Meet Report: 1-3 January 2019.

“Out with the old and in with the new” is a saying which feels apposite for this meet.

Obviously, we are done with the 2018 meets and starting with 2019’s. Annually we hope for good winter conditions in the Lakes and usually we are disappointed and get a cold soaking. The 2019 meets got off to a better than average start with three days of dry cool conditions and only the mountain tops draped in cloud. The chilling winds of Friday and Saturday calmed on Sunday.

The prospect before the meet was not promising. With 23 expected for the meet, 21 staying overnight, the barn was inaccessible. One outside user had misplaced the usual barn key and another appeared to have locked it and the understairs spare in the barn by closing the Yale lock door behind him. So, the first arrivers on Friday were charged with breaking into the barn to recover the keys. Kicking the door, levering with a mattock then using a jemmy eventually gained entry. Cyclists and two groups of walkers passed by while they were breaking in and not one queried the situation. Unfortunately, no keys were found anywhere inside. Later John Jenkin and Alan Clare came to the rescue and bought then fitted a replacement lock barrel. They also repaired the broken shower light. One further refit was a temporary shower curtain as the old one was torn. These refits also ticked the box of “out with the old and in with the new”.

Breaking and entering accomplished, the Smiths and Brown headed off up the newly repaired Tilberthwaite track and over Great Intake and Birk Fell to tackle the iced up Wetherlam Edge. They returned via Steel Edge and the path just north of Tilberthwaite Gill.

Friday’s soup and rolls were followed by cake and a round of “Happy Birthday” in honour of Carol’s significant birthday earlier in the week. Carol and John had planned to mark her new decade with a trip into Great Douk Cave but on arrival found the water flow at the entrance too great a barrier.

Twenty-one were gathered by 9pm and the place had warmed up. A further “new” was half a dozen new faces in their thirties or forties to supplement the “old” retirees. They all had active days, were most welcome and already making plans for another meet later this year.

Robert as meet leader was up long before dawn to have a full breakfast prepared for those wanting to get a full Saturday day out on the hills. Including Tim who had driven over from Lowstern, fifteen set off up towards Greenburn and onto West Side Edge, the Carrs then on to Swirl How. There Martyn and Tim descended Prison Band with Tim heading back to the cottage and Martyn to refreshment in Coniston. Pete and Ann followed them down then went over Wetherlam with Tim to descend its icy Edge.

The remaining eleven continued into the cold wind over Levers Hawse and Brim Fell to lunch on the sheltered side of the Old Man of Coniston’s summit cairn. Passing the Miner’s Track’s steady flow of walkers coming up our party reached Low Water then left the crowds behind by traversing north across the black crags of Brim Fell to Levers Water, under Kennel Crag to the Moor How mine workings. Hole Rake took them to the path down by the south side of Tilberthwaite Gill. Reaching Low Tilberthwaite they were met by Martyn on his way back from Coniston. Together the round was finished in the gloom of dusk via the tunnel to Cathedral Quarry where three trained voices reverberated around the walls.

Meanwhile, Alan had walked over to Tilberthwaite and was circling back towards Low Hall Garth when he met Derek near Slater Bridge. They, with John Jenkin and Ian, bought supplies in Ambleside and sought a spot of lunch in the Wainwright, Elterwater. Derek had a “funny turn” there and an ambulance was called. Thankfully, the crew having checked him out were content for him to return to the meet and have a rest; we don’t want that sort of “out with the old”. By evening he had recovered enough to take some food and a glass of wine made from his own grapes.

Robert and the Whalleys walked the round of Elterwater and Skelwith Bridge from Low Hall Garth.

Harvey arrived from Settle, parked up by the ford and joined everyone for pre-dinner drinks and nibbles in the cottage. Robert’s meal of charcuterie, cottage pie, fruit pie then cheeses put back more calories than we had expended on our day’s outings. Afterwards, Vice President John Brown thanked Robert for organising the meet before Michael’s Romanian and Nepal meet videos were screened.

Sunday saw most looking for shorter rounds, especially those needing to travel back to London and other southern locations. Robert, Ian, John, Derek and Alan saw to the cleaning up and repair work. The Lathams mountain biked over to Langdale, Elterwater, Coniston and Tilberthwaite. Harvey was aiming for Stickle Tarn. Unfamiliar with the local area, Helen Brewitt and Dan were walking from the cottage round to Elterwater and Skelwith Bridge. Richard, Peter, the Smiths, John and the younger element set off from the Old Dungeon Ghyll along Langdale to turn right up Troughton Beck, literally up the Beck on the graded scramble taking in its waterfalls. Having scrambled through a layer of cloud they lunched on Martcrag Moor before continuing to Pike of Stickle.

Their descent direct to the New Dungeon Ghyll took in Loft Crag and the Dungeon Ghyll waterfalls.

An excellent start to the year thanks to Robert’s thorough preparation and everyone helping out over the weekend. Bring on the rest of the new!

Attendees:

Lloyd de Beer (G), Helen Brewitt, John Brown, Esther Chadwick, Peter Chadwick, Alan Clare, Derek Clayton, Ian Crowther, Robert Crowther, John Jenkin, Tim Josephy day visit, Pete Latham, Ann Latham (G), Harvey Lomas, Daniel O’Leary, Helen Smith, Michael Smith, Richard Taylor, Martyn Trasler, Jacky Waterhouse (G), Tom Waterhouse (G), Carol Whalley, John Whalley