine food and a very good choice of hut.
MPP
Attendance:
The President – Derek Bush
Dennis Armstrong
Denis Barker
Derek Collins
Ian Crowther
Robert Crowther
Eddie Edwards
Mike Godden
Richard Gowing
Tim Josephy
Mark Pryor
Jim Rusher
David Smith
Derek Smithson
George Spenceley
Peter Swindells
Barrie Wood
Martin Woods
Blencathra Meet
Christmas 1995
A limited amount of snow was to be seen on the tops on Friday, but this cleared over the week-end. A few members who had arrived early on Friday enjoyed walking on Blencathra and Eddie started with Dalehead, Hindsworth and Robinson.
The Blencathra Centre is an ideal place to hold a Meet. The facilities are very good, parking is no problem, and access to the hills is as good as it could be in most places. The weather was fairly kind to us. It was mild and pleasant for walking with a light breeze for the paragliders.
The landscape appeared in a silver veil of haze and layers of mist hung about the floors of the valleys. From time to time sunlight penetrated the inconsistencies in the cloud cover and gave brilliant vistas of grey, silver and white light, rather like a Chinese watercolour. The tops of the hills relentlessly made their plumes of cloud so that the familiar perspectives could only be seen at lower levels.
However, all this did not prevent parties of stalwarts setting off, some for Honister, then over Green Gable, Great Gable in quest of Pillar – and back by Sty Head Tarn. More for Blencathra, its valleys and ridges were well attended to as also was Skiddow. Various parties visited Mock Pikes, Little Calvert, Glencoindale, Calf Crag and Can Gilmour west to Elmerdale.
After the day’s exertions, dinner was a splendid affair and credit is due to David, Alan and their assistants. A pleasant flow of wine, a good dinner and very good company led to the slide show we were all eager to see. Thanks to Ged we had a first view of the slides of our expedition to the Dorje Lakpa in the Himalaya. It was an adventure that for the evening we could share.
Sunday’s weather remained unchanged. There must have been slightly more breeze because Tony’s and Peter’s paragliding near Binsey was more rewarding than Peter said his had been on Latrigg on Saturday.
Sunday’s outings varied. Bill Todd led a visit to the West Mercian Hutton Roof, and Cliff Cobb to the wilder shores of Borrowdale. Blencathra was again assaulted, this time by Sharp Edge, Scalestarn, and a party tackled Halls Fell Ridge: this was later deemed by Tim to be not recommended. Descending from Knowe Craggs we came below cloud level and I thought it worthwhile to try and make a panoramic series of photographs of Clough Head, St Johns in the Vale, High Rigg and the Newlands Fells. I don’t expect they could possibly reflect the true quality of that light, but they will serve to remind me of a very pleasant, well attended meet.
D.T.B.
Present:
| Derek Bush (President) | |
| Ken Aldred | Harvey Lomas |
| Denis Barker | Frank Milner (PM) |
| Alan Brown | Stewart Muir (G) |
| Ged Campion | Roy Pomfret |
| Albert Chapman | Tom Price (G) |
| Derek Clayton | Mark Pryor |
| Cliff Cobb | Alister Renton |
| Derek Collins | Harry Robinson |
| Arthur Craven | Arthur Salmon |
| Ian Crowther | John Schofield |
| Robert Crowther | David Smith |
| Eddie Edwards | Michael Smith |
| Iain Gilmour | Derek Smithson |
| Ralph Haigh | Tony Smythe |
| David Hall | George Spenceley |
| Mike Hartland (PM) | Peter St Price |
| David Hick | Peter Swindells |
| Tim Josephy | Trevor Temple (G) |
| David Laughton | Mike Thompson |
| Gerry Lee | Bill Todd |
| Tony Lee (G) | Frank Wilkinson |
| Alan Linford | Roy Wilson |
| Martin Wilson (G) |
Lowstern Meet
March 15th-17th
This meet was well attended. In fact the expected numbers were so great that an emergency plan had to be approved allowing the overnight construction of a new car park at Lowstern involving massive earthworkings.
On arrival at the hut, the tea folk were to be found gathered around the cosy flickeiing gas fire making plans for the Saturday. Whilst the others sampled ales in The New Inn.
Many elders had flown the nest by the time I’d got up on the following morning setting a fine example for the younger members ofthe club. Indeed, Graham Salmon, our chef for the weekend, didn’t know what hit him when orders for breakfast streamed in at 7.30 in the morning. We could only conclude that for some, what used to be achieved in daylight hours now took considerably longer. This theory was classically demonstrated when the President and Arthur Salmon trundled in during supper having scaled Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent; leaving the rest of the party faltering at The Crown in Horton.
Scouts were also sent out to recce the Ingleborough plateau, topping out over Park then Simon Fell and reporting back on two newly fenced digs at Clapham Bottoms.
Others settled for the more sheltered option during the inclement weather sticking to the high walled lanes above Austwick. Someone deemed it necessary to dig out that loud pink flat cap in which to walk the dog, brightening things up considerably.
