Yrcj 2000; 12(14)

Winter 2000 The Y R C Bulletin Issue 14

Rambler 37 40 42 43 44 47

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David Handley ...... Paul Glendenning

Derek A SmithsonDerek ......

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Thoughts on Safety Mount Kinabalu Extracts from the Retiring President’s Address Review Chippings ReportsMeet

26 29 31 32 34 36

Smith Jeff HooperJeff Ray Harben

Elspeth Smith Roy J Denney

Michael Michael Michael Smith

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A Reminder of the YRC the Life after Munroes Teide A Reet Descent Slovenia Photographs from the Collection Experienced Presidents

3 11 16 18 19 21

th Craven

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A Has Been A Has

David Smi

Alan Linford

David Laughton .....

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“Nimble footwork to reach the crack above”(Staffordshire Gritstone Guidebook) Daniel Wood on Maud’s Garden, The Roaches Corbetts Meet, Spring Bank 2000 Svalbard How it Really Used to Be Getting the most out of Ski Poles Getting breatha of fresh air one Sunday Ingleborough Giggleswick Cave & School Foreword

As my Presidency draws to its close, it is time for some reflection on my part. Whether or not I ever expected to become President of the YRC is now irrelevant. As in every sphere of life it has had its ups and downs. Members will read further on in this issue about one aspect that I must inevitably view as a 'down'. But I know that I will look back on this period of my life as one of my finest summits. I have received tremendous support and, at the risk of repeating what I have said previously, it is a source of wonderment to me how and why this club operates so effectively. It would be naive to believe that every member, past & present, viewed every other member or indeed every President as an equally fine chap. Life is not like that. Nevertheless we must all thank other members, past & present, for creating something that contrives to contribute so much pleasure, support and good fellowship to our lives. It is a happy privilege to be a member I hope that membership will also be a happy privilege to new members Alan Clare, Mike Ellacott, Bill Hawkins and Richard Kirby, all elected since our last issue. Let us have the pleasure of your company on many meets, chaps! I understand that some members look upon me as ever so slightly eccentric. Well, you are now going to enjoy the pleasure of the Presidency in the hands of a real eccentric. I can hardly wait. One doesn't need to wish Albert “Good luck”. Albert makes his own luck.

W C I Crowther, President ______

Secretary - Gordon Humphreys, Old Hall Cottage, Yealand Conyers, Carnforth, Lancashire LA5 9SJ

Editor - Michael Smith, 80 Towngate Road, Worrall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S35 0AR [email protected] Copy for next issue by March 2001.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the YRC nor its Officers

The YRC Bulletin 1 Winter 2000

Contents Corbetts Meet, Spring Bank 2000 ...... Alan Linford ...... 3 Svalbard ...... David Laughton .... 11 How it Really Used to Be, number two ...... A Has Been .... 16 Getting the most out of Ski Poles ...... David Smith .... 18 Getting a breath of fresh air one Sunday ...... Wiser Now .... 19 Ingleborough Cave Box and Giggleswick School ...... S A Craven .... 21 A Reminder of the YRC ...... Jeff Hooper .... 26 Life after the Munros ...... Elspeth Smith .... 29 A Reet Teide Descent ...... Roy J Denney .... 31 Slovenia ...... Michael Smith .... 32 Photographs from the Collection...... Ray Harben .... 34 Experienced Presidents ...... Michael Smith .... 36 Thoughts on Safety ...... Derek A Smithson .... 37 Mount Kinabalu in the Rainy Season ...... Paul Glendenning .... 40 Extracts from the Retiring President’s Address ...... Ian Crowther .... 42

Review: Vintage Book of Walking ...... David Handley .... 43 Chippings ...... 44 Meet Reports: Glen Etive ...... February 2000 .... 47 Lowstern ...... March/April .... 48 Cairngorms, Easter Backpacking ...... April .... 49 Rhinogs, Long Walk ...... June .... 50 Inchnadamph...... July .... 52 South Pennines ...... August .... 53 Lowstern Working Meet ...... August .... 55 Low Hall Garth ...... October .... 56

The YRC Bulletin 2 Winter 2000

Corbetts Meet, Spring Bank 2000 Whose idea was it this time? Seventeen years after the Munro meet members expressed some surprise at Unremarkable summit cairn see through mist the circular giving advanced notice of the intention, depending upon support, to repeat the exercise on the Theory‟, used a photograph of the Corbetts. It is not unusual for Club Grand Teton mountains with the business to be discussed on meets, caption „Order came out of Chaos‟. (and decisions made), outside of the Do meet leaders know that, for years, committee. It was a casual thought, they have been applying this most probably due to an excess of oxygen complex mathematical theory? and red blood cells, expressed by a member returning from an The Arrangements acclimatisation trip. Whimsy became firm intention at base camp under The 220 Corbetts had to be assessed Bolivia‟s Volcan Sajama as members and grouped for different abilities and with heightened levels of oxygen and available time. Whilst there are charts red cells having just returned from its for this a better grouping had already summit, planned ambitiously. Even been established by Elspeth Smith and allowing for the situation, it is one of this was adopted in its entirety. Level the strong features of our Club that of difficulty and access problems were there was never any doubt that established using the encyclopaedic sufficient members would commit knowledge of the late Eddie Edwards, themselves to the enterprise. even down to the day gates were locked and the races on Jura. The organising group Iain Gilmour, Members exchanged hills and Alan Kay, Alan Linford and David eventually had the right amount to do Smith simply had to sit and wait, in the time available. perhaps with some apprehension, for the gaps to be filled. Encouraged by a All participants made their own statement and example from the BBC arrangements ascending hills in pairs, Children‟s Christmas Lecture entitled groups, or alone, and in some cases „The Arrows of Time‟ in which the with support. This may seem to lecturer, explaining the „Chaos produce a fragmented meet as

Roshven

The YRC Bulletin 3 Winter 2000 participants are spread over a large Kay will have to hump his camp back area and unlikely to meet, and that is into Contin to complete his Munros. true, but it produces other benefits. David Smith, as always, can be relied Before, and after, the event there is a upon to maintain the Club traditions, lot of discussion and interchange of shunning all technology he navigates letters, phone calls, e-mails, bringing in Scotland by keeping the sea on the members into contact with each other left, only to realise that for his section sharing knowledge and experiences. the sea was always on the right? In these exchanges interesting facets David and Elspeth are the only group of the Club emerge. Two e-mails one to register better routes than those week before the meet, illustrate the suggested in the SMC guide. diversity of the Club, the first, „information all clear, plans made, Those who‟ve enjoyed excursions good luck‟. The second „can you tell with Duncan Mackay will not be me what Corbetts I have to climb?‟ surprised that he missed the ferry to From a prominent member „I have Knoydart and had to pay a fisherman only been on two Whit meets, this and to be taken across. He found a large the Munros and thoroughly enjoyed hole in the ground in Coire nan both.‟ Joy to the ears of the Gobhar, a missing bridge not at organisers. 793042 on Beinn na Callich requiring a striped wade. The misery of a plague of midges was mitigated by Extracts from logs discovering an elaborately constructed The event also moved the Club into ancient deer stalking track - a delight the new technology of mobile phones. to follow. David Laughton purchased one to run On Jura, Gordon Humphrey‟s ascent the communications centre, which of Beinn an Oir involved watching proved to be useful and effective. otters at the head of the valley, and Equally so to mount a rescue plan for took twice as long as some runners Derek Bush who was marooned on a who‟d just done all three Paps plus site with no facilities and his shower the hills at each end in under four had failed. Technology again in the hours. form of a Walkman, Desert Island Copies of the individual members‟ Discs and I am Sorry I Haven’t a Clue logs and photographs have been helping divert (only attention, not placed at Lowstern and Low Hall direction) Michael Smith through mist Garth and are available on disk. and fog on the hills above Loch Eilt. No reports of GPS being used, It is clear from the listings that the surprising, as nobody reports being younger members took on the task of lost. I can only put this down to the more remote and inaccessible single-minded concentration on the hills, their reports of running, cycling, job in hand and not making proposals early morning starts, late finishes and for correcting European, World and long haul camps leave the reader Club politics. breathless. The reports of course, do not give any indication of the age of In a similar vein a number of reports the author, read the one of a more mention the constant distraction of mature member who hauled in camp, adjacent unclimbed Munros. Alan up and away early (0530 one day),

The YRC Bulletin 4 Winter 2000

First camp and Ben Aden and rewarded by coming across a All members report the delight and newly born fawn. pleasure of finding their own way Having completed the ascent of over unmarked hills, some ascents Askival and Ainshval, Albert rather dreary, but most hills Chapman and George Burfitt thought interesting and the SMC guide they would take in a tour of Kinloch accurate and useful. A number of Castle. In 1964 the Club had a reports register the point that this type successful meet there as a result of of meet provides the opportunity to go into areas and onto hills that they, by Albert's friendship with Lady Monica Bullough. He mentioned this to the choice, would not have considered guide at the castle, who started of the and enjoyed the experience. Derek official tour with, “We‟re privileged Smithson comments „very grateful for today to have Lady Monica's toy boy the opportunity to see the wonderful with us.” views from the mountains near Barrisdale off Kinloch Hourn and to camp in near wilderness again‟. Kevin Brown mentioned „stunning views and a lovely run down from Mealloch Mor‟ and „a great sense of journeying through the hills‟. Kevin hardly seems to have stopped for breath finding the South Cairngorm ideal for running. He recorded some remarkable times between his start and finish points with the Corbetts topped as a matter of course. Nine in Fawn on Carn a‟Chuillin Derek Smithson total, four in the very hard category. One day, of nine hours, was from

The YRC Bulletin 5 Winter 2000

Blair Atholl station to Tromie Bridge disappeared, disconcerting in the mist over Beinn Meodhonach 901m, Beinn and rain. He admits to mistaking Loch Bhreac 912m, Leathad an Taobhain Minoch for Loch Harrow and 912m, Carn Dearg Mor 857m, two thrashing by compass through a forest extra tops to make sure of the top and that did exist to get back on route. cycled on to Newtonmore. Alan Darrell Farrant on Ben Tirran in Glen Blackshaw had cached the cycle at Clova found the subsidiary and lower Tromie. Kevin travelled light with a summit to be called Ben Tirran, the KIMM sac, windproofs and food true summit is called The Goet more (mainly jelly babies) and wore shapely and with a trig point. All studded fell shoes. A fuller letters to the SMC. description of his contribution is given towards the end of this report.

The organisers were concerned about the President and his heavy Wildlife responsibilities having given him 13 Several reports of close encounters hills to do in Glen Sheil, five of them with Golden Eagles, each one a sight in Eddies „H‟ category, but in true never to be forgotten. YRC tradition of support for its President, Tim Josephy dropped in Roger Dix, in addition to his Eagle, and climbed five of the Northernmost seems to have encountered most hills. wildlife reporting at least fifty mountain hares in their winter coats There were few reports of any on Auchnafree hill and more birds problems. A notable one was David than most. Two pairs of Ring Ouzel and Elspeth getting caught up in a on the track to Auchnafree, several mortality check (of deer) on the Twite the darkish pink rumps of the Attadale Estate. males clearly visible , a single Golden Roy Wilson in the Southern Uplands, Plover (few around this year) and later having carefully planned his routes, a pair on Meall an t‟Seallladh and found forests and tracks to have most heartening of all several

Carn a‟Chuillin summit

The YRC Bulletin 6 Winter 2000

Skylarks were found on most of his The weather hills. Alan and Angie Linford were The only threat to the success of the treated to several visits of two pair of enterprise was the weather. This Bullfinches on, of all places, the turned out to be very mixed for all Tyndrum Camp site. Other sightings groups. Equally shared were wind, included Ptarmigan, Dotterill, snow and hail storms, rain, heavy Buntings, Red Grouse, Curlew, rain, very heavy rain, rivers in flood, Buzzard, Tufted Duck and Red mist and sunshine. The worst weather Breasted Mergansers. set upon Raymond Ince and his group, Ken Aldred found a Spotted Orchid at having had a fine day on Clisham 700m, must be the upper limit. Derek despite being literally blown over, Smithson also rewarded with sighting moved to Skye only to find the of a fox and Red Squirrel. Many conditions on Glamaig so treacherous groups report hares in large numbers they abandoned the ascent a short many still in winter covering, Ray distance from the summit. They had Harben, in awful weather, met a hare run out of time so David Smith and on the summit of the Sow of Athol Iain Gilmour, independently, motored also suitably dressed. over to Skye and completed the ascent in better conditions. Global warming

may be the cause of many groups suffering from midge attacks, not normally experienced on this meet.

John Schofield claims the worst attack while Bill Todd describes his legs as a medical curiosity. Ken Aldred and his group wish to record seeing some blue sky. The Result In the event all 220 Corbetts were climbed over the Whit holiday by 63 members, six prospective members and guests, nineteen ladies and two children, each making their own contribution in a different way. 26 people ascended the last hill on Saturday 3rd, June (about average for a YRC meet) and nineteen sat down to a celebration dinner in Newtonmore.

