Author: Ian Helliwell

To help people pass the time and to remember what life was pre-virus, there is a collection of videos, posts, journal articles etc available from the top menu of the web-site. Please take a look at what is available under “Staying in there!” from the menu above. There you will find: “Virtual Meet Gallery” – a growing collection of videos of the virtual indoor meets organised by Dominic Oughton “On the Hill with…” – a growing collection of reminiscences and reflections of RC Members interviewed by Andy Tomlinson “Classic Journal Articles” – a growing collection of articles from the RC Journal compiled and transcribed by Andy Tomlinson All of these are being added to as time goes by and will provide an impressive library to help us all “Stay in there!” and stay safe in these strange times. Many thanks to all involved.

Just a polite reminder that on the day please help Carole with her list of who is out on the hills by making sure she has your name at Marsden and either get it ticked off at The Ramblers or, if you drop out, please ring/text her (or ring the pub of you can’t get through). Also, Carole writes: “Could anyone intending to set off in the dark via early train from MC (arrives Marsden 7:01) or the early train from Huddersfield (arrives Marsden 7:05) send me an email the day before.” Thanks, Ian

Marsden-Edale 4th January 2020. The annual post-Christmas romp on the moors needs no introduction!  Meet as usual at Marsden at the end of Wessenden Rd (GR SE048107 OS South Pennines OL 21 map) for a 7:45 start – finish at The Ramblers in Edale.   Granville will be doing his world famous soup kitchen again at Woodhead (car park at the start of the old road to Glossop) and later at Upper North Grain.  Granville writes: “I will be in the two usual places. Firstly just off the Woodhead road, and then when everybody has past through, I will proceed to the Snake road, and again wait there until every weary soul has passed through. The menu will be… Woodhead road: Golden vegetable soup , mild chilli bean soup and bread roll. Tea , coffee, hot chocolate and plenty of water for bottles. Snake road: All of the above plus cakes various, for a little sugar boost, before hitting the Seal Stones. NB  Both soups are vegetarian , the chilli soup is vegan. If any body needs gluten free bread and cake, would they please let know via email so I know what quantities I need to provide. COST! Sorry[…]

Rucksack Club Annual Dinner weekend 8-10 November 2019 Castle Inn Hotel, Bassenthwaite There is still chance to book in for our annual dinner – final closing date 6th November – details as noted in meetstaff. We have a superb weekend planned – highlights include landscape photographer Alex Nail and a top Davenport comedian! Hope to see you there, Dave Woolley

A reminder that the Wednesday evening climbing meet this week is at Dovestones Edge – the Chew Valley one. I’ll be there from 4:30 ish and the forecast is excellent! Also, a couple more pictures from Paul Woolley’s excellent meet last Saturday at the other Dovestones – Dovestones Tor (Derwent Edges):  

Dominic has done it again! In the midst of some terrible weather, he managed to book a sunny Saturday afternoon and a weather window of around 4 hours on the Sunday afternoon. Here are a few more pics: A cold but happy BBQ on the beach (last year it was T-shirts and shorts!!)    

High Peak Marathon this Friday night. Geoff Bell writes: “After too long an absence we have a strong Rucksack Club team in this classic 40 mile race round The Derwent Watershed. The weather is going off-it, which should be to their advantage. They are Helen Pritchard, Geoff Pettengell, Mike Zeidan, and Ged Cudahy, a formidable quartet – but so are some of the opposition. We wish them well.” Update: Great to hear from Ian Winterburn that the club has 3 teams entered this year (see comment below) – good luck to all of them!!

Near perfect weather (no rain, not too cold, following wind…) on the back of a period of mainly dry weather over Christmas and the New Year delivered excellent walking conditions and fast times. Other than a bit of mist on Bleaklow Head, visibility was good too. Excellent support by Granville’s Glorious Soup Kitchen meant the participants were kept full and warm with soup, cakes, teas & coffees etc. Numbers down a good 30% from normal due to the train strike, but multiple offers of lifts at The Ramblers made sure everyone got back somehow. Some stats: Completing the M-E single: Members 8, Associate Members 1, Guests 8. Completing the M-E double: Members 7, Associate Members 3, (plus 1 member who did the overnight E-M only). Doing various partial routes: Members 22, Associate Members 2, Guests 3. So, total on the hills: 55 (Members 38, Associate Members 6, Guests 11). First to The Ramblers: Associate Member Simon Rippon – 1pm. First Member to The Ramblers: Jean Llewellyn (that new knee must be working wonders!). Many thanks to Carole Smithies for counting them out and counting them back in again, to Granville Toyn for excellent soup & cakes at both Longdendale and[…]

A quick update on trains etc. The morning Manchester to Marsden trains appear to be running as normal (operated by TransPennine express) – see my earlier post for details. No trains at all from Edale to Manchester due to strike (operated by Northern Rail). Offers of lifts from Edale so far (please contact them direct – details in the handbook) John Warburton (to Manchester) 3 or 4 places Guy Froud (to Saddleworth) 2 or 3 places (I’ve already bagged one!) Ged Cudahay if offering to put up 1 or 2 people overnight just outside Buxton. John Jefferies may have his car at Edale if he can get a lift from his house in Poynton to a station on Saturday Morning. There are usually a lot of people at The Ramblers so I’m sure many more lift options will be available on the day. For those who are social media literate, then the Rucksack Club FaceBook group is probably a good place to get a conversation going. Hope to see many of you tomorrow… Ian