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Northern Lake District – Maxi-METHS + AGM 2013 September 11 – 15

Participants: Gillian (Morticia) and Tony (Lurch) Adams, Natan Cointet, Christie and Gordon (RSB) Craig, Sue (Shortbum) Glover, Stewart (Lightning) Halliday, Dave (Harriruo) Harrison, Martin and Miriam Horrocks, Rhoda (Rhodent) and Stuart (Socks) Leslie, Bridie and Mike Macklin, Daphne (DM3) Martin, Mike (Mad) and Verena (Müesli) Petzold, Rupert (West Face) and Sally Roschnik, Brian (Air Malawi's Last Hope) and Jane Sayers, Eric (Polevault) and Val Scott, Peter (Up the Down) and Antonia (Twinkletoes) Tolhurst, George (Munro) and Val Wallace, and non-members Nigel and Jenny Horrocks, Esther Ratsma (=30). N.B. METHS names as per Green List, January 31st, 2013.

Wednesday 11th

Arriving from near and far, we all met up in Ouse Bridge Guest House or Lakeside Country Guest House next door. In all, a record participation! Also, an amazing age span of some 60 years or more, although the youth was under-represented, there being only 2 participants under 50 or so! Much chat and gossip, throughout the meet, as old friends met up and new acquaintances were made.

Welcome speech by Lightning who explained the set-up and the next day's programme. All evening dinners were taken at the Ouse Bridge Guest House.

Thursday 12th

Some cloud and fog, improving gradually throughout the day. A whole platoon of walkers met at 9.15 – after a hearty cooked breakfast – to drive to a parking place just above Braithwaite. We set off from there at 9.40 or so to launch the assault on our first summit, Grisedale Pike, 791 m. The path led up through bracken at first, then open country, quite steep initially and also the last few hundred feet below the summit. This was reached by over 20 participants. Most of us were pleased to have made it to the summit, from which we had good views.

Rupert, Natan, Esther, George continued to Grasmoor, 852 m (George taking a fiendish short cut), then joined the main party who all completed the horseshoe (over Crag Hill, 839 m), except for a splinter group that returned via the mine below Force Crag. Most of us ended up at the Sun Inn for well-deserved ale.

Distances covered: 9, 7 or 6 miles, depending on circuit completed (vertically 1090, 960 or 640 m respectively – multiply by 3.2808399 to get feet!)

A braai with various South African specialities was offered for dinner.

Friday 13th

Generally cool, clouds covering the summits. This was the day for the Big One. We drove to Melbecks farm (where parking had been arranged, also tea and coffee after the hike). Over a tricky barbed wire fence, then on good paths all the way to Skiddaw, 931 m, over Longside Edge, taking 2-3 hours depending on fitness. The last steep bit before the summit plateau had us all puffing and feeling our calf muscles. The views on the last sections were partly obscured by cloud. Busy summit, with many hikers having come up directly from Keswick.

Christie, Gordon, Natan and Rupert descended to the north via Bakestall, 673 m (by mistake), and Cockup, 505 m. The others went down to the path in the Dash Beck valley between Skiddaw House and Melbecks farm.

Distances covered: 7 or 6 ½ m, depending on the circuit (vertically 770 m). Sally and Dave turned back after about 1 ½ miles, Mad Mike a bit later.

The AGM was held that evening, followed by a buffet dinner. The "special award" was earned by Gordon, for various acts worthy of asinine quadrupeds.

Saturday 13th

Reasonable weather, quite sunny. Gordon and Christie did their own thing, a longer and tougher hike to unknown destinations. The other hikers drove to Longlands beyond Bassenthwaite, north of Skiddaw. A gentle but wet path led us up to Little Sca Fell and Great Sca Fell (651 m), where a right turn took us down to Meal Fell (550 m) and further down to a col at about 380 m. From here some went back directly to the cars, most of us did a detour via Great Cockup (526 m) and Little Cockup (ca 465 m). Many puns could be heard on the cockups in METHS, in the organisation of the meet, etc. Distances covered: 6 m or 5 ½ m (vertically 600 or 510 m). Some ladies later visited Wordsworth House in Cockermouth.

That evening we gave a special vote of thanks to our guest house hosts Claire, Stephen, Sharon, and Arnie. Then, after dinner, Stewart had organised the most energetic activity of all – a Ceilidh, Scottish dancing - at Braithwaite Hall. The METHS group (except DM3) were certainly the most incompetent but everybody had a good laugh.

Sunday 14th

Bad weather! No alternative but to leave, taking many good memories with us.

Our thanks to Stewart for his brilliant organisation and unfaltering and infectious good humour throughout.