Green Plover‟s nest on Clisham

The YRC Bulletin 7 Winter 2000

For the last hill, Carn an Fhreiceadain, back at the car, three hours after the meet enjoyed wall to wall setting off. sunshine, with the pleasure of With dry clothes and lots of food I sunbathing on the top with John drove towards Pitlochry and parked Lovett and chatting about old times. It near Baydo (985614). Then I walked had been a long time, too long, since and ran west through deep heather to John climbed a Scottish hill and the pick up the forestry boundary. Deer day was a memorable event for him. tracks, even minor ones, were better John Barton, waiting to see how he than nothing. I continued to northern was after „ten days trailing around in tip of forestry and from there up a Turkey‟ managed to make the meet rough streambed and into the cloud and topped out Fhreiceadain on the again. Friday, again in beautiful weather, before dashing off to Inverness. John I reached a minor cairn on Ben at the age of 75 would be the oldest Vrackie and then headed west to member on this meet. Harry summit cairn, 841m, and memorial to Stembridge at 81 was the oldest to top John Gray with plaque giving names out on the Munro meet. Some wit has of nearby peaks. After a brief pause I suggested doing the Graham‟s in descended by same route to the car seventeen years from now. Who will taking care on the rough ground be the oldest to top out then? - It beneath the deep heather (2½ hours). could be you! Alan Linford 24 May: From Dalnacardoch Lodge on the A9 I cycled north up a good track with the pudding basin top of Kevin Brown‟s notes on his… An Dùn visible in the distance. Quick trip round Atholl’s backyard After a technical fault and a tumble I 23 May: I drove a Fiat Seicento (just retreated to Pitlochry for a new front takes a rucksack) from Pitlochlry and wheel spindle! Losing 1½ hours to parked by the bridge near Straloch. the bike I quickly reaped the benefits Out on the mountain bike in driving of cycling and still reached rain and quckly up Glean Fearnach Sronphadruig Lodge sooner with the with cloud at 550m. Smooth track to delay than I would have done on foot. Daldhu then rough and rocky to the walled ruin (994717). After passing a new concrete bridge above the lodge I left the main track Left the bike by a wall and headed and continued north on a narrow path SW up a broad valley to an obvious to east of An Dùn. Ditched bike when stream junction from where a bearing level with the loch and headed took me into the cloud and up steep directly up the steep sides to reach An bilberry slopes to reach the top of Ben Dùn‟s windy, flat top, 827m, and fine Vuirich, 903m. Trig point surrounded clear views all round. A sheltered by a stone wall with an opening to the grassy hollow to the south would South. make a superb bivvy. With a strong South wind and lashing Dropped quickly back to the bike, rain I didn‟t dally and took a bearing walked and cycled the narrow path down steepish ground back to bike. along the side of the loch. An eagle The head of Glen Loch was circled and landed on the crags above. magnificent in pastel colours as I Reaching the north end of the loch I emerged from cloud. By bike I was

The YRC Bulletin 8 Winter 2000 crossed the river and joined a well The bike was left near the bridge made track, still heading north. So (763903) and I headed north then east good it was that I overshot my to reach summit of Meallach Mor, intended starting point up Maol Creag 769m. After enjoying great views of an Loch. Corbetts to come from the top there The bike left by a stream (732818), I was a lovely run back down the same struck up the hill to the South. route to the bike. North from here the Studded fell running shoes were track became tarmac and I sped down useful here as the ground was steep Glen Tromie to Tromie Bridge and then Newtonmore (seven hours from and slippery. I reached the small pile nd of stones on the summit of Maol 2 start). Creag an Loch, 876m, in good 25 May: After catching the 7.29 visibility and saw a much larger pile train from Kingussie to Blair Atholl I of stones about 800 m away to the was passing the castle gates by 8.15. south. Just in case I trotted over to Keeping west of the river Tilt to start the county boundary cairn (confirmed with I ran north to Gilberts Bridge. lower by altimeter) and backtracked to After an elaborate wooden ladder over the bike with rain and strengthening the deer fence I continued to the wind from the south. north-east, through the forest above Continuing on the bike I crossed the the roaring river Tilt. On crossing Allt Gharbh Ghaig and passed another bridge I left the Tilt and imposing Gaik Lodge with its headed up a minor stream towards my avalanche slopes beyond. White first hill. Thinking of the effort to horses on Loch an t-Seilac as I build them I crossed yet another continued north to the bridge over elegant stone bridge at 884724 before Allt Bhran next to a newly built heading up the long rounded ridge to house, meeting tree planters and reach the summit of Beinn cheery hydro workers on the way. Meodhonach, 901m.

Time to relax on the final top, Carn an Fhreiceadain

The YRC Bulletin 9 Winter 2000

On the ascent I was surprised by a before striking to the north-west to large square cairn, to the east of the reach the summit of Beinn Bhreac, main ridge and well below the 912m, skirting two snow fields and summit. From the top I picked up startling about 100 red deer. With speed and ran north, passing east of wind and high cloud there were Carn a Chiaraidh and in good tremendous views from this remote visibility crossed boggy peat hags to a summit. I ran to the north off Beinn stream junction (878806). Snoozed Bhreac and kept to high ground. With and sunbathed beside a white sandy good going underfoot I managed to stream shore for a while at this run west and north to Leathad an magical, sheltered spot and ate Taobhai. another pack of jelly babies. From the junction I ran up the minor stream, meandering in a grassy dip Stop Press! See also final pages

Attendance:

President, Ian Crowther David Handley Alister Renton Ken Aldred Ray Harben Chris Renton David Atherton Carole Harben Joyce Renton Dennis Armstrong Colin Hawkins Neil Renton John Barton John Hemingway Harry Robinson Alan Blackshaw David Hick Clive Rowlands Marcia Blackshaw Christine Marriott Arthur Salmon Alan Brown Gordon Humphreys Graham Salmon Kevin Brown Fiona Humphreys Roy Salmon Buckner Ian (PM) Howard Humphreys Margaret Salmon Victor Bugg Raymond Ince John Schofield George Burfitt Tim Josephy Pat Schofield Derek Bush Alan Kay Euan Seaton Yvonne Bush Julia Kay David Smith John Casperson Mike Kinder Elspeth Smith Albert Chapman Cliff Large Michael Smith Alan Clare (PM) David Large Helen Smith Clifford Cobb David Laughton Richard Smith Roger Dix John Lovett Fiona Smith Gwen Dix Betty Lovett Derek Smithson Stuart Dix Alan Linford John Sterland Andrew Duxbury Angie Linford Mike Thompson Barbara Duxbury Bill Lofthouse Bill Todd Derek English Duncan Mackay Juliet Todd Darrell Farrant Emille Richard Webb (PM) Iain Gilmour David Martindale James Whitby Sarah Gilmour John Martindale Frank Wilkinson Mike Godden Rory Newman Roy Wilson Richard Gowing Sue Thompson Alan Wood Elizabeth Gowing Frank Platt Peter Wood Ralph Hague Colin Rankin (G) Michael Wood

The YRC Bulletin 10 Winter 2000

Svalbard David Laughton Svalbard consists of as group of islands situated between latitudes 74ºN and 81ºN lying some 500 miles north of Norway. The north coast is therefore only some 600 nautical miles south of the North Pole. This has made it an important staging post for explorers either attempting or returning from attempts on the Pole. Accordingly names associated with Svalbard include Nansen, Amundsen, Andree, Herbert, and Fiennes, which Danish whalers. All that now remains made it doubly attractive to me as an are graves and the horseshoe-shaped enthusiast for Arctic history. furnaces that once rendered blubber. The largest island is Spitsbergen with Along the north coast we started to three other sizeable islands, North meet pack ice and saw our first Polar East Land, Edgeøya and Barentsøya Bear. We sailed south into the plus many smaller islands. As its narrow Woodfjord, flanked on both name implies, Spitsbergen has jagged, sides by glaciers and snow or rock alpine peaks, the highest of which is peaks, and anchored in a small side 1717 metres. Most are extensively fjord, Bockfjord. Here we landed to glaciated with many coming down to attempt our first significant peak, the sea. North East Land is almost which we estimated to be around completely covered by an ice cap said 1000m. The lower slopes were to be the third largest in the world - reminiscent of the wilder Pennine after Antarctica and Greenland. peaks but here the ground was solidly frozen only a foot or so down. Higher I first went to Spitsbergen in 1982 was deep, soft snow - hard, when I joined seven others to charter unpleasant work. However, when we a 70ft wooden ex fishing boat (with reached the summit we had the its owner cum skipper and cook). We reward of impressive views into the flew out to the “capital” central mountains of Haakon VII Longyearbyen and sailed north up the Land. Down to the beach for a BBQ west coast. Each day we landed by and a good nights sleep aboard the dinghy to walk on the tundra or to gently rocking boat. Next day back to scramble up scree or moraine slopes the north coast to head east in an to minor summits or to visit one of attempt to reach North East Land. the many huts left by whalers, Unfortunately this had to be trappers or expeditions. In the NW abandoned due to pack ice. We did corner we visited the site of the old manage to push through scattered whaling station of Smeerenburg. This pack to reach 80ºN at Moffen Island flat plateau, surrounded by impressive with its small herd of walrus. Then mountains unbelievably had a slowly back to Longyearbyen, in population of more than 1000 around improving weather to fill in gaps left 1640 - mainly British, Dutch and on the way up.

The YRC Bulletin 11 Winter 2000

Not having landed or even seen the navigation of Spitsbergen with the other major Svalbard islands has possibility of getting right round the rankled ever since 1982 and it left a whole Svalbard group if ice gap in my objective of travelling conditions were exceptionally good. around the whole of the arctic As we were not leaving until late landmasses. In recent years ice- August I thought we had a good strengthened Russian “research” chance of success. vessels have started offering The 39 passengers, including people “adventure” cruises all over the Arctic from six different countries, embarked (and Antarctic) and I have twice at Longyearbyen. Fortunately our visited Greenland on the 236ft itinerary involved little duplication Professor Molchanov. This year I from my earlier trip as, to give as decided to sign on again when she much time as possible in the north was due to attempt a circum-

The YRC Bulletin 12 Winter 2000 and east, we sailed overnight up the to do a long walk up to the head of a west coast which I had got to know valley. The weather was perfect and fairly well in 1982. We did visit very soon we were stripping off the Smeerenburg again, much cleaned up layers of clothing needed in the in the last eighteen years but still zodiacs. Back aboard the ship moved bearing reminders of the hard times across to a group of small islands off experienced by the old whalers and the west shore where bears had been sealers. Over lunch the ship sailed seen on previous trips. No luck so we north and east and by mid afternoon pushed on into a side fjord, anchored we were anchored in the beautiful and set off to explore by zodiac. A Raudfjord. The zodiacs took us under white shape lying above the rocky huge cliffs full of Kittiwakes then shore proved to be our first Polar Bear along the front of a glacier at the edge of the trip. We got to within 30ft but of which we landed to scramble it took little notice of us as it dozed, around the glacier edge. On the way got up, turned around and went to back to the ship we landed on a small sleep again. The outboard motor was island which had until recently been kept running in case it took a greater the nesting site of a large number of interest. Later in the trip we saw a geese, probably Barnacles. further seven Polar Bears, usually out on the pack ice. Back aboard the ship headed northeast crossing the 80º “landmark” soon Now at last the highlight for me - we after 10pm, still of course full made it to North East Land. daylight, with a hazy sun. As we Scenically nowhere near as toasted this milestone, Moffen Island spectacular as Spitsbergen but an appeared ahead. This was for me ambition fulfilled. Our first landing another duplication but last time we was at the head of Rijpfjord where we had had to push our way through large went ashore near the ruins of a pans of ice and saw only two walrus German radio station which operated lying on the shore; this time there was during the war supplying weather no ice and a pod of perhaps eighty reports, presumably to their forces walrus. Overnight we sailed into trying to intercept the Murmansk Woodfjord but this time anchored convoys. The two wooden huts were fairly near the entrance. Early next still littered with soggy German morning we landed on the east shore books, radio manuals etc left some fifty-five years ago - very few people visit this spot. There had been some pack ice as we entered the fjord but when we came out and turned east we met much more. To the north lay a group of fairly large islands with a small one a little further out being the northernmost point

The YRC Bulletin 13 Winter 2000 of Europe. We spent the day cruising landing on a small offshore island for in the area initially trying to get a walk over very boggy tundra, seeing ashore but when that had failed reindeer, ptarmigan and an arctic fox. attempting to get round to the east A final landing on the south coast of coast of North East Land. North East Land - this time on a Unfortunately we again failed but did completely different terrain, a huge get good views of bears, walrus and stone desert beside the large ice cap. Bearded Seals on the ice. Completely flat, it was covered with flat pebbles, many containing fossils. Once it became clear that our Well inland we found many isolated complete circumnavigation was not whale bones, each covered in lichens going to succeed we retreated until we with small plants growing around fed could head south through the by the nutrients from the bones. Hinlopen Strait between Spitsbergen Obviously it had been the sea bed and N. E. Land. We entered the relatively recently, the land having strait around midnight. I had gone to risen as the ice cap had retreated. bed but was awoken by crashing and banging. Looking out of the porthole South now through the strait, between I saw we were completely surrounded the islands of Barentsøya and by ice so got up and went onto the Edgeøya, to make two landings on bridge (we had free access to the Edgeøya. One for a good long walk bridge at all times). Although it was up onto a ridge eventually dropping still daylight it was foggy, the ships back down to the coast at a collection searchlight showing virtually solid ice of huts, still in good condition, ahead. The ship is not an icebreaker probably used by scientists. The other but has reinforced bows and she was to a Gordale type canyon full of crashing her way through, the captain Kittiwakes and their young. A family directing the route. Eventually I of Arctic Foxes were actively picking returned to bed and soon could hear up dead birds and a long dead that we were in clear water. Next reindeer lay at the foot, the foxes morning, under a clear blue sky we showed curiosity rather than fear of landed on the west coast of North East us. Time was drawing on so a long Land on a beach occupied by a large overnight sail took us around the herd of walrus. As we approached in south tip of Spitsbergen back to the the zodiacs four walrus swam across west coast and into the spectacular to meet us and by the time we were Hornsund - a deep fjord with ashore about a dozen had come into impressive peaks and glaciers. It was the shallows and were wallowing misty when we arrived but this about. This attracted a flock of Arctic cleared and we did a couple of zodiac Terns, presumably picking up food trips with one landing at the foot of a brought to the surface, an Arctic Skua glacier and a last Polar Bear. There is attacked a Black Guillemot and a Polish research station on the north robbed it of its food and later a skein shore of Hornsund to which we of Pink Footed Geese flew over. The accepted an evening invitation; seven walrus got more and more inquisitive or eight scientists were to spend the and eventually started rubbing their winter there. later, heading north, we bristly noses and sharp tusks on the had the only rough seas of the voyage dinghies - they even allowed us to but it calmed down in the morning as touch them, a marvellous morning. we entered Icefjord. One last landing Later that day we made another for a late evening visit to the Russian

The YRC Bulletin 14 Winter 2000 coal-mining town of Barentsburg on English-speaking guide, later we the south side of the fjord a few miles wandered around the town. At this west of Longyearbyen. Not many latitude we got a very colourful sunset people wanted to go ashore, it was at midnight. A final day was spent 11pm and the bar was doing a lot of wandering around Longyearbyen then last night business, but fifteen of us home via Oslo and Copenhagen. went. Despite the time the Russians Objective almost but not quite opened up the museum and laid on an achieved.