The Sunday turned out to be a brighter day, and those who had spent all their energy the previous day were surely wishing they hadn’t. Again, those venturing onto higher ground called in on various potholes including Nick Pot and Gaping Gill (just to check it was still there). Grey Wife Hole, recently re-opened by the YRC, was very much snow plugged and the fine work forming the entrance could not be inspected. A group of 3 Peak runners descending Cote Gill were re¬routed to Horton with wishes of ‘Best Luck’ in finding Pen-y-ghent.
The regular callers at the hut made then way once more to then winter dig with bang and Bosch – a project on-going for perhaps three years now.
It seems that a good time was had by all, although some thought was given to ideas for new walking routes. One suggestion was a tour of Caims as marked on the old IVi” maps.
B.B.
Attendance:
Derek Bush, President
Bruce Bensley
Alan Brown
Cliff Cobb
Ian Crowther
Mike Godden
Mike Hartland
Richard Josephy
Tim Josephy
Alan Linford
Harvey Lomas
Alister Renton
Harry Robinson
Arthur Salmon
Graham Salmon
Derek Smithson
Bill Todd
Nick Welch (G)
Frank Wilkinson
Glen Etive
15-17 February 1996
The journey gets easier every year. Motorways, dual carriageways and much improved roads hurry the hill-hungry climber to Scotland. Glen Etive is more accessible every year. Is this why the Spring Bank meet has lost its attraction?
Inhiifhaolin is in the throes of renovation and the cooking faculties were not as good as in previous years. The old kitchen areas has been knocked into the dining-hving area. The small shed to one end of the hut has had its roof raised and a connecting door installed. The speculation was that this would be converted into a new kitchen. The interior walls are now clad in pine and when finished will be quite smart. A large solid fuel fire has been put in the living area. Stoked up with peat briquettes it made the room very warm and welcoming.
Such comforts were needed. Weather conditions at home earlier in the year may have led us to hope that Scotland would provide us with good climbing but this proved not to be the case. For most of the weekend it was wet and very windy. There was snow, above 2,000 feet, but it was being driven at tremendous speeds. People experienced driven snow hurting then-faces, in spite of the protection of kagouls. At these heights the main danger was of being blown off. Lower, it was of being drowned in the bogs. Many paths looked like streams, the steeper parts transformed into waterfalls; not unusual on Etive meets in latter years.
First to fall foul of the rain were two campers who woke on Friday moirring to find themselves pitched in a stream. It hadn’t been there the night before.
The weather led to any number of failed attempts on the mountains. A large party attempted Benn Fhionnlaidh but turned back before the suirrmit. Two other climbers had hopes that the gulley on Ben Lui would aid then ascent but they were forced back by a stream which had become a torrent. The two damp campers turned back before the summit of Ben Starav. Wind speeds on the ridge suggested that had they gone any further they would have flown like kites. A distant Corbett was reconnoitred by a party including one of the club’s Munroists, now neaiing completion of the 2,500 footers.
The only success of the day was an ascent of Sgor na Ffulaidh by another a spuing Munroist who inched towards the summit holding onto fence posts. He and his companion were beaten from then goal more than once until they found a convenient snow gulley which left them close to the sunrmit cairn.
Thursday night’s damp campers had moved then tents and dried their sleeping bags over the hut’s fire only to wake on Saturday morning to find a puddle under then karrimats. Build up the fire…
Friday had yielded one Munro. Saturday was a one hundred per cent improvement:; Buachaille Etive Beag and Creise were climbed. The latter fell to a sporting route up a gulley which unexpectedly contained excellent snow conditions. The pair of climbers retraced then steps over three tops because there was a blizzard on the top and they had reached the edge of then map. In fact, Victoria Bridge could have been reached by a quick descent.
Having pondered the prevailing conditions in small groups scattered around the area, and assessed the best course of action, others proceeded as one man to the nearest hostelry in time for the kick off of the Rugby Union International between Scotland and Wales. One trio was delayed by a man conducting a census. They were flattered that he estimated their ages to be in the range 35 – 45 (then-combined ages being in excess of 150). He was, in fact, seeking their – views on the need for a new telephone hotline: Avalanche Watch perhaps? It would be interesting to know, through the pages of this journal, members’ views on the need for such a seivice.
On Sunday most of the party were of the opinion that it was time to cut their losses and head south. The couple of members lucky (?) enough to be able to extend their break to a full week set off to attempt Ben Sgurlaird, having sensibly made bed and breakfast arrangements for the rest of their holiday. Has anyone seen them since?
PS: I do the YRC an injustice. In fact the President’s party spent Sunday attempting Meall Ghaordie, encountering white-out conditions. “The worse I have ever experienced”, writes Derek.
The B. and B. pair did indeed top out on Sgurlaird. Monday saw them on Ben Crucachan and Tuesday the Horseshoe above Stronlichan to the east of the Cruachan group.
D.A.H.
Attendance
The President, Derek Bush
Ken Aldred
Dennis Armstrong
Tim Bateman
Albert Chapman
Ian Crowther
Andrew Duxbury
Eddie Edwards
Iain Gilmour
Mike Godden
Richard Gowing
David Handley
Mike Hartland
David Hick
Gordon Humphreys
Howard Humphreys
David Martindale
Alister Renton
Neil Renton (Guest)
Duncan Mackay
John McKean
Derek Smithson
Michael Smith
David Smith
Barrie Wood