Craven Mountaineering Club
A couple of upcoming bike rides this month.
Get on your bike and Ride the Lights! – An Exciting Preview of Blackpool Illuminations.
Ride at any point along the promenade from Starr Gate at South Shore to Red Bank Road in Bispham. You can ride as much or as little of the route as you are able.
Ride the lights is not a bike race, it’s a fun and FREE bike ride open to all.
It was an early start for the party of five, but worthwhile to get one of the limited parking places in Kentmere village – the starting point for the 12.5 mile classic Kentmere Horseshoe.
We took the anticlockwise route up to Kentmere Pike stopping to take in the stunning views across Haweswater and the eastern fells from Harter Fell.
All were keen to continue beyond the possible descent to Kentmere reservoir at Nan Bield Pass and meandered over Mardale Ill Bell to view the fabulous western lakes panorama from Thornthwaite Beacon. Our pace may have slowed on the undulating ridge south over Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke, but a suggestion of ice cream in Staveley kept spirits high!
We took our time (7.26 hrs and 3310’ ascent apparently)!….but who wouldn’t take advantage of a dry and sunny day in the lakes. Thank you to Martin for co-ordinating a great outing.
Meet report by Shirley
A very respectable turnout of 10 for this meet. Blessed with sunshine and a slight breeze to keep the midges away we virtually had the crag to ourselves. Presidents Slab was done by all at some point and most if not all of us also got our teeth into Dental Slab. Falcon crack also thrutched up by at least 4 of us.
Shirley, Steve and I decided to tackle Twin Cracks, it looked a little bit green but dry and at only 8m and severe I mean how hard could it be!. I set about this route and after much bridging, laybacking, lunging (see below), cursing and testing my belayer for alertness (see below) I made the first move!. The cursing got slightly less as upward progress was made and much gear was placed and a little bit of horticulture at the top revealed a hold and finally I emerged into sunshine. I was informed by Shirley and Steve to make sure a good belay at the top was the order of the day and having done that all was left was for me was to watch my partners “enjoy” a traditional gritstone experience.
Lunging: To launch oneself vertically up a rock face towards what you believe and hope to be a good hold.
Belayer alertness: What is hoped for when lunging goes wrong.
Thanks to everyone for making this a fine day out.
The summer newsletter is out now. Click on the link to find out about forthcoming events and a lot more.
A bracing Whernside walk
Five of us enjoyed the latest Thursday walk. With a fresh north easterly and spatterings of rain, it could have been unpleasant, but the views were good and the wind in our favour on the approach from above Dentdale. This path passes by Whernside’s tarns, a new route for two of the group, giving more added interest.
Some folk think Whernside is boring, but for me it scores highly as a viewpoint. You have a great panorama, from Ribblehead westwards, with Ingleborough laid out in all it’s glory. Although my heart is in Lancashire, I have to admit that some bits of Yorkshire aren’t bad!
Thanks to Flo, Shirley, Anne and prospective member Simon for coming and all providing good company.
Chris