Hornsund

The YRC Bulletin 15 Winter 2000

From Montenvers we dropped down How it to the Mer de Glace, much bigger than today, and scurried up the valley along the glacier edge. I had always Really understood Alpine days started at a slow pace that could be kept to all Used day, but this was like the old style Le Mans start. Added to this I started to hear a series of wicked zips and dull to Be! thuds. On looking up I could see large Number Two stones landing on the snow slopes just above us. Naturally there was not a by a “Has Been” helmet in sight and it was a bit “Trog wants somebody to worrying. The nearby hurrying climb with.” climbers did not seem perturbed so we carried on. “Who’s Trog?” At the base of the buttress I “Him over there, the lad who spends understood why Trog had been all his time in his tent.” rushing. There was a queue, each rope “Who is he?” with a guide and the first party was “Don’t know, but he’s a good about a rope’s length up. Undeterred, climber. Done some hard stuff Trog sauntered along the base of the in Wales.” cliff and then said “This’ll do.” We promptly roped up and he set off up a Thus it was, on a lovely morning in steep unclimbed crack at a great rate. July 1962 I caught the Funicular to In turn I followed and with Trog Montenvers with Trog, to begin my leading, our alternative start soon Alpine career on a rock route called passed all the other ropes. We joined the Brioche. I had never been to the standard route via a sloping Chamonix or the Alps before but it layback crack which I went into was easy to see the mountains were wrong way round, so was hanging out out of condition, as we were in a of the crack and my rucsac felt very storm cycle. Paul and David had heavy. After re-arranging myself life assured me the Brioche was an all was much easier. weather climb, first done by Lionel Terray about ten years earlier. All this Trog really could climb, neat and was very interesting but I had not economical in gesture and word, with come to climb, but to travel about and fine balance. He assumed I could too had merely hitched a lift with David and offered advice only when asked Witham and Paul Ross. for it. We both enjoyed it as pitch followed pitch more easily after the Trog was a bespectacled, rather quiet initial steep section. The views across lad who had all his the Mer de Glace to the Drus and up gear in an Army the valley were quite stupendous knapsack slung while the day was warm and over one shoulder pleasant. and a rope over the other. I had my boots and While encouraging me to a ninety centimetre axe. climb with Trog David had mentioned the route, while a

The YRC Bulletin 16 Winter 2000 good standard for a first route, was a étriers were rarely used in Britain and bit awkward at the top and étriers I had never handled any let alone made it easier. Paul had merely recovered them from an overhanging smiled. bulge, while standing in them. My As we climbed a large bulge became recently taken B.Sc. in physics prominent and even Trog looked at it informed me that unclipping them in a quizzical sort of way. Needless to while standing in them offered an say we had no étriers but my faith in unhappy future! him was justified when, on reaching The guide was encouraging - he the foot of the bulge, we spied two wanted his étriers - but in rapid étriers dangling from pitons. French. In the end all was well as I Unfortunately they belonged to a stood on the anchor pitons and first guide and we were guideless, bringing hung on the upper étriers and then no money into the Chamonix valley. found a handhold while unclipping In those days most hardish or tricky the second. routes were still done with guides, the That was it! We sat on a flat slab and Chamonix Corps des Guides being, watched the guide and client share with good reason, very proud. fruit and cheese and other nice things Fortunately though, the client was no and then set off down a snow field. climber having been, more or less, The long ice-axe was good for dragged up the pitch so the guide was glissading, so I was alright but Trog likely to lose his étriers, no mean produced a piton hammer, squatted expense. down and with great aplomb, In such circumstances it is amazing managed to glissade albeit slowly. how quickly one latches on. Trog was I never spoke to or saw Trog again. up the étriers and over the bulge like a shot. As I started up he remarked The following day and the next I quietly to bring them up. In 1962 found myself leading the ice boss on the Forbes arète on the Chardonnet with Dennis Gray and two others, one with an arm in plaster. On the way down we were engulfed by a blizzard and I broke the world long jump record jumping down, last on the rope, over the bergschrund - so much for telling them I was a tyro! But that is another story.

Dennis Gray adds: The other two were Dez Hadlum, who had his arm in plaster and now lives in Denver, Colorado, and Hank Harrison of Derby.

The YRC Bulletin 17 Winter 2000

This provides the greatest assistance in a forward direction with a minimum force downwards. Allowing Is the now popular telescopic ski the pole to be placed pole an aid or a fashionable forward of the feet gives a accessory? Watching many hill negative effect. walkers I think the latter is becoming the case as so many Ascending steep slopes – flop them back and forth like Keep the pole behind you Georgian dandies as they walk to minimise slip and to aid along. They can, though, be of upward movement. Adjust great assistance, particularly on the length to suit the slope. difficult terrain, if used sensibly. On rocky ground one pole However certain fundamental is often safer than two, as points are worth considering. you can quickly grab hold of a projecting rock more

Firstly, their strength is along their easily in an emergency. On very length, like the spoke of a bicycle steep ground it is sometimes safer wheel, strong under longitudinal to completely close up the pole pressure, but weak when side and use it like an ice axe. pressure is exerted. Completely retracted it is at its Secondly, the locking system that strongest when a levering action is is used to lock it at a required used. length is completely safe when Descending steep slopes – The tightened correctly. pole should be as long as Thirdly, when pressure on the ski practicable, trust the locking pole is exerted whilst walking, system and keep the pole down that pressure has two components, slope. Like a three-legged stool it vertical and horizontal. The longer gives greater stability. the pole, the greater the horizontal Traversing – When traversing on force or the force pushing you steep ground lengthen the down forwards. The shorter the pole, the slope pole and shorten the other greater the vertical force and the one. greater the load taken from your legs when carrying a heavy rucksack. Crossing streams – Poles are Fourthly, The length should be particularly useful when crossing varied to match the terrain. streams or bogs. Usually the longer the better and use like a vaulting pole when jumping Using the pole to speed across, though taking care not to movement – Set the pole as long use as a lever. When crossing as practicable, exerting pressure cautiously between boulders alternately, left then right across a stream, face slightly supporting the leg that is moving upstream with the non-moving forward. Bring the pole to the foot poles and legs forming a tripod. position, but never in front of it. Wading in deeper fast-flowing

The YRC Bulletin 18 Summer 2000 conditions with a small Getting a breath of companion, cross together with the stronger person upstream but fresh air one Sunday facing downstream. Wiser Now After a wet week Saturday had been

better but domestic routines kept me Safeguarding on steep snow – If busy. Sunday dawned bright then your companion slips on a snow light rain set in but by mid-afternoon I slope whilst roped, quickly make a was ready for a breath of fresh air. tripod with your body and the two The kids were at the computer playing poles pointing down the slope, games. “No good, ruining your eyes. then brace until they come to rest. Come on! We’ll go out for a leg stretch.” General – Be prepared to adjust Collecting the lads friend from across the pole length to suit the terrain the road we drove towards the Dark and direction of travel or to put in Peak’s Longendale. Skies glowered, a your rucksack. For boggy ground downpour, then grey skies again. or on snow conditions a large Parked and set off by the stream up basket is better than the smaller Black Clough and head up one of the ones. Adjust the hand straps neatly smaller cloughs draining Bleaklow. over the hand when gripping the Playing about we jumped from stone handle. The traditional ski pole to stone making slow progress mostly handle is generally preferable to by the true left bank. We reached a the walking stick handle, as it sill, a waist high step with clear water becomes a more positive extension flowing over the edge an down onto to the arm, particularly when the bedding-plane below just as if it going downhill. Four section poles were a designed water garden feature. are more convenient for storage in We can’t have been a kilometre from a rucksack. Shock absorbing the road. models do minimise jarring when used on hard surfaces. Then the rain restarted and already wet, wearing cheap waterproof tops After use – Especially in wet and wellies, we called a halt and weather, separate each section and started slowly back down the leave to dry inside and out. If the streambed. I warned the kids to take inside develops a white oxide care on the slippery rocks. Something deposit remove it using a suitable then made me turn and look over my stick with a piece of cloth attached shoulder. to its end or adjusting the grip collar such that it will scrape the That water feature, now a curve of oxide from the larger section. brown water, gushed out almost Keep the thread of the locking horizontally, extending out further system clean and slightly greased. and wider as, in horror, I watched. I shouted to the two youngest, picking their way across stepping-stones some way ahead, to get up onto the steep bank. Without panic they did just that. We were on the steeper, stream- cut side and upward progress on our

The YRC Bulletin 19 Summer 2000 rising traverse was slow. We kept the police car and pulled over to see if above the still rising, swirling, and they could help. I first saw them foaming water. In the narrow gully racing along the bank and going into the noise was frightening but I huddle discussing safe options for managed to get the idea across to the crossing. other two on the far bank that they Others had circled round on the needed to be higher and the older held hillside and came up behind us to help the eight year-old’s wrist as they us down. They tried to cross at one scrambled up through small trees then point but gave up, then found a better made their way back towards the main spot and helped us safely across. clough. Meanwhile, out of sight, the Our progress was halted by an old youngsters had been reached, landslip and I appreciated how well reassured, checked over by the medic rooted the heather was as we and extracted via a Tyrolean traverse scrabbled our way up sodden fine across the gully. This part was later shale to the flatter moor above. We considered to be the best part of the tried first down stream, then up, to day by the lads. It was also the photo- cross and rejoin the youngsters. editors’ choice. The walker had However, the only spot that looked stayed around to video and remotely possible meant crossing a photograph the excitement. We made few metres of fast water, going over a some nationals, a whole page in one boulder then relying on an tabloid, several regional papers and overhanging tree for support. big splashes in the locals plus a Tempted we moved a thick tree feature on the TV regional news. branch into the stream for support. I squelched my way down the path to Immediately it was carried away, a waiting Landrover to be reunited jammed and was smashed in three by with the youngsters who were being the flow. We decided to stay on our stuffed with chocolate and generally present side and descended to the being fussed over. lower, larger clough. Details taken, I drove back, late for The rain was continued and we were Sunday’s meal, to explain to wet, cold and concerned. Arriving at neighbours and wife the delayed and the first stream way, we found it too dampened children. My wife was was impossible to cross. Then I already fielding calls from the press. spotted a walker on the far side, shouting inaudibly over the water’s This weekend they can stick to their din, and gesticulating to video games. one side. I understood that he’d seen the others and they were OK and something about police. They, I later discovered, had been summoned by mobile phone, taken one look at the situation and called the Rescue. Meanwhile, another MRT, returning from a training session, had seen

The YRC Bulletin 20 Summer 2000

The Ingleborough AUTOGRAPHS AND Cave Box: Its connections QUOTATIONS

with Giggleswick School Written for S.A.Craven B. HARRISON, Clapham, Ingleborough Cave, about 2½ km. Yorks. north of Clapham, must be familiar to every pupil, old boy and staff member Few of the signatures are dated. There of Giggleswick School, It was are 24 blank sheets, followed by 70 discovered in September 1837 when pages autographed on one side of the estate workers broke the stalagmite paper, and a further 64 blank pages. barrier at the entrance, thereby The reason for this unused paper exposing about ¾ kilometre of stream remains a mystery, especially as there passage which was immediately is another, smaller and cheaper, opened to tourists1. This was the first paperback booklet in which some of cave dig in the northern Pennines, and the autographs have been repeated. was the first northern cave to be This booklet is 17·8 x 11·2cm with 12 surveyed. pages autographed on both sides of the paper. All these signatures are One of the early visitors was the Rev. dated. George Style, Headmaster from 1869 until 1904. He was accompanying Of the over four hundred autographs Prof. T. McKenny Hughes (Geology, there are 27 which have connections Cambridge); John Birkbeck III (Anley with Giggleswick School, four of House, Settlet R.H.Tiddeman which are reproduced here (Fig. 1). (Geological Survey); the Rev. E.T.S. All 27 are transcribed below (in bold), Carr (St. Catherine‟s College, with Harrison‟s comments in standard Cambridge); and the Rev. W. font, and my comments in italics. Marriner (Baughurst Rectory, Harrison maintained his book until his Basingstoke; attended School 1846 - death on 16 December 1938 after 1851). Shortly after the Great Flood nearly half a century of service5. The of 1872, they attempted to extend the paucity of dates makes it impossible cave in the direction of Gaping Gill2 to date the commencement of the The first custodian of the Cave was book. The earliest date is that of Prof. Josiah Harrison, who held office until G.A. Lebour of Sheffield University his death in 1888. He is said to have on 13 June 1899, but does not appear kept a visitors‟ book3, but its location on the first page. This signature is on is unknown. Josiah Harrison‟s a separate piece of paper which has grandson, Henry Harrison, was been glued into the book, suggesting appointed custodian of the Cave in that the album was acquired after 1888, at the young age of 22 years4. Lebour‟s visit. On the other hand, He kept two complementary visitors‟ Harrison may have simply mislaid the books, both of which have survived. book. It is clear from the many blank spaces, and from the smaller The major book is 19·5 x 16·0cm, paperback book, that the autographs bound in red quarter leather and were not written in chronological corners. On the outside cover has order. been tooled in gold:

