All posts in Meet Reports

Meet Report – Well after an epic journey there and back, taking in the usual rest breaks at the Kiosk Cafe on the A66, Cafe Areite in Moffat and Graham Tiso’s, this is how the trip went:
Monday – most of us climbed Moruisg: Me, Richard Craig from FRCC, John, David, Goeff and Pete. Climbing in the mist and bitterly cold wind and quite a dull hill, but I enjoyed the descent. The demoted Munro by it was more interesting.
Tuesday – me, Geoff, Peter and Helen climbed Liathach in perfect conditions. What else can I say? John and David did Maoile Lunndaidh and Richard Maol Chean Dearg.
Wednesday – Geoff, Helen and Peter endured buffeting winds to climb a munro on Beinn Eight before retreating off the ridge. Me and Richard turned back already, at the triple buttresses. John and David completed the Plockton cafe horseshoe – challenging but rewarding apparently.
Thursday – With Storm Babet arriving, with forecast comments like “red alert”, “unprecedented rainfall” (in Scotland!} and ” hurricane force winds” we all decided to bugger off home, via the usual cafes.
Note: I’d flag up that Torridon YHA was great: clean, comfortable and friendly with a full range of facilities, including a lounge with panoramic views and, it even looks like we’ll get a couple go days refund on our early departure. Recommended. I might start using hostels more often. Richard.

Nine of us set off from Monyash on a fine morning. Bagshaw Dale led us to the top end of Lathkill Dale before we took the steep climb up into Ricklow Quarry. The crinoidal limestone quarried here, when highly polished, was much prized as a decorative stone for the interiors of grand Victorian homes. The Neolithic burial site of Ringham Low was next but not lingered over as there is little to see amongst the trees which cover it now. We took a break near Haddon Grove and then dropped back into Lathkill Dale to climb out again via Cales Dale and up to One Ash Grange. Once the property of Roche Abbey near Rotherham, this medieval monastic grange still has a few buildings which date back to the 14th century. Sadly, several of the cottages and outbuildings are rather dilapidated, although some notices seemed to suggest there are plans for renovation. We passed the head of Cales Dale, where Mesolithic hunter gatherers once sheltered, and made our way to Arbor Low. This impressive Neolithic site has a large circle of stones surrounded by a ditch and bank and once had a stone chamber at its centre. Around four thousand years old, it remained in use for several hundred years.. After exploring the site we ate lunch in the lee of the bank and then made our way across the fields back to Monyash. A ‘grand day out’ walking through ten thousand years of history, thanks for sharing it with me everyone.
Cheers
Steve W

Four of us left Hartington on a blustery morning, and nmade a quick ascent of Sheen Hill. Refeshment break enjoyed under some rocks before descending into a much calmer valley. Pilsbury Castle was our lunch spot, where we spent some time imagining the lay of the land during for this mediaeval settlement. A rising path led us back to the village for coffee and cake. A relaxed Saturday 7.5 mile outing. Thank you for good company. Ali.

The meet was moved from Castle Naze to Baslow due to the poor weather forecast. Five of us climbed and another couple turned up to watch. Short and sweet climbs on rock wafted dry by a stiff breeze between showers. Come 2.0pm all but two of us had chilled out. Josh [new member] and I wandered over to Curber and grappled with PMC1. A worthwhile day given the weather. Castle Naze awaits another time. Geoff.

Following a poor weather forecast the Wimberry Rocks meet was moved to Wharncliffe, further east and at a lower altitude. It turned out to be a good move with 14 of us enjoying generally warm and sunny conditions the whole day.
Classic routes were climbed in the Himmelswillen, Hells Gate and Long John’s Stride areas. The routes do not get any easier!
Welcome to Josh and Travis who climbed with us part of the day.
David

Four of us set off in bright sunshine from Encliffe Park, busy with Saturday Park runners, to be joined by a fifth member at Forge Dam.
Up the Porter Valley Trail onto Houndkirk moor, where we competed with a large and enthusiastic off road biking group all the way to Fox House.
Snacks and banter while awaiting the arrival of our sixth member ( plus two excited Terriers, whose clear aim was to 1. lead the pack and 2 .Try and keep us together).
Grindleford Community cafe afforded more time for banter and pots of tea before a final yomp up the steep hill from Froggatt Bridge, along the closed road to Eyam and across the fields to Foolow.
Having made such good time, a certain member of the team managed to down two scones, jam and cream before going for an early bus…which never arrived….so it was necessary to support the Foolow well dressing village hall teas next door, where the gallant band drank more tea and ate cake, in support of Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Lots of calories eaten and burned up on this 22k walk (13.67miles).
Thanks for great travel companions, good weather and always stunning views.
Hazel.

