K Fellfarers - the outdoor club for people in south Cumbria

Gallery 2017 - October

Andorra
Greater spotted woodpecker
Kendal wall

Sunday Walk - Around Reeth

Billed as a circular walk around Reeth in beautiful Swaledale, Maja reports a "Small but perfectly formed group of fellfarers for the Reeth walk on a beautiful day. Thanks to Pam for organising, and to Colin and Val for making the trip over."

From left to right below: Colin, Bob the dog, James, Val, Pam, with Maja taking the photo.

   

There was heavy rain throughout Cumbria on the 10th and 11th, and the BBC reported -

Several schools and roads around Cumbria have been closed and train services disrupted because of flooding. The Environment Agency issued 19 flood alerts and eight flood warnings and a Met Office yellow weather rain warning was in place for most of the day. The Borrowdale area was one of the worst affected, with two bridges forced to close.

Gary Macrae, from the Hazel Bank Country House Hotel in Borrowdale, said the rain was affecting their guests and deliveries. He told BBC Cumbria: "We have a house full of guests who can't move backwards or forwards - they can't get into Keswick via Honister or via the main Borrowdale Road into Keswick, which is a bit of a nuisance. Plus our deliveries aren't going to be getting to us today either."

The photos below are off the BBC page.

 
The Westmorland Gazette has announced the sad death of Dot Dennison nee Bewley, aged 95. She was the wife of Walter Dennison who was an original member of the club in the 1930's (see here for his obituary in the Fellfarer). Our President Roger Atkinson says - I’m unsure if she was ever a member of Fellfarers but certainly spent a lot of time at High House, some of it before she was courting or married to Walter. She is possibly the last regular at High House with an almost direct connection to the 1934 opening.
   

Mid-week Meet - Oread Hut at Rhydd Ddu, North Wales

Billed as a Mid-week Walk with a difference, seven members enjoyed a walk along the excellent Nantlle Ridge on the Wednesday. Ruth, Norman, Jenny and Hugh arrived mid-afternoon and enjoyed the walk around Llyn y Gader, arriving back just in time to welcome Mick and Clare. Jan arrived later that night to make the compliment of seven.
Wednesday dawned in brilliant sunshine, and the group ascended the first top Y Garn to brilliant views all round. The Grade 1 scramble along the ridge up to Mynydd Drws y Coed was enjoyed, and the ridge continued with easier walking taking in the top of Trum y Ddysgl before walking down and up the 'land bridge' to the obelisk on Mynydd Tal y Mignedd. Lunch was eaten here in front of a superb view from the rivals in the south to Anglesey and the Menai Straits to the north. A return was made across the land bridge until we could descend the ridge from Trum y Ddysgl down to Bwlch y ddwy elor. Mick took in the top of Y Gyrn (which he informs us is included in the Paddy Buckley Round) whilst the others returned to Rhydd Ddu via the forest. Three of us had done the ridge before, but were all happy to repeat it: an excellent walk and definitely recommended.
Jan drove home that night while the remaining six had a meal in the Cwellyn Arms in the recently (2015) extended eating area, before driving back on the Thursday. A great idea to have a mid-week meet in this hut and one for an annual event?.

The causeway at the start of the round the lake walk.
Beautiful hawthorn berries in the hedgerow with Snowdon behind
Wednesday dawned bright and sunny. Looking from the bunkhouse to the first top, Y Garn, on the right, with the second top Mynydd Drws y Coed, on the left

Having a drink near the top of Y Garn, with Mynydd Drws y Coed behind. From left to right: Ruth, Jan, Jenny, Norman, Clare, Mick, with Hugh taking the photo


On the summit of Y Garn with Mynydd Mawr behind.
From the left: Norman, Jenny, Clare, Mick, Ruth, Hugh, and Jan

Approaching the scrambly section
Err....now which way? Well its obvious really: keep going along the ridge!
On the summit of Mynydd Drws y Coed
Looking out over Anglesey
Returning over the 'land bridge'.
   

Many members will know that Howard Somervell (right) was the brother of Leslie Somervell who was instrumental in founding K Fellfarers and High House. He was born in 1890 and was on the 1922 and 1924 Everest expeditions. He visited High House on numerous occasions, and a potted history of both him and Leslie is shown below.

Following a chat about the routes on the Cioch on Skye, Mick Fox was browsing through the 'History' section of his SMC guide to climbing on Skye and noticed that the first solo traverse of the Cuillin Ridge was in 1920, done in 14.5 hours, a time that "with a water bottle and a pound of raisins could have been bettered by an hour".
The hard man who managed the feat was Howard Somervell, then aged 30.

T Howard Somervell became a crucial member of the 1922 and 1924 Everest expeditions, climbing with Norton to 28,000 feet (8530m.), then a new altitude record, on the second trip. He became a close friend of Mallory's. He gained a double First at Cambridge and became a surgeon. He turned his back on the potential wealth and prestige of a career in London and worked for nearly 40 years as a missionary doctor in Neyyoor, Southern India, before returning to the Lakes in 1961 to retire in Ambleside.
A fuller history can be read on Wikipedia

Leslie Somervell, younger by five years, joined the family firm in 1920. He was also a keen and respected climber and fellwalker. He became President of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club and, more importantly for us, actively supported the founding of the Fellfarers in the 1930s, becoming its President for many years.

 

A view from Demming Crag looking down on Hardknott Roman Fort - Mediobogdvm.
   

Members half term at High House.
Maja reports: On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings Jan, Colette and I put together the new men's dorm curtains with the help of a glass or two of wine and enjoyed a fab walk from Buttermere to the hut via Haystacks, brandreth and green Gable in between sewing. We were joined by new members Kate, Elizabeth and Luke and families on Weds night.

Here are Maja and Jan near Brandreth.

   
   
   
   
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