The YRC Bulletin 21 Winter 2000

After Harrison‟s death in 1938, the Thos. Brayshaw. autographs passed to the Lord of the Solicitor. J.P. for the West Riding of Manor, Sydney James Farrer, who Yorkshire. Antiquarian. died in December 19466. Sometime Best known for his 1932 book “A thereafter Eli Simpson of the British History of the Ancient Parish of Speleological Association borrowed Giggleswick”. the books from his widow, Violet Brayshaw attended School January M.F.Farrer. Simpson failed to return 1867 March 1874, thereafter he them7. After his death in 1962 they served the Schoo1 successively as Old were acquired by Messrs. Richard Boy, Clerk to the Governors, and Hollett & Son of Sedbergh, from Governor9. whom I bought them in 19338. ______B.R, Brewin Major Bertram Robert Brewin. M.C. Autographs in the Ingleborough Cave died at the Cottage Haughton-le- book (in alphabetical order): Skerne, age of 50 A major of the Monica Assheton Third-Sixth West Riding Regiment. Miss Monica Assheton, second youngest son of the late A. Brewin daughter of Ralph C. Assheton Esqre. Esqre. formerly a Master Giggleswick of Downham Hall. Grammar School. Her father was governor 1877 & Brewin Sr. was Writing Master at 1898. Giggleswick School 1859-1872. Brewin Jr. attended School 1882- E.A.. Bell M.A. 1890. Formerly Junior Student of Christ Church Oxford Giggleswick John J. Brigg Grammar School Staff. John J. Brigg Esq: of Kildwick Hall. Appointed assistant master in 1911. Attended School August 1862-July 1880. Governor 1910. John Birkbeck Lieutenant-Colonel John Birkbeck 1/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington‟s Wm. Anderton Brigg. YRC. Editor. (West Riding) Regiment. Son of John Mayor of Keighley, 1912 to 1916 Birkbeck a squire of Anley, Settle, Trinity Coll: Camb. M.A. LL.M.. Yorks. 1886. Called to the Bar, 1886. The father was governor 1872. Attended School August 1862 - July 1880. Smith Bracewell. Smith Bracewell Esq: Government C.W. Buck Geologist. Georgetown, British Dr. Charles W. Buck, M.R.C.S. Died Guiana. Pupil of Ernest Evans Esq: on Tuesday, Nov. 22nd. 1932 aged „Burnley Technical School‟, and later 81. Dr. Charles William Buck, after at South Kensington. first entering Owen‟s College, 2 Mar. 1936. Manchester, took the degree of the ? Hubert Smith Bracewell of Bank Royal College of Surgeons in 1875. House, Colne who attended school Married a daughter of the late June 1877 - December 1893. Archdeacon Watkin of York,

The YRC Bulletin 22 Winter 2000

Interested in music, and President of James Anson Farrer the Settle Naturalist Soc: Educ: at Eton. [Five years pupil of Dr. Attended School August: 1852 - Warre, at Eton.] Balliol Coll: Oxon. Easter 1869. 1st.cl.CL:Called to the Bar at Middle Temple. 20th. April 1875. J.P. for E.D. Clark, M.A. Yorkshire. High Sheriff. 1897. Formerly scholar of Trinity College, Contested South Westmoreland as Cambridge. Giggleswick Grammar Lib: 1892. & Skipton Div. of Yorks: School Staff. 1895. (Born on the 24th. July 1849.) Appointed assistant master in 1906, (Died at Ingleborough on the 21st. June 1925.) Author of Alban Claughton F.R.C.O. “The New Leviathan”, Eldest son of the late Canon “Paganism & Christianity”, Claughton of Worcester cathedral. “Primitive Manners & Customs”, Music Master at the Grammar School, “Military Manners & Customs”, Giggleswick. 2nd. Lieut: 20th R.F. “Books condemned to be burnt.” Appointed assistant master in 1906. etc: etc: Governor 1891 . W. Boyd Dawkins 18 Aug. 1917. Sir William Boyd Dawkins, F.R,S. John Foster Geologist & Archaeologist. Professor Born at Lawkland. Aug: 22nd. 1849. of Geology Victoria University of Died. July 10th. 1920. Educated at Manchester. M,A. D.Sc. F.R.S. F.G.S. Horton-in-Ribblesdale Grammar F.S.A. Author of “Cave Hunting.” etc. School under the late Revd. Wm. Died on Tuesday, Jany: 15th. 1929. at Tomlinson, and subsequently at his home in Bowden, at the age of 91. Giggleswick G.S. For 30 years Governor 1888, Dawkins was Master of the “Penyghent Beagles.” previously at the Cave in 187110. Member „North Ribblesdale Archery

Club.‟ A. C. Dyer Foster was son of J.W. Foster of A.C. Dyer Esq: M.A. Cantab. Lawkland Hall, and attended School Giggleswick School, 1920-29. 1849 - 1864. Headmaster Lord William‟s School, founded in 1570. Thame. Oxon. 22 Aug.1933. Ernest B. Grant M.A. Queen‟s College. Cambridge. J.R. Wynne Edwards Giggleswick Grammar School staff. The Revd. John Rosindale Wynne- Appointed assistant master in 1910. Edwards. M.A. Ch:Ch: D[eaconed] 1897. P[riested] l898. (Glouc:) Asst. H.M.F. Hammond Master Cheltenham College. 1897- M.A. Second Master Giggleswick 1902. Lic: Preacher Diocese Ripon School. Formerly scholar of from 1902. Head Master of Leeds Emmanuel Coll: Cambridge Grammar School from 1902. Appointed assistant master in 1896. Attended School June 1864 - July

1882; appointed assistant master 1887.

The YRC Bulletin 23 Winter 2000

Four Giggleswick schoolteachers: page16 of Henry Harrison‟s autograph album. This shows the original autographs, embellished with Harrison‟s beautifully neat and legible comments.

P. Haswell B.A. Arthur Ingilby Formerly scholar of Sidney Sussex Reverend Arthur Ingilby. J.P. Harden. College. Cambridge. Giggleswick Son of Christopher Ingleby of Grammar School Staff. Lawkland Hall, Dec: 9th. 1852. B.A. Appointed assistant master in 1911. 1874. Trinity College. Cambridge.

The YRC Bulletin 24 Winter 2000

Formerly Rector of Oban. Argyllshire. Godfrey Wilson 1881 - 1896. Taught Art at Giggleswick School, Governor 1898 and lived at Kern Knotts, Stainforth. He assisted in the rescue at Gingling W. Morrison Hole in October 193411, and went on M.A. Oxon. M.P. (L.) Plymouth, to be a founder and active member of 1861 – 74. M.P. (L.U.) Skipton Div: the Cave Rescue Organisation12. J.P. W.R. York. [Sheriff 1883.] Malham Tarn. b. 1836. Notes and References Water Morrison was Governor 1864. The dates of attendance of pupils, of service of masters, and of appointments of Chas. F. Newman Governors, have been taken from Mullins R.R.G.S. Y.R.C. Université de H.Z. (ed.) (1913) The Giggleswick School Register 1499 to 1913 (Leeds: Richard Grenoble. 1919. Nautical College, Jackson). Pangbourne. Senior Modern Languages Master at Giggleswick. 1 Farrer J.W. (1849) Quart. J. Geol. Soc. 1911 - 1914. Sedbergh. 1914 - 1919. London 5 49-51 nd R.N.D. 1914. 2 Lieut. K.O.Y.L.I. 2 1915. R.F.A. 1918. Green J.A. (1903) Early Explorations in Ingleborough Cave, Clapham. J. Yorkshire Appointed Assistant Master in 1911. Ramblers‟ Club 2. 52-63

W. Byron Scott 3 Mitchell A. 6t Mellor D, (C. ) (1972) St John‟s College. Cambridge. Clapham Cave Guides. J. Craven Pothole Chaplain of Giggleswick Grammar Club 4. (6), 326. School. 4 West Yorkshire Pioneer Z Apr. 1933 p, 11.

5 C. Scriven Y.R.C. Craven Herald 23 Dec, 1938 p.7. nd Captain of the 2 Yorks. Royal 6 Anon. (1949) J. Yorkshire Ramblers‟ Club Engineers. Volunteers. Captain 155th. 7. (25), 253 Co.. Royal Defence Corps. 1914 - 17. 7 Letter d. 02 Dec, 1971 V,M.F.Farrer to Attended School August 18th, 1863 - S.A.Craven. December 1877. 8 (Plant I) (1973) Craven Herald and Pioneer E.O. Tancock. B.A. Cambridge. 13 July p.6. Son of the Revd. Chas: Coverdale 9 Robinson R.M. p.v in Brayshaw T. & Tancock. D.D. Ex: Coll: Oxon: Robinson R.M. (1932) A History of the D[eaconed] 1880. P[riested] 1881 Ancient Parish of Giggleswick (London: (Win:) Assistant Master Charterhouse Halton & Co.). School, 1875-86. Head Master 10 Yorkshire Weekly Post 27 Nov, 1897 p.19. Rossall School, 1886-96. Head 11 Master Tonbridge School. Kent. West Yorkshire Pioneer (1934)19 Oct.p.11. 1899-1907 Giggleswick Grammar D(ownham) (E.) C. (1934) Northern Cavern School Staff. & Fell Club Log Book 8. Appointed assistant master in 1908. “NCFC” (1936) The Gingling Hole Accident J. Yorkshire Ramblers‟ Club 6. 314-319. Leonard Watkins. Northern Cavern & Fell Club Log Book Late Scholar of the Royal College of (1934) 8, Music (London.) Violin. Giggleswick 12 Eyre J. & Frankland J. (C.) (1988) Race Grammar School. Against Time A History of the Cave Rescue Appointed assistant master in 1892. Organisation (Lyon Books).

The YRC Bulletin 25 Winter 2000

A Reminder of the YRC Jeff Hooper I was driving through Starbeck (an area between Harrogate and Knares- borough) the other day and I noticed the large green space in the centre of the community. It is next, to the church there is a children‟s, playground in one corner, saplings are turning into mature trees along front and there are some flowerbeds with roses. In the sunshine it was a pleasant scene giving a breath of fresh air in a built up area. When I first came to live in Harrogate and well into the 1960s, that green space was an anomaly, it was field of lush grass with a five bar gate and was full of cows, but surrounded by roads houses and shops. At one corner of the field stood a low built white walled house roofed with large jacket, come out of the Elizabethan Yorkshire stone flags. It was of house to go shopping. He carried a Elizabethan origin, the oldest in the basket, balancing the handle on his town, which left it open to demolition right arm, bent at the elbow, because by the philistine council in 1968, the lower forearm was missing. when they needed ground to build a Occasionally in bad weather I would new care centre. Next to the house see him up on the house roof stood a pair of imposing gate adjusting the stone flags. The old columns; all that remained of Belmont man lived with one of his sons, who House which earlier had stood at the sometimes did motorcycle repairs for rear. me and at those times I met the old During my early years in Harrogate, man. He spoke in a gentle manner before I had been elected to with a rather high-pitched voice. membership of the YRC, I would It was only after he had died and I had sometimes see an old man in his access to the early YRC Journals that seventies, with a wispy beard and I discovered that this old man was wearing a cloth cap and an old tweed none other than Erik Addyman, with

The YRC Bulletin 26 Winter 2000 the ascent of Gardyloo Gully in 1911 land, he preferred the grass field, to his credit1. He was one of the main which he let out for grazing. participants in the Siege of Mere Gill2 Eventually, as time passed, it was he wrote Scawfell by Ski3, and had realised that green space was worth numerous other memorable mentions preserving for the community and is in the annals of the YRC, including now known as Belmont Park. Gaping Gill in 1907. I was told that Perhaps it should have been named he lost part of his right arm in an Erik Addyman Park. (It was not all accident involving a glider winch. that was left when he died: in a Now I regret that I missed the building behind the garage were opportunity to find out more about the several cars from the early days of the early days of the YRC. twentieth century). What has the field of cows to do with After I wrote the above, whilst Erik Addyman? The gateposts of looking for an illustration, I came Belmont House were the only remains across the following, quoted from of his family home and the field was More about a Village Called his property. On the south side of the Starbeck, written and published by field council houses had been built in local schoolmaster and historian, the 1950s and on the east, private Gordon Beer in 1986. I think houses. The church is on the west and members will find it interesting. the main Harrogate to Knaresborough “Erik, spelt with a ‘k’, (his father was Road is on the north. With tenacious at one time the Norwegian Vice obstinacy Erik resisted every attempt Consul) was born at Belmont House and offer of the builders to get his in 1889. He was educated in Harrogate and at Aldenham School in 1 YRC Journal Vol.III p320 & Vol.VIII p9 Hertfordshire, before moving to Kitson’s College in Leeds where he 2 YRC Journal Vol.IV p30 EE Roberts trained as an engineer. During the 3 YRC Journal Vol.III p209 first World War he was in a reserved

The YRC Bulletin 27 Winter 2000 occupation at the School of Mines in Preservation Society in Stockport, Portsmouth researching into depth Lancashire. Some ... older friends charges, later he transferred to the can recall helping Erik push his Arrol Johnson Engineering Works in gliders on to... the school field. Dumfries. He designed the Unfortunately a serious [gliding] Beardmore Atlanta aero engine and accident between Pickering and also the Vortex carburettor. Whitby resulted in fractures to both At the end of the First World War, legs... [and resulted in] the Erik lived in the White House ... and amputation of his right lower arm. it was from here that his many With his handicap he was driving one interests flourished.... He was of his cars down the drive of Belmont employed as Locomotive House, to the White House and the Superintendent at Starbeck and at main road ... unable to use the right Neville Hill, Leeds. He became hand operated brake. Rather than involved in climbing and potholing, run out on to the main road he leading to his selection as expedition rammed the wall of the Lodge causing reserve on the ill-fated Mallory-Irvine considerable damage to his car. He attempt to conquer Mount Everest in walled-up the wrecked car at the rear 1924. Using the outhouses behind the of the White House garage”... where White House, he constructed five or it was discovered in 1968. six motorcars, and of the two “The gliders are safe. Two of the cars surviving, one is possibly in the are known to remain. Belmont House Huby/Weeton area, and the other is has gone. The White House has gone. owned ... [locally]. All that remains is the stone pillar. In the early 1930’s Erik tried his hand Perhaps to those of us who know, it is at gliding and then decided to like a memorial to a forgotten manufacture his own machines in the Starbeck [and YRC] character”. Billiard Room of Belmont House! All Erik resigned from the YRC in 1928 his gliders have survived and are and died about 1967. preserved by the Northern Aircraft

