METHS

MULANJE EXPATRIATES THREEPEAKS SOCIETY

HOME | NEWS | MEETS | REPORTS | MEMBERSHIP | CONTACT


Three Peaks of Yorkshire. 3-6 July 1996

It rained heavily most of Wednesday. Mine host at the Station Inn, Ribblehead, said it was the best in Yorkshire for 12 months. Good news for those suffering from drought, hose-pipe bans and the inefficiency of Yorkshire Water. But not so for the Meths reunion, with more rain forecast for Thursday and no let-up on Friday. So it was decided to go ahead with the main walk as planned on Thursday and start it at 5.30am to accommodate the old crocks in the party and get one peak done before breakfast.

The new landlord at the Station Inn has turned it into a cross between Fawlty Towers and Colditz. However, a mass breakout took place and the walk actually started at 5.30am in less than promising conditions. A halt was called at Gunnerfleet under a tree giving scanty protection from the torrential downpour and rising wind. Our leader the Mad Axeman outlined his master-plan for the walk: 'No one get in front of me and no one fall behind Eric bringing up the rear.' And woe betide anyone not obeying those simple guidelines.

It was then off into the swirling mist on an ever steepening ascent of Whernside (2,418ft). Little time was spent in the atrocious conditions at the summit; our leader was scarcely able to pull the ring on a tin of McEwan's Export. The party was kept close together to make sure everyone got on the correct path off the summit ridge. Then it was full speed ahead for the Hill Inn where cars met us to ferry us to breakfast at Ribblehead.

Unaccustomed to the subtleties of the Yorkshire weather, two retired after Whernside suffering from mild hypothermia, thus reducing the walking party to 19.

IngleboroughThe walk restarted at 9.30am in depressing conditions and the relentless downpour increased as the ascent of Ingleborough (2,373ft) took place. A quick regroup at Swine's Tail and then on to the summit in thick mist and a full gale. Nothing was seen of the Romano-British hut settlement on the featureless summit plateau. Only accurate work with the compass got the party on and off the plateau. If anything, even less time was spent on the summit of Ingleborough than on Whernside.

It was then the leg to Horton-in-Ribblesdale and lunch. Our leader was having difficulty with his umbrella in the gale, but at least it reduced the stream of water going down inside his anorak to a trickle. Daphne's blue cape, first seen in eastern Switzerland and so effective in counteracting Suswa washes in Slovenia, was totally useless billowing out in the gale as she tried to negotiate a stile. By common consent a Naafi break did not take place at the shooting hut and the sheep were left to enjoy what meagre protection it offered. The party went on full steam ahead for The Crown, lunch and liquid refreshment.

With morale and spirits much uplifted by a most pleasant sojourn at The Crown, Pen-y-Ghent (2,273ft) was tackled. Rain was now easing, but the gale increased further and greatly assisted our ascent. The noise of the wind battering the summit cliffs was unbelievable. People were being blown over, but we struggled on to the summit, unlike other parties — notably of school children — that were turning back. There was a view at the summit and this was briefly enjoyed looking out to leeward from a wall.

Now on to the final leg, detouring via Hull Pot to avoid the swollen Hull Pot Beck and the unspeakable horrors of the bog at Black Dub Moss. It is here, it may be recalled, that Brian took his celebrated swim in liquid peat two years ago.

At Hull Pot people were given the option to continue the monotonous trudge to Ribblehead or cut the walk short by making for The Crown. Unfortunately only two opted for the comforts of The Crown and made their way there to further chat up the barmaid. Although she was Welsh, she was unfamiliar with the ancient Welsh verb 'wydfo'. She had also visited Malawi — small world. The remaining 17 made their way at various speeds back to Ribblehead in what increasingly became quite a pleasant afternoon.

The weather conditions on the Three Peaks Walk were undoubtedly the most atrocious that our leader has ever experienced during half a century of walking in the Pennines.

Even so, several people came up to him afterwards to thank him for a grand day on the fells. We really should all be locked up. Or perhaps, as Mr Churchill reminded us in one of his famous wartime speeches: 'We are not made of candy floss.'

In true Sod's Law fashion, Friday turned out to be quite a pleasant day. Cars were parked at the Buttertubs Pass (1,726ft). From there it was a pleasant stroll to Great Shunner Fell (2,340ft). The party stopped to admire the graceful collection of cairns at Pickersett (origins unknown, but attributed by the locals to T'awd Man). The all-round view at Great Shunner was fantastic. From there it was an easy five-mile amble downhill to The Green Dragon at Hardraw for an excellent lunch. By common consent everyone decided not to do the return leg via Lovely Seat (2,213ft) to the cars. Some made it to Hardraw Force waterfall behind the pub; others festered in the flesh-pots of Hawes. Ian "Axeman" Mason

Participants: Ian "Mad Axeman" Mason (leader), Robert Mason, Mike "Mad Mike" Petzold, Verena "Muesli" Petzold, Sadie Mason, Brian "AMLH" Sayers, Jane Sayers, Eric "Polevault" Scott, Valerie Scott, Stuart "Socks" Leslie, Rhoda Leslie, Chris "El Puerco" Leslie, Katie Hick, John "Koenig von Mulanje" Killick, Anne Killick, Richard Killick, Stephen "Hagar" Ward, Pauline Ward, Huw Williams, John Cullison, Diana Kissil, Rupert "Westface" Roschnik, Daphne "DM³" Martin, Bruce "Legs" Martin, Jan "Duke of York" Frøseth, Goerild Raundal.

Three Peaks Walk website: www.threepeaks.net

National Park Website: www.yorkshiredales.org.uk


© WDYFO, 2001