Meet Report: 12-14 January 2024.

With good winter climbing conditions in Scotland there was some hope of snow in the Lakes for this traditional first meet of the year in Little Langdale. This was not to be, though walking conditions were good and there was surprising activity on the meet.  The saturated ground of recent weeks had largely drained with some ice patches having formed on the fells. An overnight sprinkling of snow on Saturday iced the tops of the higher fells.  A change from recent years was the Three Shires Inn opening for the meet weekend, a couple of weeks earlier than usual after its January closure.

Arriving on Thursday, Mark found his new key didn’t work but luckily Hut Warden Alister was there to let him in. Mark then went over to Tarn Hows.  Ged and Imogen Campion met Mark then headed to Raven Crag, Yewdale, for a grade 1*** scramble.

On Friday Mark walked with a Rucksack Club friend making a verglas scramble up Long Crag to Wetherlam through a superb cloud inversion, seeing a Brocken spectre for the first time, returning via Swirl Howe and the Carrs.  Later that afternoon, he joined the Sheffielders with Kim and Michael on a through trip of Cathedral Cavern and a dusk inspection of Slater Bridge.

A good fire was soon warming the hut.  Alan’s catering kicked off with snacks followed by a welcome hotpot and bread that evening.  Fuelled and possibly inspired by Bacchus, god of wine, the Crowthers, egged on by Kim, planned a 6:30 rise for a 7am dip in the infant River Brathay. Alan promised them a fried breakfast on their return.

At this season and that time of the morning, there were difficulties in getting photographic evidence of the wild swimming, or at least enthusiastic dipping, so the escapade was witnessed by a couple of fully-clad, warmer members. As if the entertainment of the three cautiously entering the near-freezing water and steeling themselves for full immersion were not enough, on emerging, Crowther Minor led them in a swaying grunting haka to speed drying and improve circulation before towelling off.

One might expect this to have been a ‘one off’ activity but no… Kim and Michael were down there again on Sunday morning, just a little later.  

Saturday’s walking got off to an early start.  John and Alan had a good fossicking day in Langdale and purchasing extra fuel.  Martyn and the Crowthers crossed Slater Bridge, traversed Lingmoor Fell to Blea Tarn, checked out the beer at the ODG before returning past Blea Tarn and into the Three Shires Inn.

Conrad and Mark made a pathless ascent of Pike O’Blisco from Wrynose Bridge in mist and drizzle, a slightly icy decent down into the Langdale Valley and a superb ascent of Side Pike then Lingmoor Fell all in welcome sunshine, ending up with the team in Little Langdale at the Three Shires Inn.

Prospective members Kim and Toby shepherded Michael Smith up Wet Side Edge, over cloud-shrouded Swirl How and Prison Band to emerge into clear, sunnier weather for frozen Wetherlam and the descent of Steel Edge.  They took the more northerly Tilberthwaite Gill path to join the track to the ford then added to the throng in the pub.

Back at Low Hall Garth, Ged arrived to make a hut warden’s visit planning future developments. He also headed up to the quarries in search of potential future lines.

Alan was aided by Kim in the kitchen preparing the evening meal of a cottage pie made with corned beef with beetroot and mixed vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding and cheese.

Sunday was cool with good views from the lower fells but cloud later shrouded the higher tops.  Most managed to get another day on the fells but Conrad was away to meet other members climbing at Almscliffe.

Mark went solo on Sunday on a walk up Greenburn for a wintry scramble ascent of Great Carrs Buttress – mostly via the frozen gully turf, a cold frozen walk back along Prison Band to Swirl Howe where the sunshine arrived for a pleasant ascent of Wetherlam, then a sketchy icy descent on an indistinct northern path from Wetherlam back down into the Greenburn Valley.  

Michael S, Toby and Kim went over Loughrigg from near Skelwith Bridge to stroll along the busy Terrace to the quarry, returning over quieter Scartufts.

The Club cottage was looking good after its coat of paint thanks to Ged, Alister and their team. Alan’s catering was the usual high standard with plenty of hearty fare to keep us going. Once again, the LHG meet got the year off to a good start with drier days out for members unlike most years of late – except for the wild swimmers of course.

Attendees:  Ged Campion (day visitor), Alan Clare, Michael Crowther, Robert Crowther, Toby Dickinson (PM), John Jenkin, Kim Randall (PM), Mark Rothwell, Michael Smith, Conrad Tetley, Martyn Trasler.