Page 36 - 2019 AMA Winter

CLIMBINGMEETS
LAKE DISTRICT
MEET 13-14
JULY 19
By Arthur Daley
The July meet this year took place in the Lake District National Park. The White Horse Inn was chosen once again as the venue for the weekend, having just had a refurbishment it offers a 22-bed bunkhouse complete with free Wi-Fi and attached to a quaint old English country pub
Friday night saw the members arriving one by one, finding a bed in the bunkhouse and then making their way to the pub for a bite to eat and a tipple or two.
Saturday morning, we all met outside, as the weather was good, and worked out the day’s activities. Those that wanted to get in a quality mountain day made plans to climb Helvellyn in the sunshine. That left the majority of people wanting to climb. Unfor- tunately, we only had 3 RCIs attending the meet and so multi-pitch climbing would not be an option for everyone.
Lee took Fletch and Vinny off to Shepherd’s crag to get some good multi-pitch climbs in, including the VDiff classic Little Chamonix.
While Richard and I took the rest of the climbers over to Wodens Face for some single pitch climbing. This plan meant those with an RMT qualification could get some lead climbs in their logbooks while the others where coached on technique, bottom roping some harder climbs in the process.
Between climbs some of the group took the opportunity to wander down the track to check out the impressive Bowder Stone. This is a massive boulder that fell over 200 meters from Bowder crag over 10,000 years ago.
With the day’s activities at an end the various groups made their way back to the bunkhouse for a shower before hitting the
Georgia on the sharp end at Wodens Face
pub. This is always a great time to socialise and make new friends over a drink or two.
Sunday morning rolled around and it was time to pack up and vacate the bunkhouse before deciding the day’s activities. Those with particularly long drives headed off to beat the traffic. While the walkers decided to tackle Blencathra, as it is just behind the bunkhouse.
This time it was decided that all climbers would make their way to Shepherd’s crag. Rich took a couple on Donkey’s Ears while I took two on Jackdaw Ridge. Lee and the remainder went further round to Brown Slabs for more single pitch climbing. We all met in the café at the bottom of the crag around mid-day for tea and cake before saying our goodbyes and hitting the road. Drawing an end to yet another successful meet in the Lakes.
Liz’s group on Blencathra
Lee, Fletch and Vinny on top of Little Chamonix at Shepherd’s Crag
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View from the bunkhouse over the pub and across to Great Dodd