Well a great turn out considering the weekend was predicted to be the wettest since Noah built his boat. I arrived late on the Friday night after clearing up from a flood at my shop, to find a fire lit in the grate by Rick Cruze and Ruth Ashton, who had slunk off to the Scafell Hotel for a pint, but they soon returned and we were joined by Peri Stracchino and Colin Densem. The evening was spent chatting and drinking wine and doubts being cast upon my promises of a glorious climbing day in the morning.
We woke up to find Mish Nepogodiev sleeping on the sofa after a late arrival and greyish skies with a bit of blue showing through with a forecast of a typhoon at 16,30 prompt, so Ruth and Rick jetted of on their mountain bikes for a 25 mile ride to Skiddaw Hause whilst Peri was a little poorly and had a lie in but did venture out later for a fungi foray. Misha, Colin and myself went off to do the classic through route in Doves Nest and Combe Ghyll called The Inside Route, what a bloody laugh. On the first pitch we deployed a new technique called “Top Rope Leading” which involves placing nuts with a Clip Stick in an attempt to completely remove all risk from climbing whilst preserving the ethic of leader placed protection, and we feel that this was a success and a video has been made to help us seek funding from the BMC to help develop this exciting new technique. On the second pitch we promptly got lost and Misha an E4 leader struggled in the bowels of Doves Nest on a New Route of about V Diff 6a which resulted in him getting a hand through a hole to the top of a crag but not the rest of his body and recommending we find an undernourished child of 12 years old who may be able to complete the first ascent. When we found the correct route it was a total hoot and we thoroughly recommend it. On our return we saw someone on the far side of the valley we saw someone heading along the Doves nest path who it turned out was Megan Beaumont who after working Saturday morning was coming looking for us, but eventually caught up with us back at the Hut. I would like to nominate Megan as the smiliest person in the world and someone who can cheer up the gloomiest day.
Peri suitably equipped for The Cake Meet.
As we started to scoff pizza and cake and wine Ruth and Ron Chambers turned up for a Social with a delicious truffle cake and the best Quiche I have ever tasted. A great evening of chat and cake ensued with the highlight being Ron`s monologue of “Albert goes to Stanage” which was fabulous and I am trying to prevail on Ron to perform at the Dinner next March.
On Sunday we woke to a wet Borrowdale, did I say wet
I meant gopping, so Ruth and Rick shot off home and Misha went with Megan to do some dry tooling at “The Works” near Hodge close, whilst Colin, Peri and I had a delightful walk with Peri showing us various fungi in the intermittent rain. I then departed leaving Colin and Peri scoffing cake. The drive back was fantastic seeing the water running of Helvellyn was spectacular and revealing that the Lakeland fells have a true beauty and magnificence in all weathers.
Thanks for all that turned up and made this a fun sociable meet.
Steve Crossley