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21st April 2006 - Wayfarer's Hut Intent on proving what an adventurous bunch they are, several club members headed south to the barely civilised wilderness that is the Lake District. This is in Englandshire, an unimportant country south of God's own land. Surprisingly for such a place, the mountains are fine, and much fun was to be had. On Saturday, Pete & Christine went for a circuit around Blea Tarn, while Calum & Fiona went up the Langdale Pikes. Gavin & Ally went climbing at Castle Rock. Colin & Rab went to Gimmer Crag. They started up Hardwick Buttress, continued up E Route and finished up D Route. Ken, Ronnie & Neil went off towards Pavey Ark intending to do a climb from Jack's Rake. After blundering around in the mist for a while, they eventually found the Rake. A bit more blundering around and they settled on the climb. By this time, however, Neil's toes were frozen solid and had had enough blundering, so he went off for a walk around the Langdale Pikes. He sat for a while on Harrison Stickle, watching Ronnie & Ken ascend something close to their intended route, Cook's Tour. This is a fine, if meandering, route, with several "vegetated" sections. Eventually, however, they approached the top, and Neil walked round to "greet" them. They finished the day with a pint in the pub. Well outside the pub actually, do you know they can still smoke in pubs in Englandshire ? How quaint. On the Sunday, the weather was magnificent. Only 4 clouds in the sky all day long. Calum & Fiona made an early start, heading for Bow Fell. Neil headed in the same direction, but ended up doing Scafell Pike as well. Pete & Christine went for a low level walk, as did Kevin & Sheila, before heading home early. Gavin & Ally braved the Hardknot Pass, probably the steepest, windiest road in the country, and went climbing at the top. Ken, Ronnie, Colin & Rab had less respect for their cars, and continued down the other side of the pass. They sampled sun kissed granite slabs on a variety of crags in Eskdale. Great stuff, and it's only April !
Ronnie on the vegetated 3rd pitch of Cooks Tour, Pavey Ark
Granite slabs in the sun, Rab on Goat Crag, Eskdale
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