News 2023
Pre-Christmas meet at Tan Yr Wyddfa
Dec '23 - Laura
7 of us met for the pre-Christmas meet Mick, Cath Bill, Mike, Tom Pete and myself. Despite the forecast of 2 named storms in a weekend, it was dry when we arrived at the hut. It was good to catch up with people we hadn't seen for some time and to meet Tom the president. Plans were made for the following day when Westerly winds with 60 to 70mph on the summits were forecast. After a wet and misty start the rain eased off and visibility improved.
Bill and Tom's Excellent Adventure on Saturday was an attempt to mountain bike up Snowdon but at 850m they had to turn back due to the high winds. Mike went bird watching on Anglesey and brought his tally of species closer to his target of 200 before the New Year.
Mick opted for a walk towards the col overlooking Llanberis but had to retreat at a roaring torrent that looked difficult to ford. However, he had the fire lit, to welcome us, on our return to the hut, where Cath made mulled wine and hot mince pies.
Given the wind strength Pete and I decided to head for the coast, and Cath decided to join us. We parked at Borth-y-Gest SH565374 (free parking in December) and walked up through the woods then up to the trig point on Moel-y-Gest where there were great views of the estuary and Tremadog Bay. It was quite breezy on the summit and the rocks were quite greasy so care was needed to traverse the summit ridge. It was about 3 pm when we got back to the car, but the sun had come out we had a very pleasant walk along the coast path and beach, past Garreg Goch.
Saturday evening we had an excellent joint meal, lentil Ragusa, vegetable Wellington and beef chilli followed by 2 desserts and cheese and biscuits.
Sunday morning the rain started at 9 am as forecast . Tom opted for Mountain biking at Coed-y-brennin. Mike to return to Anglesey for some bird watching, Cath was going to a nature reserve near Conwy. Mick was calling at Chester to meet up with Nikki and family Nikki had been Morris dancing on Saturday evening. Bill was heading to Capel Curig. After a visit to Capel Curig Pete and I went to visit friends in Betws-y-Coed and to watch the lantern parade, which took place despite a torrential downpour.
DMC Walk - Cork Stone
Nov '23 - Chris
Caroline led the DMC monthly walk on Saturday 25th November starting from Rowsley with Thelma, Grant, Linda, Chris, Gill and new members Isabel & Phil.
We enjoyed superb sunny weather, walking up to Stanton Moor via Endcliffe Quarry and visiting the Nine Ladies Stone Circle (photo) and the Cork Stone (where we met Clare de Faye and Tilley). We descended through Barn Farm to pick up Clough Lane leading to Darley Bridge and back to Rowsley along the Derwent Valley Heritage Way.
Stanage Plantation Climb
Nov '23 - Alan
4 established and one potential/prospective member headed over to Stanage Plantation, despite the occasional dark cloud the conditions were excellent (when the moist cracks & gullies were avoided!). The party enjoyed routes from Diff to E1 - it’s definitely the time of year to pack gloves and a thermos!
12 Miles Around Axe Edge - DMC Walk
October '23 - Andy
October Sunday walk report. 7 club members and Indy the dog joined Mike Dowsett who led us on a 12 mile walk around Axe Edge, visiting all 5 river sources that begin on Axe Edge, which are the Dane, Goyt, Wye, Manifold and the Dove. The weather was superb, so we had great views all the way around, and Mike's knowledge of the area really added to the enjoyment of the walk.
DMC Members Take Action to Preserve Black Rocks
October '23 - Greg
Excellent clean up today with 14 volunteers collecting 16 bags of rubbish. This was a great example of the Club ‘putting something back’ with members on ropes cleaning the steep dank gullies (which are full of thrown rubbish) as well as members scouring the top and bottom of the crag.
This is the fifth year we have done this. For those who love facts:
- Over five years we have collected 106 bags of rubbish totaling around 5,350 individual items or waste;
- Most of this has been party or picnic waste. 80% has been single-use plastic (incl masses of bottles) with most of the remainder being single-use glass, tin cans, sweet wrappers and paper;
- Single-use vapes are on the up as are, somewhat surprisingly, filled dog waste bags thrown into bushes or the bracken (could you be more stupid?);
- A single-use plastic bottle takes 450yrs to degrade; aluminium cans 500yrs and glass 4,000yrs.
Big thanks to those who turned out
DMC Walk - Hope
September '23 - Cath
There were 6 of us, including one new member, on the September walk from Hope. We visited Hope Pinfold, the site of the Roman Fort at Navio, an honesty box for home grown apples, Win Hill summit, Hope Cross, Backside Wood and returned along the banks of the River Noe.
Throughout the day we enjoyed good weather and great views and to cap it all we got back to the tea shop in time for tea and cake!
DMC Walk - Goyt Valley
August '23 - Thel
Nice to see all those that were brave enough to join us, on such an inclement day!
DMC walk - from Errwood car park ( near the dam ) to Goyt Valley, over Hoo Moor and up onto Taxal Moor following the ridge. Midway point was Taxal Church making a quiet lunch spot initially in the sun then drizzle! We then followed the river Goyt up to Fernilee Reservoir and along to Errwood Reservoir, finishing the final 3 miles in dry warm weather.