The YRC Bulletin 28 Winter 2000

Life after the Munros started. For me, much of the enjoyment is in the initial planning, Elspeth Smith the brooding over maps and books, It was at Gerry‟s hostel in June „94 and of course in modifying the plans that I met the man who was on the ground! determined not to finish the Munros. Bitter experience on the Munros He had been up 276 of them (in the meant that I was determined to do the days when there were only 277) and really hard days in the first few years, had decided not to complete them in so that the whole exercise should get case it meant he stopped walking on progressively easier, anno domini Scottish hills altogether. It seemed an permitting. There are still half a odd attitude but it did make me think! dozen „awkward‟ tops to do, but by Assuming David finished them, as he and large the really long days are did later that summer, then I had to already behind me. It was last finish them, and then what? summer that I first had the experience Obsessions work differently in of turning my Landranger map over different people. The pace of twice, south to north, walking right completion towards the end across a folded section, and then accelerated quite tremendously, and as retracing my steps. Beinn Bhreac, the logistics for arranging the “final” like so many Corbetts, should ideally ascent were complicated, it meant that be climbed on a through route, or I had the whole of the spring season combined with Munros; but then few of 1999 to fill before I actually of us take good advice, or start with a climbed Ben Cruachan at the end of clean sheet. A tiny cairn marks the May. summit – no more than a dozen stones, and in mist it would be very The example of Eddie Edwards, the hard to find. The real delight is in growing appeal of solo walking and route-finding on pathless hills. finally buying the Corbett guide, all Unlike their big brothers, many worked together to point in the one Corbetts are still uneroded by passing direction, (though I was slightly feet, and the short-cropped grass and diverted by the sadism of our son who heather on the Atholl hills is a joy to gave me a guide to the Grahams!) walk on. Over the years since my father first introduced me to Scottish hills in I suppose the main attraction of both 1947 with the ascent of Merrick, I Munro and Corbett bagging is that is discovered that I had climbed a dozen Corbetts; 208 to go. It seemed just about within the bounds of possibility, so the planning

Suliven

The YRC Bulletin 29 Winter 2000 gets you to new areas, though I can myriads of mountain hares, had there sympathize with the man who said not been Corbetts there. I would he‟d rather go up An Teallach 284 certainly not have returned to the far times than do all the Munros. I north after doing the Munros in zero should never have travelled the length visibility, and so would have missed of Strath Vaich, nor looked at the hills the glories of Quinag and Cranstackie. to the south of Loch Tay with their

Quinag‟s south top

Beinn Chabhar

The YRC Bulletin 30 Winter 2000

opportunity to swim A Reet Teide Descent in the clear waters of Roy J Denney the bays. I have recently made my fourteenth A tortuous road over visit in the last three years to western the mountains to the Tenerife and have explored the area extreme western tip fairly comprehensively with friends I of the island takes in have made locally. The Santiago Del the ancient and fascinating hill village Teide region forms the largest part of of Masca, clinging to the sides of a the western end of Tenerife and can deep gorge. sport glorious sunsets and fabulously During a recent trip Doreen and I took clear skies. This clarity is why many a taxi to Masca. There we joined a of the worlds top astronomical small group with two professional observatories are based there. It takes guides to walk down the gorge to the in the small inland towns of Santiago coast. It descends about 2500 feet in and Tamaimo and the coastal resorts two miles and at times requires some of Playa de la Arena, Puerto Santiago very sure footing. It would be hard to and Los Gigantes where my business class it as v.diff. but several points interests are based. This last village is involved many of the party requiring named after the giant sea cliffs (close assistance and I do not think I would to 2000 feet high) which overlook it. I ever be able to persuade Doreen to do have seen climbers on these at times it again. but they look fairly grotty to me. This dramatic cleft in the mountains Our larger complex is sat back into faces due west into the prevailing the side of these cliffs where the angle winds and as such has its own becomes slightly kinder and hang microclimate with plants found gliders have leapt from the edge some nowhere else on the island. 800 feet above us to sail over us and It has to be said that, even sheltered as down a further 600 feet to the coast. we were from some of the sun by the From the coast can clearly be seen high gorge sides, I was relieved to the Island of La Gomera, Columbus‟ arrive at the coast and throw modesty last landfall before the Americas. to the winds to go straight in. Mount Teide itself is easily reached I was even more relieved when the by coach or car and provides endless boat that had been commissioned to miles of real wilderness walking over take us off arrived. Few of the party jagged volcanic rocks or near dessert. could have coped with a return climb The slopes off on both the north and which would have been a very real south sides are extensively wooded challenge to many of you given the with the north being greener and climatic conditions. I have since moister than the arid south. heard that during very heavy seas The seas are surprisingly warm being recently, the rescue services had to in the Gulf Stream and whilst long spend eight hours retrieving trapped hours of hot sun are enjoyed there is walkers at the same spot. normally a light breeze keeping the If any members would be interested in humidity down. Whale and dolphin going out to this area I am well placed abound and I regularly take an to arrange first class accommodation.

The YRC Bulletin 31 Winter 2000

Slovenia convenient means for keeping high in the Michael Smith mountains and making best Slovenia‟s Julian Alps use of limited time and afford quiet footpaths good weather. provided you avoid the George Speceley‟s recent popular routes up article on Triglav, the Triglav. Prices are Soča/Trenta valley and the favourable, English is Vršič pass4 described the widely spoken and the main approaches to Triglav impressive Karst and its ascent from the scenery rises steeply south. I decided on the from warm green west ridge or Plemenice valleys. route, the most rewarding That greenness is a but also the most result of the rain. demanding of the three Perhaps we were normal northern ascents … unlucky but, in the in some places really mountains near Bohinj exposed5. From the Aljažev during July, most days dom (hut accessible by car brought the odd via the Vráta valley) it was shower and several 2000m of ascent for my maintained heavy son, Richard, and me, much showers through the of it on steep ground. day or night. August is Several buttresses are only reputedly drier as is the climbable without gear Bovec side of the because of well-placed range. Ljubljana city, metal spikes and hoops. the Postojnska Jama Great care and a head for (caves) and Predjamski heights are essential. Grad (castle), perched George mentioned rumbling on a cliff face, are all thunder and in case of a within reasonable storm (most memorials in driving distance should these mountains commem- the mountain weather -orate those struck by prove too much. The lightning) there is a small railway tunnels west metal cylinder, to act as a from Bohinj through Faraday cage, on Triglav‟s the mountains and summit and a more carries weekly steam- capacious refuge a little train excursions. Eastwards it is a short trip to Bled (top). 4 Triglav for the Elderly, Yorkshire Rambler, Issue 12, Winter 1999, p76-9. See also Old Those steep valley sides mean a Places, new countries, Sylvie Nickels, strenuous start for those based in the Caravan Club Magazine, Jan. 2000, pp58-9, valley. Using apartments and huts, for a straightforward overview of the area. both modestly priced and bookable in 5 How to Climb Triglav, 1994, Stanko Klinar, advance, would appear to provide a Ljubljana & available in the Julian Alps, p23

The YRC Bulletin 32 Winter 2000 lower. We shared the summit with slide presentation at Kobarid scores of others basking in sunshine, explained the story of that front. taking in the vista and feeding the The ascent required plenty of energy choughs. and the odd short scramble. The Our descent was to the south, initially surprisingly grassy summit ridge we an exposed arête to the Triglavski traversed, continuing along the front dom na Kredarici (hut) for a drink lines to a col with clear markings to then across to the Dom Planika for the the summits either side. There was no night. Incidentally, all the huts sign on the vast limestone plateau, provide sheets though the particular though, of our route down. After an may wish to take a pillow slip. abortive sweep search we headed off It seemed a long way up to this hut for on a compass bearing skirting deep George and he blamed that on his potholes and scrambling down small advancing years. Without this excuse cliffs. Eventually we merged with the we found it to be a long walk marked path just above pastures and woodland. down to Slap Mostnica (waterfall), steep in parts, A few days later I spent half a winding through pastures and day making a circuit of woodland. A more popular Mojstrovka (2332m) from the route down is further west Vršič pass. The ascent on the passing a string of small lakes western side was a scramble and then Slap Savica (waterfall and running the scree back to in photo). the pass, a joy. A short hike There is much more to the up the other side took us to a Julian Alps than Mount Triglav. view of a face on the rock and The waterfalls are impressive, hut-to- the steep buttresses shown on the hut routes abound, there is well other page. documented sport climbing, sedate There is plenty of variety in these canoeing and exciting kayaking, even mountains for anyone interested in the paragliding. planned meet. We drove the thousand After a spell on the Istrian Peninsular miles each way (do buy the Austrian at Piran we returned, now dry, to the vignetten and don‟t exceed speed Soča valley, via Trieste, and set up limits in Slovenia) but it may be better base in Bovec. to fly out, travel light, rent an apartment, use huts and eat out. An ascent of Rombon, 2208m, directly from the village took Descending Triglav‟s popular ridge us through the supply lines and front line trenches of the Italian front to, just before the summit, the Austro- Hungarian, lines. Stepping over tangles of rusted barbed wire and passing the remains of shoes, belts, shrapnel and piles of unused shells was both fascinating and sobering. The next day a

The YRC Bulletin 33 Winter 2000

Glen Etive during February 1985 with Ian Crowther, Simon Goodwin and Peter Swindells

Photographs from Ray Harben’s Collection

In North Wales during January, 1986 David Hick on the ridge above Llech Ddu, Carnedd Dafydd

The YRC Bulletin 34 Winter 2000

April, 1989 at the One Ash Grange Barn Meet, near Monyash, Derbyshire. Includes Davids Smith, Martindale and Hick as the nearest three and Laughton investigating the van

April 1989, Bradford Dale, Derbyshire with Arthur Salmon, David Laughton, John Sterland and Cliff Cobb

The YRC Bulletin 35 Winter 2000

Experienced Presidents The chart lists, in chronological order, the YRC’s Presidents with their Michael Smith number of years membership before Presidents’ years of prior membership… assuming that office. The first two 1903 Barran are omitted, as they couldn’t have had 1906 Calvert any track record of membership in the 1909 Moore newly formed Club. On the left is 1912 Parsons shown the year they took the office. 1919 Brigg The Presidents’ average prior 1922 Atkinson membership of the YRC is twenty- 1923 Roberts five years. 1925 Leach Inevitably in the first thirty years the 1927 Bellhouse Presidents’ experience with this Club 1929 Booth was less but gradually increasing. 1930 Gray Then during the late ‘20s and early 1931 Horn ‘30s there was a run of more 1932 Brown experienced Presidents. 1934 Rule 1936 Davidson If the average 25 years is taken as a 1938 Chubb typical apprenticeship then the effects 1946 Armstrong of the two World Wars in preventing 1948 Burrow many potential members from 1950 Burrow pursuing their mountaineering 1952 Hilton interests, should reduce the 1954 Stembridge availability of experienced Presidents. 1956 Marsden The expected dip can be seen around 1958 Godley 1964-70 from WWII. That from the 1960 Stembridge WWI may be disguised by Chubb’s 1962 Chadwick retention of the office for the duration 1964 Stonehouse of WWII. 1966 Downham Over the last generation, the general 1968 Tregoning trend has been towards increasingly 1970 Craven experienced Presidents. Though Peter 1972 Nicholson Swindells and, perhaps, Derek Bush 1974 Devenport are exceptions here. Peter introduced 1976 Smith some of the most sweeping changes in 1978 Barton the management of the Club and 1980 Lofthouse raised expectations of its activities. 1982 Linford 1984 Armstrong Of course improved general health 1986 Swindells and continued activity into later years 1988 Brown make it easier to find suitable 1990 Smithson Presidential material with more 1992 Salmon experience. 1994 Bush Our new President, Albert Chapman, 1996 Josephy has served a 45-year apprenticeship. 1998 Crowther In this respect he is our most 2000 Chapman experienced President yet.

