Meet Report 17-19 January 2025.

Mark Rothwell arrived early.  On Thursday, together with a friend from the Rucksack Club, he traversed the Helvellyn range from Dunmail Raise north to Sticks Pass in cold and windy conditions. On Friday they went up Stickle Gill, via a scramble on Tarn Crag to Pavey Ark. They climbed Jack’s Rake in wet and snow-free conditions, returning via High Raise and Pike o’Stickle.

The meet was kicked-off on Friday evening with everyone visiting the Three Shires followed by jacket potatoes back at LHG provided by meet leaders Michael and Robert Crowther.

Conrad and new PMs Mark Longmore and Neil West, arrived early on Saturday morning. It was still dark, but they were met by some of the ‘Cold Water Swimming Brigade’, who claimed they were going for a pre-breakfast dip.  And here seems to be the evidence…

John and Carol Whalley, and John Sutcliffe decided on a valley route – climbing the slopes of Baysbrown Wood, before following the Cumbria Way footpath via Elterwater village to reach Skelwith Bridge. From there they took an undulating route back through Little Langdale to Low Hall Garth.

Some weather forecasts had suggested there might be a cloud inversion, with the possibility of clear skies above 500 or 600 metres.  So, two other groups set off for higher ground in the hope of (possibly) seeing the sun and maybe some distant peaks above the clouds, or at least a bit of lingering snow.  

The largest group of nine folks headed towards Pike o’ Blisco from the Three Shires Stone.

At Red Tarn there was a parting of the ways with Ged, Michael, Robert, Toby, Dan and PM Mark Longmore continuing up to Pike of Blisco summit.  Lizzie and Martyn opted to descend to Oxendale Beck, with Martyn mentioning a “Ghyll” he was interested in visiting.  New PM Neil was heard muttering something about a knee injury and chose to join Martyn and Lizzie.

Later, both the ‘Lower’ and ‘Summit’ groups met up in the Old Dungeon Ghyll for mid-walk refreshment.  Meet leaders Michael and Robert left early and took a slightly more direct route back to LHG to prepare dinner.  The rest of the group took an alternative route back through Great Langdale and Baysbrown Wood, and via the Three Shires Inn where the group was joined by Alan.

A smaller group of Conrad and Mark Rothwell, joined by Wendy and Steve (who had come over from Grasmere) set out for higher fells. The proposal was a full round of the Greenburn Horseshoe extending the route to Coniston Old Man with a return along the ridge and a descent via Wetherlam.   As the party ascended the weather became noticeably cooler and by the time they reached the Old Man they were covered in hoar frost. From the summit (which resembled a bus station with people approaching from all directions) they returned towards Wetherlam. The descent off Wetherlam Edge can be tricky – especially in the low cloud, and it was!  Mark challenged Steve to navigate us via the path down to Birk Fell as shown on the map, but alas there is no path. The return was made via Tilberthwaite High Fells back to Low Hall Garth  where a cup of tea and some Eccles cakes were waiting. Conrad persuaded Mark to go for a pint at the Three Shires while the dinner was being made but contrived to get lost on the way.

Back at base, Alan and John J went for some short local explorations, as well as keeping the home fires burning.

Six of the group slept in the Barn, which was kept warm and cosy by the log-burner.  In fact, so cosy that there seemed to be a continual flow of visitors who were interested in seeing how the other half live.

A great dinner of pea and potato soup, spaghetti bolognese and sticky toffee pudding was enjoyed by all to bring the day to an end. Ged gave a rousing after dinner speech thanking Michael for making the meet so successful.

Once again, on Sunday the pre-dawn wild swimmers claimed to have braved some icy water, but the rest of the group remained in their warm sleeping bags.  The Crowthers maintained the very high standard of sustenance with a mighty cooked breakfast for all who desired one.  The day arrived with even more low cloud, and most folks decided to head for home, but not before Ged press-ganged several volunteers to help empty the old drying room.

Conrad, Mark L and Neil popped in at John Sutcliffe’s in Settle en-route to Leeds to see his impressive collection of minerals.

Attendees:  Ged Campion, Alan Clare, Michael Crowther, Robert Crowther, Dan Curtis, Toby Dickinson, John Jenkin, Mark Longmore (PM), Mark Rothwell, John Sutcliffe, Conrad Tetley, Lizzie Trasler, Martyn Trasler, Neil West (PM), Carol Whalley, John Whalley, with guests Wendy and Steve West (day walkers on Saturday).