Friday

What a journey! Probably the clearest, easiest trip up the M6 for a long time. James, DaveN and Neil arrived at about 11:30pm to find most people already settled in to the comfy seats of the George Starkey hut in Patterdale. The ever growing SMoG Northern contingent had obviously been there a while and discussion about what the hut challenge could be had already started. The final car arrived at 12:30, by which time most people had retired to the bunk bed accommodation upstairs.

Saturday

The day started with the normal SMoG routine - rising at about 8, eating breakfast, making sandwiches, deciding on the plans for the day. The weather was dry but the clouds were hanging pretty low, hiding the tops of the surrounding hills. As usual, a few different groups formed with some heading off on their bikes while the others split into different walking parties.

Newcomer Neil, perhaps not knowing quite what he was letting himself in for, joined a group that was heading up Fairfield. A long day followed, with the group returning just before dark. They started with St Sunday Crag and Fairfield, and then taking in every possible lump as they headed SE towards Kirkstone pass.

Myrtle, Colin and Kathryn walked along the east side of Ullswater, returning on the ferry from Pooley Bridge. Twice they spotted a familiar, if somewhat muddy, group of mountain bikers.

Mark, Shel, Nigel and Ceri headed east up some of the fells around High Street. Denise, Simon, Ady & James got their bikes out. More on these two below.

The day finished with a comfortable evening around the fire in the hut. James, Alex, DaveS and Juan, plus an easily persuaded Neil, did their normal escape to the local pub, allowing Alex to enjoy his favourite Patterdale meal - Cumberland Sausage - and James to eat a vast quantity of chips!

Sunday

The day started with the normal SMoG routine - rising at about 8, eating breakfast, making sandwiches, deciding on the plans for the day. Hey, I said it was the normal SMoG routine!

The clouds had disappeared and it looked like the weather was set to be clear. Most people decided to make Helvellyn the target and what started as a general scatter resulted in a large group of SMoGies meeting up at the "Hole in the Wall" and scrambling over Striding Edge together. Simon and Denise had different plans and headed off up the valley muttering something about "Striding Edge Direct" - I believe they ended up just scrambling over Striding Edge like the rest of us though. The weather was most unlike October in the Lakes, with bright sunshine, hazy views and something like 20-degree temperature.

Summary of the meet

All in, a great meet. 19 people, good company, fantastic weather on the Sunday, comfortable accommodation, incredibly clear M6!!!

Here's a quote from newcomer Neil about his first away trip with the club

"I've just about recovered from the weekend - my legs have stopped aching today and I've stopped eating everything in sight! Well, what can I say about my first SMoG trip? I found everyone to be friendly and welcoming, and going away with the club is a good way of going to the hills, but the snoring at night is pretty horrendous!"

Hut comments

• Location : ideal base for Fairfield, Helvellyn and High Street. Great views
• Lounge area : large, comfortable seating around the fire. Plenty of space for meals
• Kitchen : everything needed, but an awkward shape when full
• Sleeping : two corridor-style dorms with bunks
• Washrooms : large, clean, with two decent electric showers
• Parking : large, private car park out back
• Pub : 5 minute walk; good food
• Hut challenge : Nothing obvious. Possible under-sofa crawl for the cavers

Some stories from the weekend:

Walking on the fells around High Street - by Ceri

Mark, Shel, Nigel and I all stuck together for the first part of the walk that took us past Angle Tarn almost up to High Street itself then along the High Street ridge. Bit blowy and misty on the tops but worth going up there to see a massive stag and his harem and to hear him bellowing across the valley. I don't think I've ever seen deer on the Lake District hills before.

Nigel and I headed down to Howtown whilst Mark and Shel continued along the ridge. Attempted a cream tea in the lovely old-fashioned snug (complete with brass torpedo washer!!) at the Howtown Hotel. Unfortunately they only serve in the afternoon between 4 and 5pm so we had to settle for shortbread biscuits and several cups of tea.

I walked back along the lake shore in beautiful sunshine. The autumn colours were lovely. Nigel walked up to Pooley Bridge to enjoy a leisurely return ride on the steamer. Mark and Shel did an "up and over" to beat us both back to the hut. Too keen!

Mountain Biking - by James

Denise, Simon, Ady & I decided it was a biking day - damp in the air, mud on the ground. Simon planned a route that took us around the east side of Ullswater, up to the fells above Pooley Bridge, and returning over Boredale Hause.

The low level path from Patterdale round to Howtown was its usual, rocky challenge. Denise put the guys to shame by attempting, and pretty much completing, every technical challenge she came across. Ady, newly converted from rigid frame to the soft world of full-sus, amused us all with a variety of comedy falls as he struggled with his new cleats and pedal tension settings. Fortunately no lasting damage was done, except maybe to one innocent gorse bush which was trying to mind its own business at the side of the path.

The ascent away from the lake was muddy but rideable. At one point we reached a 5m wide shallow stream. After skillfully walking their bikes over a bridge, the guys quickly stepped left and directed an approaching Denise towards what looked like a fordable section. She made it through, just.

The day continued with some pleasant sections and some muddy sections. The views improved as the clouds lifted. Then came the bad news. For some reason a water main was being installed by the bridleway up Boredale, resulting in a seriously muddy and horribly unpleasant ascent - the ride had reached the "character building" stage.

The pain was quickly forgotten once the summit was reached, with a friendly horse keeping us distracted for a while. The final descent was steep, narrow and rocky but we made it down. Soft riders that we are, we’d only been out for ~6.5 hours and were the first group back to the hut.

Last Updated: 13 Oct 2005	© Slough Mountaineering Group	contact us