The YRC Bulletin 36 Winter 2000

felt even when the risk is great. For Thoughts on Safety example, those who have only Derek A. Smithson climbed on indoor walls may not be aware of the fragile nature of the real Safety is a way of life, a culture, and wild rock and the insecurity of a not simply a set of imposed rules or a placement when the rock is not matter of equipment. It is an manufactured to a standard. Nature acknowledgement of fear, a conscious cannot be relied upon. assessment of risk that seems to be too difficult for some to recognise. I am certainly not advocating that Nature should be adapted to remove I live near the sea where submerged all risk. Indeed, perversely, increasing rocks wreck ships, even big ships, the risk may improve safety. demonstrating Nature‟s terrible Attempts, by well meaning authorities power. The safety of small fishing or individuals, to reduce it may be boats depended, at times, on encouraging accidents. If, for alignments of specific streetlights and instance, there were no cairns or buildings by which the fishermen waymarks for the first kilometre in all guided their vessels through the rocks. directions from any road-head, there Working in a shipyard, making steel would be fewer accidents. The sense ships from pieces sometimes big of being lost would strike the enough to crush you, I would walk inexperienced before they needed a single plank scaffolding across engine rescue team to help them. Perhaps room casings. Such planks could tilt two or three kilometres would be so that you‟d fall twenty metres into better. the ship‟s hull. A fellow worker Instead of training individuals in safe would hold a spanner while you ways of mountaineering they are swung a hammer to strike within a attempting to banish danger and, by fingers breadth of his hand. so doing, destroying adventure, These places were dangerous but destroying the excitement and there was a culture of safety which pleasure of measuring risk and was skill dependent. If someone deciding. Others provide so many could not swing a hammer accurately, safeguards that we may fail to it was not required of him. We did safeguard ourselves. not think of hard hats, safety We cannot un-write guidebooks, but harnesses and safety boots. We were waymarking and fixed safeguards lead proud, stupidly proud, of looking after people into difficulty rather than each other and ourselves. One hand protect them. for the ship - one for yourself. When I started climbing there was a Coming from work to mountaineering view that crampon should not be used I advocate an approach of examining in Britain because they were the potential for accident. Choose companions carefully then trust in their and your own skill. Recognise the limitations in both. One of the keys to safety is fear because fear is an indicator of risk. Though, in ignorance, fear may not be

The YRC Bulletin 37 Winter 2000

unnecessary and could lead you into preventing it but no suggestion that danger where you had not the skills to the child should have been better extract yourself. Now all the safety trained to fear the unknown, look for posters say that all walkers should danger and avoid it. The young are have crampon for winter hill walking. not allowed to experience danger and My experience is that feeling out of to measure it by their fear. control is a most powerful deterrent, Mountaineering includes testing ones the most powerful safeguard from nerve and most of us accept this. We entering dangerous situations. It is go as far as we dare. However this not the carrying of the crampons that runs contrary to the human ethic of protects you but having the self-preservation. So all the experience to know when and how to authorities feel a need to take the risk use them. out of everything in case they are blamed or because they feel a responsibility for others. A major limitation on safety is ambition. „Adventure‟ holidays are popular because punters hope to achieve their ambitions by being taken safely to places they dare not tackle themselves. I do not A gully leading to the south top of Buachaille Etive Beag rate adventure holidays as mountaineering or climbing. The inexperienced are not being However, the drives of ambition are educated to fear things. Their media not limited to reasonable actions. heroes are either immune to fear or Ambitions to top a peak or a route overcome their fear. They never back may be followed regardless of the down, never retreat and always potential danger. Just buy the right survive. Where can the present equipment and use it as the generation go to experience fear and instructions say, all will be well. If learn to recognise danger. Tree not simply reach for the mobile climbing seems to have gone out of phone, flares or whatever and the fashion, railways are securely fenced rescue team will solve your problem off, recreational spaces between of survival. housing are manicured and waterways protected. However there are tremendous forces tempting people into danger. There A boy climbed the fence, climbed on are the commercial interests. top of a railway wagon and made fatal Switzerland‟s Zermatt, rather like contact with the electric wire above. Norway‟s, benefits from the close There were media suggestions that the proximity of the Matterhorn - the last railway company was at fault for not great well-known peak to be climbed

The YRC Bulletin 38 Winter 2000 in the Alps. People would go to sit under this fabulous peak and enjoy the view, but far more come when they think they can be heroes and actually climb it. The guides look after them, but some do not see that they should need to pay guides, so they go alone. The unlucky ones die and if these were allowed to become numerous then the visitors to Zermatt would be fewer and the profit less. The guides rescue a lot. But cheaper and apparently more public-spirited solution is to provide fixed ropes and safe shelters. They don‟t just want the competent to visit, they want everyone to come and leave feeling that they are great mountaineers and tell their friends to visit. But unpredictable Nature lies in wait for the unwary and ignorant. A few more deaths on mountains would do much to improve safety and respect for Nature, who is all-powerful and favours no one. Of course it would also mean greatly reduced income from aeroplane tickets, accommodation, mountain clothing, specialist equipment and the huts. It disaster but it is a situation I might though improve the business remember to this day, with awe. done by guides. But first place, above that of the rope, The mainstay of mountain safety is for assistance may be better claimed controlled fear. A rope is a help, but by the compass, with a map coming a is only as effective as the skills of close second. And the compass is one those attached to it. These skills must piece of equipment in which more include the judgement of the potential faith should be placed than in human for accident. Reinhold Messner wrote judgement. Getting lost is one danger in 1971, “Faith in equipment has easily recognised by the fear it replaced faith in oneself”. Before the immediately induces as soon as you days of ice screws I found myself on appreciate the situation. near vertical ice over a drop of about 1000m with good steps cut by a Let us go out into the hills prepared to previous party when the leader ran out listen to those internal warnings. of rope. We judged it safest to both climb without belay until the leader cleared the ice. I still believe this was a wise decision because for the leader to descend had a greater potential for

The YRC Bulletin 39 Winter 2000

Mount Kinabalu in the Rainy Season December ‘99

Paul Glendenning It’s nearly a year since we climbed Mt if their English had been better or we Kinabaluinabalu, and as it’s the only spoke Malay we could have perhaps mountain we’ve got round to climbing quizzed them about the plants. since we moved to Singapore, it’s The track ascends steeply through about time I wrote an article for the rainforest, punctuated by lots of steps, YRC about it! occasional shelters to rest and Mt Kinabalu is the highest mountain occasional large water tanks to top up between the Himalayas and New your water bottle. It climbs the 2235m Giunea. It was first climbed by Sir to the summit in just over 8.5km.The Hugh Low in 1851 and “Low’s Peak” rainforest and views are spectacular is the name of the highest summit, at and from time to time you see just over 4100m. The one mile deep interesting flora & fauna such as Low’s Gully is also named after him “pitcher plants” which catch insects in and you may recall it achieved some a bulb-shaped cup. notoriety a few years back when a It took us four or five hours to reach British Army expedition got lost in it 3272m where there is a hut called the after attempting an abseil descent. Laban Rata Resthouse. Most people There were ten of us on this trip, break the climb here and stay the mostly from the church we attend in night. Laban Rata is backed by Singapore. We took a flight to Kota spectacular, seemingly sheer, rock Kinabalu in Sabah (Sabah is one of faces disappearing into the mist the Malaysian sections of the island of towards the summit with water Borneo). From there we took a bus to streaming down them. The food and the Mt Kinabalu Park HQ (1866m) accommodation at Laban Rata is good and stayed in a dormitory in one of and if I was to do this again in better the cabins overnight. The climate weather I would consider staying two seemed reminiscent of Scotland or the nights in order to spend more time Lakes which was refreshing after the exploring the summit. heat & humidity of Singapore. Departure from Laban Rata was round The morning dawned with a clear sky about 4am. The climb now changes and beautiful views over to the totally in character as the tree line is summit in the distance. You are left behind and you slog up through obliged to have a guide for every 5 scrub and then across rough granite. people to climb the mountain, and Fixed ropes are located all along the they organise these for you when you route over the rock to Low’s Peak. On turn up at the Park HQ Office. After a steeper sections these come in handy breakfast on the sunlit terrace we to haul on, but perhaps more headed off up the hill with our two importantly they prevent anyone from guides. The guides actually did very getting lost! little other than walk with us although

The YRC Bulletin 40 Winter 2000

Initially we enjoyed the sight of lights need of any ropes to hold himself. in the valley way below and the snake Needless to say, everybody was of headtorches below and above (you suitably impressed and Joanne was won’t be climbing Mt Kinabalu on suitably terrified. I ought to say that your own! At least, not by this route). the only other female in our group However, as we climbed we gradually (my wife, Lesley) made it with energy became engulfed in mist, and when to spare as usual! the dawn arrived it was drizzling and By now it was raining properly and claggy. the descent back town to Park HQ The summit plateau is an was seriously wet. At the bottom, extraordinary terrain of huge rough Lesley, our friend Rob & me, got into granite slabs with Low’s Peak rising a bus to take us the last mile and a from it as a rocky point. Apparently half along the road. We waited for the sunrise over the South China Sea about fifteen minutes, dripping in the is tremendous! Well the views we bus, before after questioning the experienced were a bit different – driver several times, and being told “a bedraggled walkers & wet mist few minutes, a few minutes”. We (hmm…now where abouts does this eventually ascertained that it was remind me of?). broken down and wasn’t going After the summit photos we retreated anywhere. Welcome to Malaysia. across the granite desert back to At the Park HQ, four of us chartered a Laban Rata for some well-earned hot mini bus to the Shangri La Resort in drinks. On the way one of the guides KK where we staggered into the foyer finally came into his own, not by looking like we belonged in a guiding but by carrying Joanne (one climbing hut. Anyway the luxury was of the two female members of our well received and the massages were party) on his back down the steepest unusually popular. section of fixed ropes, but without

The YRC Bulletin 41 Winter 2000

From the Retiring President's appointed to pursue the matter have got Address to the AGM nowhere at all. Every point of argument imaginable has been thought of and Members will recall that I wished to used, right up to the highest regional pursue a number of objectives during level, all to no avail. Every point for my Presidency. One very important one discussion has been dismissed or was to do my utmost to try to bring sidelined. There has been no meeting of about an improvement in our tenure at minds at all in my view, and I can only Low Hall Garth (LHG), with a view to come to the conclusion that the uprating the facilities which we provide landlords are not very interested in us as there, hopefully incorporating an tenants and would probably prefer us to extension to the buildings by taking in vacate the property but cannot bring either the next door barn or, better still in themselves to attempt to end our tenancy my personal view, the adjoining cottage. because we are who we are, have been I cannot honestly say that I approached good tenants for fifty years, and they this objective with any degree of fear the possible consequences if they optimism; a number of intelligent, attempt to make any move to evict us. educated and skilled members have made similar attempts in the past, the I have therefore not succeeded in this most recent being the previous Hon. objective. I can say that I was warned to Treasurer, Alan Kay. He told me plainly expect nothing else, but that does not that I would probably get nowhere at all, make me feel much better about it. no matter what I said or did. So what now? It seems that the best we Nevertheless, I felt I must make one last can hope for at LHG is to rumble on as concerted effort, if only because so we are, with maybe minor many members have such a great regard improvements, but the situation is far for LHG, and don't want us to lose it. from satisfactory. No matter what affection we have for My personal view is that the club must LHG, there are not enough members seriously face the uncomfortable situation bed nights spent there per annum. There that with LHG we are on a road to are a reasonable number of visitors’ bed nowhere. There is plenty of alternative nights. We do break even or make a accommodation in the Lake District, and modest profit but it remains the case that in Lowstern we have a magnificent the hut warden and his assistants do their clubhouse, arguably the best in the work largely in order to provide cheap Yorkshire Dales. This is now our principal accommodation for non members with quid pro quo in respect of reciprocal only a very small profit accruing to the rights. Kindred Clubs are pleased to stay Club for all their efforts. This is at Lowstern and to praise it. I would like unsatisfactory. the club to address itself to promoting another cottage elsewhere in the If we could significantly improve the Yorkshire Dales; Upper Wharfedale cottage then it would be possible to perhaps, or Swaledale, and in doing so increase the member and family usage provide a further hut that members, and so justify expenditure and effort. families and visitors actually want to use But this requires the landlord's regularly, as they do Lowstern now. cooperation and most particularly, a long lease. I really think that the time is nigh to make difficult decisions about LHG. Regretfully, I have to report that I, and the active sub-committee that I

The YRC Bulletin 42 Winter 2000

of wedding cake in the wind or the Book Review by David Handley utility of hard boiled eggs! The Vintage Book of Walking Two quotes to conclude; Editor: Duncan Minshull ‘But in the darkest hours of urban Vintage 2000 ISBN 0 09 927667 4 depression I will sometimes take out This unusual and fascinating book the dog’s eared map and dream includes over 150 extracts from awhile of more spacious days; and writers hugely separated by time perhaps a dried blade of grass will (Xenophon and Hillaby) and fall out of it to remind me that once I experience (Jane Austin and Werner was a free man on the hills, and sang Herzog), not to mention Oscar Wilde the Seventh Symphony to the sheep on and Albert Speer ! Wetherlam…’.Sidgwick 1912 Your vocabulary may be expanded by And… ‘Pedestrianism, in the estimate the word ‘festinate’ which means to of Engish landlords, carries the most accelerate or to be hurried or hasty. awful shadow and shibboleth of the Apparently walking encourages pariah.’ De Quincey 1822 bolder thought, or so says A good stocking filler. JJ Rousseau. According to Apsley

Cherry-Garrard, walking wards off madness. Can any YRC member confirm this assertion? Captain Barclay As you may now have realised, this The Great Pedestrian tome describes walking in all its The last Laird of Urie, Captain Robert manifestations, not necessarily hills Barclay-Allardyce (the Allardyce was and mountains - a bit like a book on added when he married an heiress of climbing that includes accounts of that name whose lands extended those going up the stairs, mounting a chair of Urie), was known as The Great to reach a top shelf or ascending St Pedestrian. Many tales exists of his Paul’s dome. walks over the Scottish hills, such as I was surprised and delighted to see his twenty-eight mile walk from Urie my old headmaster, Maurice Marples, to Crathynaird, staying less than an make an appearance. He recounts hour and then walking as far again how in 1809 one, Captain Barclay, back home the same day. took up the challenge of walking 1000 His most famous record was that miles in 1000 successive hours and mentioned opposite, walking 1000 succeeded! This seems to give a new miles in as many hours. This he dimension to the idea of a long walk. accomplished over a measured mile Any proposals for the year 2001? on Newmarket Heath, subject of Resonances of the YRC are touched about 10,000 wagers and witnessed upon by A H Sidgwick when he talks by large crowds. This was in 1809 of the conversations engaged in by and five days later, he embarked with walkers. The natural babble of the his regiment for the Napoleonic Wars first few miles, the spontaneous as part of the Walcheren Expedition. monologue, requiring no listener or See www.clanbarclay.com reply. The rare intrusion of intelligible statements or discussions on matters of weather, the pungency

The YRC Bulletin 43 Winter 2000

On 19th August Adrian Bridge made Tom Price is known to some of our the round of the Cairngorm 4000s in a members, an occasional attender at touch under twelve hours, starting and our meets, our principal guest at the finishing at the car park just before 1975 Annual Dinner, and a former the bends on the ski road. He took the BMC President. He has recently anti-clockwise route accompanied by, written a book worthy of our as he put it, three other old codgers. attention; it is Travail So Gladly On the higher ground they had rain for Spent, published by Ernest Press at a third of the time, cloud or fog for £17.50. Already it is one of four on two-thirds and clear views for around the short list for the Boardman-Tasker thirty minutes. Down in the Lairig Award. It is less an autobiography but Ghru they were encouraged to keep more a series of essays covering his moving by the midges who swarmed active and varied outdoor life, into action at the slightest sign of including portraits of many of the them stopping. “When it was good, it friends he made along the way. A full was very, very good, but when it was review will appear in the next bad...!” Adrian noted the mess from Yorkshire Rambler. the Cairngorm train installation.

