Last month’s walks: The Lakes Remembrance Weekend
Attendees: Graham, Ann, Myra, Jimmy, Alan, Sheena, Neil, Liz, David, Margaret, Harry, Doreen, John, Julie, Rob, Inness, John, Alan
The lakes weekend was one of the best for fun, laughter, banter etc, but one of the worst for weather. Six set off to do the Deepdale Horseshoe in worsening weather and only two, Rob and Alan Marsh, made it to the summit of Fairfield after the other four wimped out and turned back when the rain became nothing less than torrential.
The rest of the group set out for a low level walk up Grisedale and got equally wet before we all met up again at Patterdale YH in the afternoon. The meal in the hostel that night was excellent.
The trip to the pub was probably the best ever due to all of us managing to sit together instead of being spread all over the place, but more importantly due to Inness’s excellent quiz. For those of you who weren’t there, which Abba song has the word ‘Glasgow’ in it?
Sunday’s 11am silence was observed at Aria Force waterfall which was spectacular after Saturday’s rain.
White Coomb and Molls Cleugh Dod
Walkers: Alan, David, Graham and Di
Back to the regular Sunday walk and after all the bad weather we’ve had on previous trips it was an absolute joy to go out on such a nice sunny day once again. The steep climb up from the Grey Mare’s Tail car park to Loch Skeen was followed by a stumble through deep boggy heather and then another steep climb up to the Corbett White Coomb. We took in the excellent views for a while before setting off on a delightful stroll along the gently undulating ridge to the Donald, Molls Cleugh Dod before dropping back down to Loch Skeen and the steep path back to the car
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This month’s walk: Sunday 21st December
Cheviot should fit the bill for almost the shortest day of the year and a good bonus is it’s only about a 1 hour drive to get there. The starting point will be Sourhope and will no doubt include a wee rest in the ‘Refuge Hut’ just below Auchope Cairn and possibly a detour through ‘The Hen Hole’ depending on conditions and the all important weather. So forget the last minute Christmas shopping and get yourself up Cheviot.
Please let me know if you want to go by Thursday 18th December to allow time to organise cars.
Other stuff:
Have a look at this website for an interesting and indispensable piece of kit that could be very useful for all future backpack trips. Should we get one for next years ‘Rollercoaster’? www.thebrowncorporation.com
The website is now up and running www.bemac.org Anybody who wants walk photos posted please either e mail them to me or send prints and I will scan them. Perhaps different people might like to write the walk report from time to time to get a different perspective on things.
I have a plan to ‘flatten’ my computer when I’m on holiday between Christmas and new year so while I should think that the web site will still be there I suspect that the photo section may not work for a wee while until I can get everything installed again. While I do like the way that Picasa hosts the photos I will also look at other image hosting alternatives just in case there is a better way of doing it.
Alan