K Fellfarers - the outdoor club for people in south Cumbria

Gallery 2017 - January

Andorra
Greater spotted woodpecker
Kendal wall
Annual Glencoe Meet
K Fellfarers - Mick, Alan, Hugh, Graham & Veronica - in the chalets
Bassetlaw MC - Mel, Adam, and Mick Robson- in the YHA as no spare chalet

A decent forecast for the weekend after some shocking weather in the week led to hopes for some decent walks. The reality was that there wasn't much snow on the hills, and what there was was powdery, meaning that if you were breaking trail it was very hard work.

Hugh, Mick, and Alan visited the Kelpies at Falkirk on the way up - worth a detour - whilst the others came straight up.
As with the previous year, three parties set out on a lovely Saturday morning -
Mel, Adam, and Mick entered the Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) to attempt Stob Coire Sgreamhach and Bidean that they struggled with last year. Meeting poor and unstable snow conditions on the head wall, they managed Stob Coire Sgreamhach before returning via Beinn Fhada, leaving Bidean for next year.
Mick, Alan, and Hugh were hoping to descend Glen Etive for as walk up the Corbett Beinn Maol Chaluim but the icy road conditions put them off. Instead they drove up to Loch Lochy for an attempt on Ben Tee. Unfortunately, the snow was that deep and powdery it made the going so slow that they ran out of time after 3 hours of struggle. Nice scenery though
Graham made the best choice of the day by walking up Stob Coire nan Lochan following other peoples trail breaking - nice one Graham.
A guitar and accordeon made some varied, and at times interesting music, in the bar in the evening.
Sunday dawned wet and claggy, and with a poor forecast for the day, all the three Kendal members headed home, with Graham and Veronica heading for Edinburgh for the night, leaving the Bassetlaw members turning their attention to the Ben Lawers area in hope of better weather.
Two chalets have been booked for next year, with a third possible if we have enough numbers in time. Don't leave it too late to book!.

Alan and Mick with the Kelpies near Falkirk.

"Kelpie, or water kelpie, is the Scots name given to a shape-shifting water spirit inhabiting the lochs and pools of Scotland. It has usually been described as appearing as a horse, but is able to adopt human form".

Arriving at the Clachaig chalets in Glencoe
Hugh trudging his way up Ben Tee
Sunset on the way down with what seemed like reflected sunlight on the cloud above the sun.

 

Meanwhile, the Bassetlaw group were attempting Bidean via the Lost Valley. Here are Mel and Mick Robson in the Lost Valley.
Mel at the head of the Lost Valley, looking towards Bidean
Mel on Stob Coire Sgreamhach
Beinn Fhada
The Three Sisters of Glencoe
On the Sunday, the Bassetlaw group walked up Meall Corranaich by Ben Lawers. Here is Mick Robson trudging up, with Lochan na Lairige behind.
   
Mid-week Walk - 'A Walk in the Coniston area'

19 members and guests were undaunted by the claggy morning, and met at Glen Mary car park ready for the 8 mile walk led by Norman Bell. The route followed the 'new' path through the woods on the west side of Yewdale Beck. Then into Coniston and up through the old station yard for elevenses. A bridleway was taken through Heathwaite Farm and onto the Walna Scar road, before dropping down past Banishead Moor Tarn. Lunch was eaten in the shelter of the old quarry workings. Then down past Tranearth bunkhouse (owned and run by the Lancashire Caving & Climbing Club) and into Torver. Then across the road and down the fine bridleway past Brackenbarrow Farm to Coniston Water by the 'new' jetty. The lovely shoreline path was enjoyed all the way past Coniston Hall Farm and its lakeside campsite (Water Weekend Meet planned for July) and into the Bluebird cafe for tea and cakes. The route back to the cars went into Coniston and then followed the Cumbria Way via Tarn Hows Cottage, and we arrived back at Glen Mary just as darkness was descending. Graham's GPS gave him 21 kms for the walk, which converts as 13 miles: a bit more than Normans' 8 miles estimate!
Thanks to Norman for the fine walk on which all experienced some new paths.

Ascending up past Heathwaite Farm
Banishead Moor Tarn. Ask Walter for the history of the waterfall!

Lunch spot above Tranearth.
From left to right - Mike Walford, Adelle (with Nell), Jenny, Norman, Les (with Sally), Anton, Val, Mike Wilson (with Poppy), Colin, Roger, Margaret,Graham, Ruth (behind), Irene, Jan (behind), Clare, Maja (behind with Bob), Mick, with Hugh taking the photo.
Maja, Adelle, and Mike throwing sticks into Coniston Water for Sally, Bob, Poppy and Nell to chase.
Tea and cakes were taken in the Bluebird cafe.
   

High House Quiet weekend
Roger & Margaret, Mick, Val Calder, Hugh & Angie, Colin & Val Hunter, Fred & Jean Underhill, Graham & Irene, Norman

Another good turn out for the January 'Quiet weekend'. People gathered on Friday night, and Saturday dawned bright and cool. Mick suggested taking the bus from Seatoller to Honister, and then walking to Haystacks, but that idea was quickly dropped when he found out there were no buses running over Honister until the summer timetable. Instead we decided to share cars and drive to Honister, parking in the NT car park. We walked up the old Drum track to the remains of the Drum House where we had coffee and enjoyed the beautiful clear day with superb views. The next stop was at the old Dubs Hut, managed by the Mountain Bothy Association, where we were pleased to see that cleanliness was a top priority as someone had left a vacuum cleaner (pity there was no electricity in the Bothy!). A yellow cycle also excited Colin.
We crossed Warnscale Beck and then Black Beck, and had lunch by the superb Innominate Tarn: a great location with a great view. Then on to the summit, with excellent reflections in the summit tarn. Margaret, Val C and Jean returned via Scarth Gap whilst the rest retraced their steps back to the cars at Honister. Post walks drinks were taken in the Glaramara Centre at Seatoller: well worth a visit for drinks and meals.
A communal meal was enjoyed at High House, and Colin, Norman, and Hugh provided some entertainment on guitars and diatonic accordeon to round off an excellent day. Sunday dawned wet so all drifted back home.

Tea stop at the old Drum House
Dubs Quarry hut managed by the MBA, with High Crag and High Stile behind
Val Hunter, with Buttermere and Crummock Water behind.
Lunch at the lovely Innominate Tarn
The summit tarn
At the Drum House on the return, with cloud building up above Thirlmere, and Helvellyn peeping out above the cloud.

Drinks in the Glaramara Centre

From the left going clockwise: Val H, Irene, Graham, Colin, Mick, Roger, Margaret, Val C, Jean, Fred, Norman, Angie, and Hugh's empty seat.

   
84th AGM held at the Duke of Cumberland in Kendal, on Friday January 27th
Our President Gordon Pitt retired this year after serving as President for 9 years. Below shows him being presented with a framed photograph by Roger Atkinson, who is taking over as President. Mick Fox and Alec Reynolds were voted in as Vice Presidents.


A new committee for 2017 was voted in and now consists of -

Chair - Mark Walsh
Vice Chair - Maja While
Secretary - Maja While
Treasurer - Val Calder
Hut Booking Secretary - Hugh Taylor
Social Secretary - Clare Fox
Editor - Mick Fox

Committee members -
Peter Blamire
Laura Walsh
Robert Walsh
Helen Speed
Jan Lancaster

   
   
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