Two memorials to Maurice Wilson Coming down the path from Ben will soon be in place. The first is a Dearg, past the Horns of Alligin, Iain plaque at the top of Honister Pass. Gilmour met an elderly Mancunian The second, a seat near the larger of mountaineer slowly descending with two small pond adjacent to the Lord the help of a rough wooden stick. Iain Stones Cafe. These ponds are not had seen him previously some three shown on maps. The precise location hours earlier, and now asked him if he is yet to be confirmed but is expected had enjoyed the day. “Oh yes, I have by Alan Linford to be somewhere just been up at the loch with my around 93-528033. Keep your eyes fishing rod. I have a six-piece rod in peeled. my rucksack and enjoy an hour or two fishing in superb surroundings. The trout are only about four to the pound in weight, so I just throw them back, Martyn Wakeman has recently since my hooks have no barb. When returned from nearly four weeks in you are too old for the hills, fishing Pakistan during which he trekked to provides a useful alternative.” Concordia in the Karakorum and across a high pass (measured at 5650m by his GPS but claimed as

The YRC Bulletin 44 Winter 2000

5940m) called the Gondogora La. He The last issue was well received with had excellent views of K2, several members commenting on the Masherbrum, Gasherbrum, Broad improved quality of some of the Peak, and the like. He was impressed photographs resulting from the use of with the local people‟s culture and a new printer. There is an associated thought they “seemed to have got it doubling in the cost of printing. right in so many more ways” than we Richard Gowing‟s name was omitted Westerners. The stark and huge twice: once from the attendees at the landscapes with numberless 1999 Dinner and then as the reporter unclimbed and un-named 5000- of the Reaps Moor meet. Apologies. 6000m peaks are sure to have him returning equipped to attempt one.

The BMC have added a Regional Access Database (RAD) to their recently revamped website, (www.thebmc.co.uk) covering 569 crags and uplands in England and Wales. This is updated daily and gives On his return from Assynt where he details of the following apply: was walking and climbing with a seasonal „bird bans‟, group from his old school, Duncan special parking or approach advice, Mackay recommends the Assynt any delicate access arrangements, Field Centre as good accommodation. group use restrictions or regulations. B&B was £10 per night and included This facility relies heavily on excellent showers. They had some information from the likes of us. If wonderful days up in the hills in you have any updates contact Dave incredibly good weather. Duncan also Turnbull on [email protected], spent some of the time camping at or on 0161 438 3310. Ardvreck Castle sharing the campsite with a very neurotic pair of Ravens.

The Alpine Club draws to our attention the availability of the 238 page Index to the Ladies‟ Alpine Club Yearbooks 1907-1975. At £12 (inc.p&p) it includes listings by people, areas, the club, appendices and a general Also on the topic of accommodation index. in Scotland… Derek Smithson while The AC‟s Himalayan Index can be gaining agreement to use the Steall reached through their website Hut found out about the list of (www.alpine-club.org.uk). It covers Scottish Clubs‟ huts published by The 4700 references to articles (mostly in Mountaineering Council of Scotland - English) across 5500 routes on 2600 price £2.50. It also has information on peaks. some commercial bunkhouses.

The YRC Bulletin 45 Winter 2000

Saturday, 30 September saw the Club‟s Guangxi caves expedition fly from Manchester first to Shanghi then on to Guilin, in southwest China, where they established themselves in a hotel that will serve as their base close to the caves (marked on the map opposite). They are expected back th 20 October. The team consists of: Ged Campion, Leader Bruce Bensley, Photography Arthur Salmon, Environmental monitoring Graham Salmon, Surveyor Alister Renton, Communications Shaun Penny, Caver Harvey Lomas, Rescue Alan Fletcher, Research Jon Riley, Medical and equipment John Whalley, Photography Stewart Muir, Treasurer Tony Penny, Cave decorations Mike Pitt, Logistics Pascal Bottazzi from France, and Arthur Clarke, Tasmanian Botanist

A full report is planned for the next issue of the Yorkshire Rambler.

The YRC Bulletin 46 Winter 2000

Scottish Winter Meet not much snow and rather wet underfoot. Impressed with the rich The Smiddy, deep green of the Scots pine tops. The ski lift was closed through lack of Glen Etive snow. 9 – 11 March 2000 Adrian Bridge and Euan Seaton motored to Ben Nevis and climbed This year our Glen Etive meet was to Observatory Ridge in mixed be our 25th visit to the Grampian conditions taking six hours (reported Club‟s hut at InbhirFhaolin. in the last issue). It was also planned to put the date A much better day and a typical Etive back a few weeks to enjoy the more evening with good banter and jolly Spring-like weather of March. talk of years gone by. However, owing to a double booking Sunday normally a short day but by the Scottish club our meet leader Adrian and Roger climbed Ben was left high and dry. With luck and Lawers and the Lancastrian ex- perseverance he booked a Scout hut presidents climbed Beinn Dorain from on the shore of Loch Etive called „The Bridge of Orchy on their journey Smiddy‟. south. Our meet leader was certainly not It is always difficult to foresee the high and dry on the Friday as he led a Scottish weather and we remain party of four on Ben Starav. They hopeful of a good weekend, next year, were turned back by heavy rain and for our 25th visit to InbhirFhaolin. wind 500 metres from the summit. Albert Chapman When the writer arrived, late Friday afternoon, in rain and sea mist he could be excused for assuming it to be Attendance: the wrong hut. The furtive looks from The President, Ian Crowther half-clad bodies amidst the cooking smoke and drying clothes gave an Adrian Bridge instant picture of illegal immigrants George Burfitt recently dropped by a foreign trawler. Derek Bush The Smiddy was adequate but lacked Albert Chapman the atmosphere of InbhirFhaolin. I Roger Dix enjoy the latter‟s long one-level Iain Gilmour communal bunks and rather than the David Handley three tier Low Hall Garth style which The Smiddy offered. Dave Hick Gordon Humphreys Saturday dawned brighter. The President and his vice explored the Howard Humphreys slabs of Trilleachan. A party drove Alan Linford round to Appin and Loch Creran and Dave Martindale enjoyed the western rock ridge onto Euan Seaton Beinn Sgulaird. David Smith The writer‟s party did the round of Barrie Wood Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor:

The YRC Bulletin 47 Winter 2000

Lowstern Potholing and Gear Exchange 31 March - 2 April 2000 For a potholing meet, there was a great deal of activity above ground! Ingleborough was approached from all directions. The west side of the Howgills was visited with a party tackling Carling Gill on to Ulgill Rig and on to Longrigg, and Wildboar Fell via Ais Gill and the Morcock attracted a third party. The caving group abseiled into Lancaster Pot and eventually emerged with the purchase of an old but very from Wretched Rabbit. sound down sleeping bag, because of After an excellent meal, prepared by his carelessness when packing. It will David Handley and colleagues, the be interesting to follow up with the exchange, or sale, of gear gathered proud owners of some of the bargains pace. In fact, for your correspondent, to see if they actually lived up to their it necessarily started almost from the promise! moment of arrival on Friday evening,

Attendance: Tim Josephy The President, Ian Crowther David Laughton Ken Aldred John Lovett George Burfitt Alistair Renton Derek Bush Harry Robinson Albert Chapman Graham Salmon Alan Clare (PM) John Schofield Derek Clayton David Smith Derek English Michael Smith David Handley Bill Todd Richard Josephy Nick Welch

The YRC Bulletin 48 Winter 2000

Easter Backpacking Meet Then taking a fine route, they climbed Beinn Bhrotain and Monadh Mor, and The Cairngorms on to Braeriach, descending to camp near the site of the former Sinclair 21 - 24 April 2000 hut. Next day they descended to Five “senior” members and two Aviemore via the northern part of the younger members attended this meet, Lairig Ghru, arriving about two hours the first formal Easter meet for a after the first group. number of years. Thus quite different routes were taken Four of the older members left Blair by the two groups, both nevertheless Atholl on the Friday morning, slowly first class mountaineering outings in a making their way up the beautiful glorious part of Scotland. valley of the Tilt, past the Falls of Attendance: Tarf (which were in spate) to camp in The President, Ian Crowther blustery conditions near the ruins of Iain Gilmour Bynack Lodge. Here, quite unplanned, Alan Kay they met the fifth “oldie” who was David Large camping nearby. David Smith Next morning, whilst the President Derek Smithson returned to Blair Atholl, the rejigged James Whitby group of four, having declined to ford ______the Geldie, followed the south side of the Dee to Linn of Dee, then Glen Derry, until a burn in spate brought I Leave Tonight From Euston proceedings to a halt about seven I shall leave tonight from Euston kilometres north of Derry Lodge. A By the seven-thirty train, long legged member of the group did And from Perth in the early morning manage the crossing, and went on to I shall see the hills again. From the top of Ben Macdhui ascend four needed “Tops”. I shall watch the gathering storm, Next morning, with water levels And see the crisp snow lying At the back of Cairngorm. lower, the group met up again beside I shall feel the mist from Bhrotain Loch Avon, and then descended the and the pass by Lairig Ghru appallingly eroded mud track in Strath To look on dark Loch Einich Nethy, to overnight at Ryvoan Bothy. From the heights of Sgoran Dubh. From the broken Barns of Bynack Next day the four hour walk out to I shall see the sunrise gleam Aviemore was completed by eleven On the forehead of Ben Rinnes o‟clock and the group returned to And Strathspey awake from dream. Blair Atholl by train. And again in the dusk of evening I shall find once more alone The two younger members started The dark water of the Green Loch, their trek about three hours later than And the pass beyond Ryvoan. For tonight I leave from Euston the first group, and taking a more And leave the world behind; westerly route, overnighted at the Tarf Who has the hills as a lover, Hotel bothy; next day they climbed Will find them wondrous kind. the two Munros to the north, Carn an Copied from Ryvoan Bothy door Fhidleir and An Sgarsoch, and and included in Brown‟s Poems descended to camp near White of the Scottish Hills Bridge.

The YRC Bulletin 49 Winter 2000

Long Walk, Rhinogs 23 – 25 June 2000

At 22 miles the Traverse was short in comparison with recent annual Long Walks. The combined ascent of 7000 feet, rough going over rock in the north and the climbs up Rhinog Fawr and Rhinog Fach resulted in completion times on the Saturday of between twelve and fifteen hours. The route, from north to south, was from the Ceunant Valley to Foel Penolau, Moel Ysgyfarnogod, Clip,Craig Wion, the ‘Roman Steps’, Rhinog Fawr, Rhinog Fach, Y Lethr (highest point), Diffwys, Barmouth and so to Fairbourne.

The Rhinogs seen, on Sunday, from near Trawsfyndd to the east of the ridge

Diffwys Y Llethr, Rhinog Fach Rhinog Fawr

The YRC Bulletin 50 Winter 2000

At Y Lethyr there was a marked organizing the meet and for the change in the landscape from the choice of an enjoyable and glaciated slabs and rock exposures on challenging Long Walk. the tops to the north and the grassy Richard Kirby whalebacks to the south. The weather was mainly dry with bright spells. From the Traverse there were Attendance fine views over the Mawddacch and Dwyryd estuaries at Barmouth and Yorkshire Ramblers’ Club Porthmadog and across to Snowdon The President, Tim Josephy and Cader Idris. Dennis Barker Chris Bird Fourteen did the traverse: ten within Adrian Bridge the day on Saturday and the Alan Brown remaining four returned to complete Richard Gowing on the Sunday. Ten went north to Roger Dix south and four south to north. The Stuart Dix support party laid on much Richard Josephy appreciated refreshments mid- Richard Kirby traverse at Bwlch Drws Ardudwy Harvey Lomas though they had to await Tim’s Harry Robinson arrival to find the food that had been Arthur Salmon too well concealed in the heather on Michael Smith the previous day. George Spenceley Fairbourne Village Hall provided Nick Welch good accommodation for the meet Frank Wilkinson and an excellent evening meal was served and enjoyed on Saturday Gritstone Club evening. John Anderson Dennis Beard Sunday was the better day with plenty Cliff Duckworth of sunshine. Cader Idris was the most Malcom Hopkins popular climb for those out on the Ken Peart hill. Peter Roberts Six Gritstone members joined us and we are all grateful to Tim Josephy for