It was attended by 9 folk and very much enjoyed.
DMC Walk
July '23 - Gill
Seven members, including a prospective member, enjoyed an excellent walk around Thorpe, Bostern Grange, Hall Dale, Castern and Ilam.
We passed a large cave known as Pickering Tor and observed 'Jonny Dawes' talking to a group of young climbers, older members of the group may recognise the name.
Afterwards, we stopped at Ilam Rock, which a few people in our group had climbed some years ago. Although rain was forecast we managed to keep dry. A great day out!
Sunset on the Wall
July '23 - Ben
Six of us got to High Tor last night and climbed as two teams completing highlight, skylight and delicatessen. It was spectacular up there and although we finished scrapping around in the dark, it made for a good sunset on the wall!
Patterdale Weekend
July '23 - Cath
Looking back, I must have been missing my Saturday afternoons with football hooligans - why else would I go to Striding Edge? But Heather hadn't done it before, and I last descended it on a winter afternoon, top side of 40 years ago, so I reluctantly promised not to snarl at people and off we went. We ended up traversing along the side, rather than queue up along the ridge behind the crowds. We did the only bit of easy scrambling down from the end of the ridge, but it's hardly worth the mucking about.
But guess what? We turned left and never saw a soul all the way along over Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike and down to Grisedale Hause. This put me in good humour, which even the passage of hundreds of bumblies on some kind of character building nonsense failed to spoil, so we returned over St. Sunday Crag, getting some more peace and quiet and a good soaking from the threatened thunderstorm. Back at the hut, Cath and Dave, who'd got back before the storm, tried not to look smug as we dripped all over the floor. Cath got the pleasantest day from the hut - lake steamer down to Howtown and back by Wainwrights of choice, in this case, Hallin Fell and Place Fell. Dave took his nicely recovering limbs all the way to Angletarn Pikes, High Street and Grey Crag, where his uncannily accurate Norwegian weather forecast got him off the hill in time to avoid a soaking. So a very pleasant evening in the hut, with the rain beating down fit to drown tents.
It passed in the night and Sunday was a beautiful day. Cath's caught the Wainwright Heresy and dragged Dave off to do Beda Fell, the classic example of a hill nobody would visit if Wainwright hadn't acted as its PR man. Actually, it's a very pleasant long ridge if you don't mind doing an out-and-back. Cath then ascended Angletarn Pikes, whilst Dave, who'd seen enough of the damn things the day before, didn't.
Heather and I drove round to Haweswater, got the last parking space among dozens, and Heather ascended the classic long ridge onto High Street and back by Nan Bield Pass, whilst I did a bit of it, 'nuff said. Lying in the sun was very pleasant.
Best and cheapest hut in the Lakes, decent weather, scrambling and climbing readily available, but only 4 of us.
Climbing Meet at Froggatt
July '23 - Cath
It was a great evening at Froggatt for Greg, Paul and Cath exploring Tegness Pinnacle and Brookside Buttress.
May's Walk - Wetton Mill
June '23 - David
On a warm Sunday morning, six members led by Sally set off from Wetton Mill for the Club's regular monthly walk. The route took us past Sugarloaf, over Ecton Hill, through Warslow to arrive at the trig point on The Revidge, with good views to Axe Edge, for lunch. The return route went via Butterton and down the picturesque Hoo Brook, a tributary of the Manifold back to Wetton. The walk took us through hay meadows full of flowers and provided a magnificent show of May blossom.
North Wales Trip
June '23 - Alex
DMC April Bryn Hafod Meet
April '23 - Cath
March's Walk - Goyt Valley
March '23 - Thelma
February's Walk - Ogston Reservoir
Feb '23 - Cath
February's DMC walk was an 8 mile circuit starting at Ogston reservoir. An unnamed trig point above Highoredish was the high point of the day and we enjoyed great views, good company and mostly dry weather throughout.
DMC Annual Dinner
Feb '23 - Cath
We had a lovely annual meal with 31 of us there – a big thank you to Judith for organizing the event!
We award the George Fowler Award to someone who has made a significant contribution to the Club at this event. This year it went to Pete Scott … someone who it seems has always been there, supporting and guiding the Club. The toast was “Pete Scott, better than the Eiger!”
Scotland Meet
Feb '23 - Cath
Liz and I climbed Corbett Garbh Bheinn in the mist and it only revealed itself as we drove back to the hut along the lochside.
The sunrise was taken on the day we left to drive home. Scotland often gives great views on the day I leave, just to make sure I'm keen to return!
Night Nav
Jan '23 - Greg
A big thank you to Cath for organising a great night nav last night.
16 of us enjoyed a mostly clear night traversing Big Moor near the Longshaw Estate unearthing obscure clues at given grid references. There were points for each location with Andy Neath and Pete Bush just pipping Gill Radcliffe and Jon Harrison with the most points for first place.
My group got back late to the Fox House, the rendezvous, and was punished with the heavens opening whilst still on the moor, hey-jo!
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