METHS

MULANJE EXPATRIATES THREEPEAKS SOCIETY

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Three Peaks of Yorkshire. 16 – 19 August 1989

A right good time was had by one and all, and certain sceptics, who maintained that there were no mountains south of the Scottish border, grudgingly admitted that there were certain rising obstacles in their way worthy of their attention.

The party or contestants, call them what you will, foregathered on the Wednesday evening at the Golden Lion, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, and a convivial reunion took place. This reunion did not prevent an early start on the Three Peaks and there is a photo taken from the safety of the pub, showing the party disappearing into the gathering mist and rain. There was a strong wind and those with umbrellas enjoyed an invigorating reach across Sulber Nick. (Beating is hard work but running before the wind is sheer pleasure).

The summit of Ingleborough (2,373ft) was made in good time, and some risked frostbite to admire the view. Then it was down to the Hill Inn as quickly as possible to restore the circulation, there to be met by the Naafi wagon to attend to the inner needs. (The Hill Inn these days is unfortunately a right pigsty).

The summit of Whernside (2,418ft) followed remarkably quickly and the purists leaned across the wall to touch the trig point rather than dirty their boots by going into Cumbria. An excellent lunch followed in the shelter of the wall attended by one of the finest views in northern England.

A descent then took place to the Station Inn at Ribblehead, which unfortunately was not in full working order. However, the Naafi wagon was on hand. The party enjoyed the sight of a steam-train special working the Settle-Carlisle line.

The long trek to Pen-y-ghent (2,273ft) was a graunch for some and the general feeling was that if the Dales National Park could put it in a wheelbarrow and place it nearer to the other two, they would be performing a great service. Or words to that effect! Air Malawi's Last Hope was praying for one of their aircraft.

Finally, after Pen-y-ghent it was a matter of making it back to Horton in as good an order as possible to clock in at the Three Peaks Cafe. They were highly intrigued and took several photos and articles may appear in the local and mountaineering press regarding Meths.

That evening was somewhat ribald in the Golden Lion, and the landlord felt it his duty to pass round the swear box in aid of the local church restoration fund. 'Ring the bell, verger, ring the bell, ring.'

The following day the rather ambitious plans for the ridge walk between Wharfedale and Littendale were shelved. Instead the party were set down at Gearstones and walked the old Roman road; distances traversed ranging from 100 yards to six miles depending on the state of the people concerned.

That evening an annual general meeting took place. Huw provided some interesting alcoholic beverages from behind the Iron Curtain.

Afterwards Meths took on the locals at various indoor sports and proved themselves at no disadvantage.

Participants: Thirteen actually completed the walk: Ian "Mad Axeman" Mason (leader), Mike "Mad" Petzold, Mike "Harpic" Mossford, Brian "AMLH" Sayers, Dave "Lord of the Big Ruo" Harrison, Guy "Prat of Marden" Harrison, Katja Petzold, Gordon "RSB" Craig, Anne "Sheepdip" Craig, Huw "Megabyte" Jenkins, Christopher "El Puerco" Leslie, Charles Mason and Paul Gaskell. Mike Pardoe rocked up the following day.

Naafi wagon: thanks to Mr and Mrs Mason senior (Petzold congratulated them on producing such a well-behaved son), Sadie Mason and Rhoda Leslie.

Three Peaks Walk website: www.threepeaks.net

National Park website: www.yorkshiredales.org.uk