Craig Wion Clip, Craig Ddrwg Moel Ysgyfarnogod, Diffwys

The YRC Bulletin 51 Winter 2000

Grampian Speleo Hut Cnoc nam Uamh. This weather did encourage gentle walks, exploring the Inchnadamph fishing potential and locating other caves. A good walk was organised 6 - 9 July 2000 from Lochinver to Elphin. The views This weekend near Inchnadamph were mostly moorland and lochans started on the Tuesday and finished for the clouds were down to about the following Monday. The early 400m. arrivers got the best of the weather, Before most of the party departed on but on Sunday there were good views Sunday another longish day in mist from Cul Mor. A cold wind persisted wind and rain was undertaken by the and kept the midges away. The hut is presidents, past and present. This almost ideal, but for some reason invo Šlved a mile or two over boggy large quantities of food and drink moors to Lochan Tuath where an easy were lying about. The Grampian gully led up to the bealach just south Club members arriving after most of of Sgurr an Fhidhleir. The party us had left started throwing it away, groped, guessed and even used a but not the whisky. compass to ascend this top and the Richard Gowing arrived first and main top, Ben More Coigach before walked up Cul Mor in the afternoon avoiding Speicein Coinnich to and then the next day three of us did descend via Beinn Tarsuinn back to Suilven from Lochinver to the car. A good day on a fine Inverkirkaig. The fourth member, mountain, according to the pictures in Rowan the dog, was restrained from books. attempting the smaller summit This left the two remaining members because of the steep rock. It to break out of the rain and mist, remained dry and dull all day with which is all they had seen, to climb extensive views. Cul Mor and be rewarded by Thursday, the official start of the wonderful views. just before they got meet was best for weather, with the back to the hut the rain returned. early rain clearing away to give us This was a meet with limited peak sunshine and a cooling breeze. The bagging and only one caving outing, views were outstanding from the but the good fellowship continued isolated mountains of Conival and long after the writer was in bed. Ben More Assynt. All the mountains Thank you, Harvey! are isolate here giving extensive views over moorland and lochans. Derek Smithson The whole traverse from west to east was magnificient and even the Attendance descent via Dubh Loch Mor and a The President, Ian Crowther bealach gave pleasure. This day four Harvey Lomas more members arrived, leaving only Denis Barker Denis to arrive on Friday. Roger Dix We then had two days of poor or Richard Gowing awful weather. It rained and a cold Tim Josephy wind persisted. This did not bother Richard Kirby the cavers who enjoyed exploring the Derek Smithson Rabbit Warren and the Waterslide in

The YRC Bulletin 52 Winter 2000

The South Pennines Meet others went up to Chew reservoir and walked along Scarp End, down a gully The Boarshurst Centre and along to the top of Dovestones 5 – 6 August 2000 Reservoir thence back to Boarshurst passing the “Cross Keys”. By mid- This is the second meet that the writer afternoon the weather had become has attended at this centre, and both very warm and members topped up meets have been outstandingly their tans. It was felt that it would be successful. ill mannered not to renew the The centre itself is as good as any the acquaintance of the Landlord, club has attended with first-class however, and so the best YRC cooking, sleeping and toilet facilities tradition of „chatting up the locals‟ and all twenty-one folk attending were was maintained. Individuals climbed accommodated very comfortably. In to the Obelisk (photo below) and fact the attendance consisted of the Laddow Rocks and various other President, twelve members, six guests forays were undertaken before and two prospective members. gathering at the centre for an excellent evening meal with a splendid choice The first evening was spent in the of wines and beer. Cross Keys, perhaps a mile-and-a-half from the Centre where animated Those who had the strength to stir conversation took place and a certain after their evening meal once again amount of lemonade was consumed. joined the locals and helped entertain One is forced to the unavoidable with sterling renditions of partly conclusion that the country would be remembered folk songs and one of our in far better hands if run by the YRC hairier members produced a never-to- than any of the current contenders for be-forgotten episode on his Parliament. Saturday morning squeezebox dawned fair and somewhat overcast Sunday morning dawned overcast with a slight breeze – ideal walking with a slight drizzle, some members weather and parties took off in went off early, some went for short various directions at nine o‟clock to walks and some went clay pigeon conduct an in-depth survey of the shooting. Keith Raby and Chris Bird area. Some went on an industrial know the local shooters well and sightseeing tour along the canal to arranged for those of our number who Millbrook and Tintwhistle whilst could be tempted to attend a sporting

The YRC Bulletin 53 Summer 2000 clay shoot where we all had 75 shots at a range of exceedingly difficult moving targets. The eight folk who had a go included the president and whilst none covered themselves with glory all enjoyed a very different morning. Amongst the range of abilities on display the President was well to the middle of the field and Roy could at least boast that he did not come last. Altogether a pleasant and enjoyable meet in all respects. Our thanks are due to Roy Denney and Keith Raby for organising the event. Drystone waller, Derek Collins with John Schofield his handiwork, near the front gate

Attendance at South Pennines Meet: Attendance at Working Meet: The President, Ian Crowther The President, Ian Crowther Chris Bird (PM) John Schofield Alan Clare (PM) Iain Gilmour Derek Clayton Richard Kirby Andy Collins (G) Richard Gowing Roy Denney Derek Collins Mike Hartland Roger Dix David Hick Ken Aldred Derek Homer (G) Mike Godden Colin Hynard (G) David Handley David Laughton David Smith Harvey Lomas Dave Martindale John Moir (G) Steve Pugh (PM) Keith Raby John Schofield David Smith Martyn Thomas Tim Wilkinson (G) Paul Williams (G)

The YRC Bulletin 54 Summer 2000

Lowstern Working Meet 25-27 August 2000 About a dozen members turned up for the first Working Meet at Lowstern under the direction of our new Hut Warden, Richard Kirby. Besides the usual tasks of cleaning, gutter clearance and so on, and repairs to Richard Kirby, David Handley, Roger Dix and Iain Gilmour take a break drystone walling by acquitted himself well in catering for our own expert, the main job the hungry workers. undertaken was to construct and fill a woodshed, comprising a simple On completion of the programme of wooden framework surmounted by work, those remaining on Sunday corrugated iron sheet overlapping the walked up via Clapdale Farm, past the field wall at the rear. In the course of CPC's encampment at GG providing the weekend members of the August Bank Holiday trips down the forthcoming China Expedition put in main shaft, to join the path down a brief appearance, training with an towards Sulber Nick and descend excursion on heavily-laden mountain Crummackdale, returning via Norber bikes. The new lawn surmounting the to Clapham, where the party visited ha-ha provided a congenial setting for an exhibition of paintings by a former the lunch break, and the new Warden member. Richard Gowing

Mike, Ken, David Smith, Richards Kirby and Gowing, Roger and Ian Early stages

The YRC Bulletin 55 Summer 2000

Low Hall Garth doing a roaring trade. Unfortunately a warm front had come Fiftieth Anniversary Meet in overnight, so that conditions on the 6 - 8 October 2000 Saturday morning were dismal in the extreme. Understandably activities When the Club took over the tenancy were quite various, but pride of place of our beloved Low Hall Garth from would go to the party that braved the the National Trust in 1950 there were elements to complete a round of Pike thirty members present to o' Blisco, Cold Pike, Swirl How, commemorate this auspicious Prison Band and Greenburn. Three occasion. Sadly there are now only six members found it necessary to do survivors of that original group, but some shopping in Windermere and George Spenceley as one of them, and collect some equipment from indeed as first Warden of the hut, felt Lowstern, whilst the Presidential it absolutely appropriate that we party informed the writer that "great should have a special celebration to things had been done". An alternative mark our fiftieth anniversary. The account suggested a detailed study of remarkable thing was that for the the Britannia in Elterwater, which commemorative dinner on the included an animated conversation Saturday night, there were again between our Meet Leader and a lady exactly thirty members and guests. Educational Psychologist, who The first arrivals were on Thursday appeared to have attitudes that night and Friday morning, so that collided. there were excursions on the Friday in The dinner was a truly memorable fine, bright conditions to Pike o' occasion. George had even had a Blisco and to the Carrs ridge, Swirl souvenir menu printed in club How and Wetherlam. By the evening colours, and had master-minded a the hut was full, the car park was sumptuous feast that satisfied even the overflowing, and the Three Shires was heartiest appetite. It was a privilege to

The YRC Bulletin 56 Winter 2000

Ian Crowther, Tom Price, Harry Griffin and George Spenceley

welcome two distinguished guests, description of having to deal with an Harry Griffin and Tom Price. Harry, owl that had flown into his dormitory now aged ninety, had also been at the Glen Doll youth hostel reduced present in 1950, and he gave a us to helpless laughter. charming after-dinner speech, laced The Sunday was a rather more sombre with much wisdom and wry wit. His occasion, as we had been charged with scattering the ashes of our great friend, Eddie Edwards, whose premature death on the hills earlier in the year had deeply saddened us all. Eddie had been one of our number for seventeen years and had almost certainly climbed more British mountains than any other member. The chosen spot for the ceremony was at the head of Langstrath, and most of us set off from the Old Dungeon Gill and walked over Rossett Gill and down past Angle Tarn. We chose a beautiful little plateau just below Allen Crags with a superb view Tony Smythe, Mike Hartland and Ken Aldred down the full length of

The YRC Bulletin 57 Winter 2000

Langstrath. It had been a clear, bright Clifford Cobb day up to this point, but as the nine of Robert Crowther us gathered, a sudden angry squall Andrew Duxbury swept in over the hills. We paused for Darrell Farrant a few moments as we saw that it was Iain Gilmour soon likely to clear. The sun then Mike Godden broke through, and we gathered in a David Handley circle as the President spoke a few Mike Hartland poignant words of memorial. Ian then Alan Linford committed Eddie to his beloved John Lovett mountains and at this precise moment Frank Platt a vivid full rainbow arched across the Chris Renton dale. We could not have considered a John Schofield more fitting farewell. Darrell Farrant Tony Smythe George Spenceley Attendance: 30 members and guests Harry Griffin (G) Tom Price (G) The President, Ian Crowther David Smith Ken Aldred Michael Smith Dennis Armstrong Martyn Thomas Dennis Barker Bill Todd Chris Bird Alan Wood Alan Brown Peter Wood (PM) Derek Bush Langdale Pikes from Blea Tarn, Sunday

Ben Mor Coigach, Ben an Eoin and Loch Curemin from Cul Beag, Corbetts Meet, Bill Todd

The YRC Bulletin 58 Winter 2000

STOP PRESS before midday intending to stay out two nights. Perfect Scottish spring weather, Sheil Bridge and Fisherfield Forest lovely views of Loch Maree on the approach to Beinn Airig Charr, 791m. Good path up Tim Josephy’s Corbetts this fine hill deservedly popular and closer to Day 1 Saturday - Left campsite to climb the road than most hills around here. Cut Sgurr An Airgid, 841 m, before breakfast. down quite easily to the southeast to pick up Blue skies, warm and windless. Back 0845. the good track up to Carnmore Lodge. Magnificent country - remote, wild and Set off again at 1000 to walk to Sgurr scattered with huge crags - a climber's Gaorsaic, 839m. Splendid approach up the paradise. Detoured off to climb Ben Lair, valley to Bealach an Sgairne, all very scenic. 859m, just a long climb up a gentle slope but Rain from midday but still warm. Sgurr made memorable by the awesome north face Gaorsaic was horrible - steep bog and heather which was followed all the way to the top. At all the way and thick mist at the top. Diverted over 1000ft high and 1½ miles long, it is one to the Falls of Glomach on the way down - of the biggest cliffs in Britain. big mistake as it involved four miles of peat hags and deep bog in the valley above the Back to the track and up to Carnmore by falls. Spent ages trying to find a place to Fionn Loch, to find the bothy has been re- cross the river until I realised I couldn't get roofed and was occupied by several Gritstone any wetter, so just waded, waist deep. All Club members. It is a small world they are redeemed at the falls, a truly magnificent sight the only people I was to see on these hills. in spate. The weather cleared somewhat Day 4 Tuesday - I had intended to walk out walking up Glen Elchaig. I had intended to East over the remaining Corbetts, but a boot bivouac at Iron Lodge but someone was sole had parted company on the descent from already there. Not wishing for company I Ben Lair. Inspection revealed the whole carried on and found a little hollow on the footbed had collapsed - retreat necessary. slopes of Aonach Buidhe. Settled down at With the help of some binder twine and the 10pm for a comfortable night. good wishes of the Grits, I made it to the Day 2 Sunday -Up early for Aonach Buidhe, utterly undistinguished Beinn Chasgein Mor, 899m. Fresh snow, quite deep on the top. 856m, and back to Poolewe, some fifteen Featureless ascent until the summit ridge, then miles. Amazing stuff, binder twine. dramatic views into the northern corries Fortunately, Poolewe is home to the Slioch glimpsed through breaks in the clouds. Back outdoor clothing factory so I was able to buy to the bivouac for breakfast then the old a pair of indifferent boots at an exorbitant stalkers' track to the top of Faochaig, 868m. price. Here the weather fortuitously cleared for the Day 5 Wednesday - Drove round to Corrie tramp to Sguman Coinntich, 879m, a trackless Hallie and walked in to Beinn Dearg, 910m confusing set of ridges which I doubt I’d have and 820m. Fine sunny day. The walk in is followed successfully in the mist. Snowing long and involves crossing two rivers. This again on the ascent. Cut down through rough beautiful mountain, looking like a miniature ground to a stalkers' track leading to a bridge An Teallach appears impregnable, but in fact across the River Elchaig - no bridge! Faced the ascent via a hidden corrie on the south with a three mile walk up the Glen to the side is quite easy although spectacular and Glomach bridge and a 3 mile bog trot down almost entirely trackless. Both tops offer the other side, I decided to walk down to panoramic and exposed viewpoints and the Camas Luinie hamlet at the foot of the glen easiest descent appears to be from the col in search of any walkers for a lift back to between the two. As I dried off after re- Shiel Bridge. Not that I had seen any walkers crossing the rivers, I thought this had been all day. Sure enough the hamlet appeared one of the best mountain days I could deserted, but a sign advertised mountain bike remember, and apart from a couple of hire. Having negotiated the hire of a bike for fishermen, not a soul in sight. £5, the proprietor took pity on me and offered to drive me to Sheil Bridge for the same price Day 6 Thursday - A short day. Drove round - a round trip for him of 24 miles. Another to park below Sail Mhor, 767m, an easy and example of the friendliness and generosity of rather ordinary hill although the approach is the inhabitants of Northern Scotland. enlivened by some fine waterfalls and some stunning coastal views. Down early to face Day 3 Monday - Drove to Poolewe and the marathon journey home. pitched the tent on the campsite. Set off just

The YRC Bulletin 59 Winter 2000