Members: Christine Beeston, Roger Dyke, Joe Flynn, Mark Garrod, Phil Hartwell, Michelle Harvie, Alan (L) Jones, Ding Koy, Colin Maddison, Lorna Marsland, Iain McCallum, Lester Payne, Phil Ramsbottom, Pete Schofield, Dave Shotton, Andy and Jo Stratford, Chris Thickett, Pete Walker, Keith Williams, Dave Wylie.

Guests: Gowry Sisupalan

In true KMC-style, the 70th Foundation meet managed to more closely resemble a fragmentation meet as it progressed, but was ultimately very successful with (nearly) everyone meeting up at the Old Nags Head in Edale to mark our founding in fine style.

“Lorna’s Loiterers” (Lorna, Pete’s W & S, Alan, Chris, Jo, Brian and Iain) met at the main car park in Edale at the appointed time and after the anticipated faffing, which took us a mere 10 minutes over schedule, we left the car park for the Nags Head.  It came as a huge disappointment to some that it would be at the second visitation of the pub when we would stop for refreshments, so we soldiered on, guarding our dismay, towards Grindsbrook.

A hundred metres after crossing the river we lost the first two.  Pete and Alan decided they would do their own thing and that was the last we saw of them for some hours.  The rest of us wandered up the path towards Ringing Roger, which was not the Golden Clough path, I was reliably told.  However, it was the path I’d intended and we did join Golden Clough higher up, but lack of attention to detail earned me some retribution.

At this point the weather was sunny affording us fantastic views over the Edale valley, so on reaching the Kinder plateau, we stopped for rehydration, it being past 11.00am and I was anxious to thwart any further insurrection.

Sadly the weather soon deteriorated and out of the mist came a walker, puzzling over a map, who leaped on our apparent expertise to guide him to Edale Cross.  He was scantily dressed and seemed to have little understanding of the map he was waving about, no GPS (how do people manage without one!) and a desire to branch off SW at every conceivable path he encountered.  Despite being ill-equipped he was considerably younger and fitter than our party so didn’t accompany us for long.

Our progress along the edge was hindered by poor visibility and paths disappearing into the bog.  By the time we hit Noe Stool we were strung out quite a bit and had seemingly lost Iain and Pete.  Keith produced his GPS, announced that it was this way and strode off, followed by Brian – so now we were 4!  It took us a while to recognise that Keith was right and we soon reconnected with the wide path I’d been looking for, but of course this extra faffing time had consequences and we soon discovered we were way behind the rest of the party.  Iain and Pete had slipped past us during the faffing and had joined forces with the advanced party, so now we effectively had two groups of 4.

As we emerged from the mist above Edale Cross, we saw the other group eating but couldn’t catch them up and didn’t see them again until re-united in the pub.  Sometime later Pete Walker and Alan Jones appeared, having apparently joined the Chinley group on their descent of Grindslow Knoll.  But despite a number of deviations, repetitions and hesitations, all made it round whatever their chosen route, so a good day was had by all in true KMC tradition.

Meanwhile, “Mark’s Meanderers” had met at the appointed hour at Chinley station, having arrived from Edale, Piccadilly, and Marple (the latter by car, not train!).  Colin disappeared to find a shop, whilst the rest set off up toward Cracken Edge.  20 minutes in, and a brief stop by some to shed layers led to Michelle, Christine, Lester and Dave S taking the low road, whilst the main group (Joe, Phil, Ding, Andy, Dave W, Gowry and Mark) took the high road. The latter group then paused, waiting for the others, allowing them to re-join the same path further on, but now in the mist. Colin caught up the main, waiting team, reported no-one behind, so we restarted and finally made contact again with the breakaway group in the mist, who by this time had shed Christine who was not feeling 100% and was heading back down.  Confused? – so were we.

The reformed group then crossed the Hayfield to Chapel road at Peep-o-day, headed round South Head, and down the Pennine bridleway towards… damn, wrong turn… back to South Head and head up to Brown Knoll – wouldn’t do to miss out the really boggy section, would it.  Lunch was taken at the top of Jacobs Ladder, without realising that half of Lorna’s team were lunching literally 50m away in the mist.  Gowry then headed off toward Glossop (although the meet leader thought she was heading down to Edale).  Having passed Pete S, Iain, Keith and Brian 30 seconds after our lunch break, we then found the rest of Lorna’s team (Lorna, Roger, Jo and Chris) hard on their heels. The plan was to skirt northwards around the edges and find a suitable route down to Edale – the group more than did that, with at least two, possibly three different ways down after the meet leader had again (this time deliberately) pressed the “splinter” button (incl, Grindsbrook Knoll and Ringing Roger).

Amazingly, we all found the pub and enjoyed a good natter about all things club-related – just as it should be.  Phil got his meet tick for joining us in the pub having been out climbing elsewhere.  Well done to those you used public transport wherever possible (does that include Colin’s taxi home from Piccadilly?), and also many thanks to everyone who came for supporting our meet.

Lorna and Mark

The purpose of this meet is to celebrate the founding of the club 70 years ago by focusing it on Edale.  The plan is to have two walks, woth both parties meeting up afterwards at the Old Nags head, where the club was founded after the founders had a hard weekend's activities at Laddow and on Kinder.  We are not planning anything specific for the pub - just a chance to come and mark where the club has got to, and where it has come from, in other words, the normal KMC chatter. 

Mark will lead one of the walks which will involve the use of public transport in an attempt to recreate 1940s conditions -plan is to catch the 9.22am train from Piccadilly to Chinley, walk over to Edale and return from Edale by train.   To do the walk properly we really ought to catch a train to Marsden on Saturday, bivvy out somewhere in the heather or bracken and appear at Chinley at the allotted hour - maybe if the weather is kind?

The other walk, led by Lorna will be from Edale Car Park, at 9.45 for a 10.00am start, not 12.00 as stated in the newsletter.  This will be a leisurely walk (6-8 miles)around part of the Edale skyline, which I hope will appeal to the older members of the club.  We’ll be ascending via Golden Clough or Grindslow Knoll, depending on weather, and descending via Jacob’s Ladder, with coffee and lunch stops as required.  If only the young and fit are in attendance then the route can easily be extended to accommodate the energetic.I aim to get to the Nag’s Head at about 2.30 but it doesn’t matter if we’re late as there will be a chance to get to the bar before the other group!

We did ask the pub if they wanted to suggest a simple soup and butties or similar but hey appear happywith anyone who wants to eat simply ordering at the time.  They do a carvery on a Sunday, and will also have their latest 'Winter Menu' on their website from early November.  http.//www.the-old-nags-head.co.uk/menu/

Can those who intend coming please let Mark/Lorna know if possible, in case of any change of plans, or at least keep an eye on the website.  We hope to see you there,  and in period costume!!

Mark Garrod (07887-696003/0161 438 3898) and Lorna Marsland (07919603998/0161 969 4338) NB - these numbers are different from those in the handbook.