Author: Ian Helliwell

Final confirmation that the annual Marsden-Edale will take place on this coming Saturday – 6th January.  The forecast is for perfect weather – dry with sunny intervals and gentle breezes – exactly as I predicted! So come along and join the fun! Some final details:  Start – 7:45 at the end of Wessenden Rd (GR SE048107 OS South Pennines OL 21 map) – finish at The Ramblers in Edale. For those arriving by train, the 6:58 from Manchester Piccadilly arrives in Marsden at 7:29 which is perfect timing.  From the other direction, the 6:54 from Huddersfield arrives at 7:05 (6:30 from Leeds). Carole Smithies will be doing her usual “counting them out and counting them all back in again” (many thanks Carole!). She will be at the Marsden end from about 7:30 so please make sure she gets your name on the day – and even more importantly crosses you off at the end of the day in Edale (she will be at The Ramblers). If, for any reason you do not make it to Edale, please make sure Carole knows about it so that we know you are safe – note there is no mobile reception at the Ramblers[…]

It’s that time of year again!  What better ending to the twelve days of Christmas than this twenty-two mile Peak District classic.  I need to get an early idea of numbers so that we can see if the level of support that we have come accustomed to is justified. Carole has already volunteered to “count them out and count them all back in again”. This can be a thankless task in the dark and driving rain. Equally, a lot of effort is needed to provide the hot soup, tea, cakes etc and it is unfair on Granville to go to all that trouble and then for only a couple of people to turn up.  So, please let me know if you are thinking of participating (the more the merrier) – my email address is in the handbook – and let’s plan for a great turnout. The Marsden-Edale has been a staple of the Club since it’s early days – and as a winter outing on the first weekend after New Year, it has become an annual institution.  Originally planned as a station – station walk in the days before cars, many people still rely on trains get to/from the start/finish,[…]

The Wednesday walk this week (9th August) is an extended Chew Valley Skyline and a bit longer and tougher than the usual. It’s 14.5 miles long and includes 3100ft of ascent so will need a start time of 9:30. The route is described in the calendar entry here For anyone wanting a later start or a shorter route, a 10:00 start is possible and the two groups can meet up at the top of Alderman’s Edge.  This variant is also detailed in the calendar entry, I’d suggest contacting me (Ian) or Gary Bunting as per handbook if you’re doing this variant and want to meet up. N.B.: It is one of the finest walks in the peak (my humble opinion) and contains two of the best view points – it’s also bog-free! gpx files of the full route and the shorter variant are available – contact either myself or Gary.  

Great forecast for tomorrow. Meet in front of the visitor centre cafe at 10:00 (SD940153 pay and display).  For those who don’t like paying for parking, there is free parking at SD9386 1626 and its a very pleasant mile to the visitor centre. From the carpark, go NE along the canal bank for a couple of hundred yards before crossing the lock and following the path E in front of the terrace to meet the track. Turn right and follows this alongside the stream all the way to the visitor centre car park. Note: the walk will pass within half a mile of the free car park on the return leg. more details in the calendar entry  

John Payne is handling the distriubution of the late Arthur Howcroft’s comprensive Mountaineering library. John writes… After the passing of Arthur Howcroft I agreed with his niece to collect and distribute his substantial library of mountaineering books on her behalf. This library is now available to view in my garage…… You are cordially invited to visit and take any books you wish. I propose to keep these available for approx 1 month to the first week in June. When I will put them in the hands of any charities who will take them. To avoid me staying at home every day for a month you will be welcome to view and collect them by phoning me to arrange a mutually agreeable time, day or evening. These visits can not be Tues am or all day Wednesdays. Types of books. There are perhaps well over 100 to chose from. A4 or larger ‘Coffee table’ hard backed, high quality colour. Costing originally around £20 or more each. To make it clear there will be no money asked for or collected. If members wish they may donate to a charity of their choice. Some of the authors. Bonnington, Hunt, Shackleton, Messner, Rebuffat, Cleare,[…]

Marsden-Edale 7th January 2022 Due to the planned train strike for 6-7 January the Marsden-Edale will, once again, be a challenge in more than just the usual sense. However, in the words of Baldrick “I have a cunning plan…”   Given that it is highly likely that there will be no rail services on the day it is probable that a number members will find it difficult/impossible to arrange appropriate transport for the single. Given that the Meet is so popular, along with the social get together afterwards at the Ramblers, one option considered is whether some members would like to do a ~20 mile walk from Edale starting at 8am going via Ringing Roger, Madwoman’s Stones, Upper Ashop, Alport Castles, Grains-in-the-Water, Hern Clough, Bleaklow Head – then return to Edale via the traditional M-E route… the aim would be to meet up with members doing the traditional M-E route at Bleaklow Head around 1pm. Given mobile phones/GPS this should be very possible! If any members are interested in this alternative could they get in touch with me and I can then arrange for someone to co-ordinate this “Two halves make a whole” route allowing a good day out of[…]

We have had an ongoing problem with emails getting blocked by BT Internet – this is hopefully now resolved and this is a test to see if a “New Post Notification” will get through OK.  If you have an @btinternet email address and you have received a “New Post Notification” about this post then all is now well! For all other email addresses – apologies for you having to receive the notification, but this is the only true test and BT requested that we carry this out. Thanks and have a great Easter Ian

The video of the virtual meet series 3 finale – Double bill: Desert Climbing plus Winter Mountaineering – is now available via the Virtual Meet Gallery (click the link or navigate via the Get Out There menu).  This video contains two excellent presentations: Desert climbing in the SW USA with Jane Gallwey and Sam Simpson Learning to winter climb in your mid-50s – with Kevin Wheeler Well worth a watch…