18/11/16 – 20/11/16
By Crowson: Ok, up a snowy Great End via Cust’s Gully, escaped from waterfall under chock stone to exit on head wall. (Crowson Grayson).
By Bob G: On Saturday Phil and Bob tried to climb up a snow gully on Great Gable. The snow was like tiny polystyrene balls – we didn’t leave foot prints – it was so powdery that it was like wallowing in fluff. We failed to make it up the gulley – despite being well equipped with Colonel Haythornthwaite’s ceremonial ice pick – a chock stone blocked our way but we did have a fantastic snow slide on our way back down. Having walked around the side to the top the snow blew quite hard and Crowson took the opportunity to take off his socks and boots and to announce that a) he was having his heart stopped on the Monday and b) he had severe chest pains. Fortunately we made it down the valley to a lovely pub in Stonethwaite (the Langstrath Country Inn) which I would recommend. Sadly too small for the club to hold the AGM there – but well worth a pint or two on the way down.
By Ed MShaw: Rick and I set off with the main walking party towards Seathwaite, We parted company from Crowson and Grayson (Phil had declared his desire to do a ‘Classic Victorian Snow Gully’ on Great End – not what I fancied in unconsolidated snow)! Pierce, Shawcross x2, Peppit x2 and Sampson x2 set up off Sour Milk Gill and were soon at the snow line. Here progress slowed not due to conditions underfoot but because Pierce and Sampson G were a better target for snow balls that anyone could have wished for. We made our way in great conditions with spectacular views towards Geen Gable. On a subsidury top Rick and I parted company from the main group to climb Great Gable. The conditions were wintery and we soon encountered very cold winds and driven snow. Summiting we descended to Sty Head tarn, stopping on some boulders over looking it for a bite to eat. Descent to Glaramara was uneventful and we were back relatively early to allow Rick to get his paper work in order for the AGM. 13km and 1000m of ascent made for a pleasing day out. On Sunday we drove to Bassenthwaite and parked at the Lakes distillery. From here we took an hours cross country run in good fun conditions, breaking the layer of ice on a couple of big puddles and getting very wet and muddy. We had a coffee at the distillery cafe before heading to Carlisle to visit our older brother and heading home.
By Geoff: The crocks, with Tony C Bryan B and David (who probably wasn’t a crock), had a pleasant but wet underfoot amble to Seathwaite, Stonewaite, Roswaite and back. About 6 miles of level walking. Mike J started slowly whilst nursing a twisted knee, but turned back at the first boot deep puddle, but really a mini lake.
Derbyshire Pennine Club 