7 members attended and set out from Coombs towards Castle Naze- just after the welcoming rain had stopped.
Once on the top we were treated to panoramic views of the whole area.We pressed on along the edge towards Coombs Moss undaunted by the strong wind and the odd passing shower-however the showers were brief and no-one felt the need to don waterproofs.
A delayed coffee stop (and lengthy chat) was taken just by the locked building on the edge of Coombs Moss (the nearby refuge was not inviting).We then pressed on as patches of sunshine appeared.Reaching the western end of the plateau we took a second break/lunch stop with more expansive views .
A steep descent then led us off the plateau to join the path leading to the White Hall Centre,but with the worst mud patch of the day-fortunately with enough strategically place rocks and an escape ramp to avoid disaster,especially for those without gaiters!
Pushing on ,by now in full sunshine, we enjoyed views of Errwood reservoir and the Goyt valley before continuing north above Fernilee reservoir.Field paths then brought us to Wythen Lache farm and the return to Coombs.A small deviation enabled us to climb to the an excellent view point with dramatic views of the Castle Naze wall and Coombs Moss with the valley and reservoir below.
The day was then rounded off, by some, with a traditional end of walk drink in the pleasant “Bee Hive” pub in Coombs.
Thanks to all who came with your great company.
Mike Doyle

14 members embarked on Ailefroide in the Ercins National Park in the southern French Alp, spread over a 3 week period.
The early arrivers managed to secure a big enough area on the campsite to house us all in.
The main activity was the multi-pitch sport climbing crags which littered the area within walking distance. This was mainly on granite slabs so a few of us decided on the single-pitch crag first to get used to the rock (and the heat!). Luckily there’s enough for everyone in terms of grades and if you wanted to top up your tan or stay in the shade.
Other activities people got involved in were the local via ferrata 3 miles away and another at Vallouise which was a Grade 3 and up up up, rather than in the gorge.
E-mountain bikes were hired by Lorna and Simon for the day to test out and although they weren’t a fan of the bikes, the tracks and trails were all a must.
The local walk took you to the Alpine meadow on the way to Clapouse, this was less than 2 hours walk from the campsite and had stunning views, a small snow field, beautiful meadows and the usual chamois. Gemma ran back down the mountain but later confessed she got overtaken by 2 kids!
More adventurous hikes took you on a loop to Lac d’Euchauda which involved a bit of scrambling.
A couple of mountain huts were stayed in including the Refuge du Glacier Blanc, Refuge de Pelvoux and the Refuge du Ecrins. Different parties took on different expeditions from the huts although the overall outcome was the ground was loose and melting. The guides and hut guardians told us that many weren’t going to the summits due to the conditions being harder now due to warmer temperatures. And even those that had visited the area 15-20years ago noticed that the glaciers had receded dramatically.
All those that took part in the expeditions made it back to the campsite in one piece although it was only Gemma that took to the cold-water therapy of late afternoon dips in the glacial melt water stream that ran through the campsite.
All in all, a brilliant venue for sport climbing for all abilities as well as access to the mountains of the Ecrins. No doubt the club will be visiting again in the future (before all the snow goes?!).
We should start and have an annual summer abroad trip for mountaineering and climbing so all get your thinking caps on for a 2024 venue….  Kial

It should also be noted on the Ailefroide Meet Report that club members accomplished many successful summits – Montagne des Agnaeux, 3664m (Geoff, Pete and Phil), Mont Pelvoux, 3946m (Kial, Adele, Mark, Geoff, Pete and Phil), Roche Fario, 3730m (David, Pete and Kial) as well as numerous multi pitch rock routes above the campsite. Phil, a friend of Geoff’s aged 70+, was a lovely guest on the meet who showed that age is no barrier to achievement and good humour. If we get the weather we deserve, then we surely did. My apologies for missing the other peak the intrepid Geoff, Pete and Phil did, within barely 24 hours of arriving at camp, as I don’t recall it’s name! Thank you Kial for organising such a truly successful alpine meet. Mark Proctor