Eskdale Club Weekend, 2-3 April 2022
The Ripon Runners’ weekend social, a feature of the club for many years, was finally back after 3 years enforced absence. Eskdale had been planned for April 2020, completing weekend expeditions to the four quadrants of the Lake District. Initially the trip was fully booked with 40 participants but injuries and Covid conspired to reduce our numbers to 33. As usual parking was arranged at a site removed from our final destination, on this occasion Torver near Coniston, but with full baggage carrying service, courtesy of Mike P. to the hostel in Eskdale.
If you need any inspiration to sign-up for the trip in 2023, take a look at the photos and read on!
The narrative is taken up by four of the participants, selected at random of course, beginning with the youngest, Emma, who chose to take on the hardest route, led by Gary, via the summit of Scafell Pike.
EMMA
“An early start (6.30 am from Ripon) could’ve gone one of two ways – tired for the rest of the day or start as you mean to go on and embrace every challenge in front of you…
Running in Gary’s group was certainly a challenge! Despite not only encountering all four season of weather we also took on a total of 9,656 ft of climbing over 31.5 miles during the whole weekend. Scafell Pike was part of Saturday’s route, the first time I have reached the top. Having been on several of the RR weekends, I should know by now that Gary doesn’t like to take the easy paths up mountains or hills but where would the fun be in that?! Being the youngest often means I’m the novice of the group, though Gary, Bridget and Claire only ever encouraged and supported me. We weren’t a group free from trips and slips; I did a classic slip on a banana peel though no banana in sight and was nowhere near as stylish as Gary who rolled back onto his feet after his fall. Any tired legs were soon forgotten when we reached the top of our ascents due to being met with stunning views.
Laughs, amazing views, and friendship about sums up the weekend.”
And from the middle group:
MEL
“Despite the very early start from Ripon, it was such a delight to be able to meet again in Torver for our first running weekend since the pandemic.
I didn’t mind if we ran, walked or strolled so long as we could get out on the fells. And given the climbs, there was a lot of walking, some slipping and sliding and a bit of trotting but the views were worth it, out across the sea to the Isle of Man and up the coast with the fells rolling away in front of us.
And then there was Mike at the bottom of the steep descent with snacks, chat and grass to lie on before we set off again to Eskdale, a drink in the pub, dinner and games.
More of the same on the Sunday with quite a steep, windy climb to near the summit of Tarn Crag, then skirting around Great Whinscale before ascending Green Crag, followed by the long descent through the old slate mines back to Torver and a great pub at the end (The Wilson’s Arms).”
Tim Joynson was our club cartographer as well as a group leader. He provided maps and gpx files for all to follow.
TIM
“It’s always great fun taking a group to places they’ve never been to before and Moasdale and Esk Valley certainly offer some of the most remote hiking in the Lakes. I must admit that I’ve never had pre-match nerves as badly on any other trip away, but this time the weather, the height and rough terrain were all playing on my mind relative to getting the groups around safely. In the end however, I shouldn’t have worried – the weather was perfect with excellent clarity, and all of my group, who were great company, coped well with the rocky steep terrain and none-existent paths.
Grey Friar provided the one serious navigational challenge, having no discernible path to follow. Each of the three groups who descended it ended up finding three different ways down! The one incident that caused much amusement in our group was Andy Purll disappearing up to his waist in a bog in Moasdale! In a Eureka moment, after having had some late day 1 finishes in the past, I realised the Goldilocks of a finish time is about 4 pm and it was great to achieve this purely by accident. It gave time for a shower at the YHA and a great session in the Woolpack Inn. Eskdale YHA did us proud – a very cosy building and nourishing but simple catering that set us up well for the return on day 2. I look forward to the trip in 2023!”
Our president takes up the tale:
MALCOLM
“Under a clear sky and with more enthusiasm than purpose our walking party of Ripon Runners set off to follow our intrepid guides Sherpas Chris and Lester over hill and valley, well mainly hills actually. If the slopes didn’t take your breath away the magnificent far reaching views were guaranteed to, and lunch was taken overlooking Morecambe bay. With Cockley Beck now firmly in our sights we made a knee crunching descent from Grey Friar trying hard to keep on route while remaining upright, not all were successful. We were met at the location by a well disguised angel of mercy in the form of a very patience Mike Pennock who offered us encouragement and the free range of Chris’s goodie wagon. Suitably inspired and full of cake and pork pie we started the final leg on the unyielding tarmac of the appropriately named Hardnott Pass, arriving at our destination in what is best described as small select groups.
The YHA are clearly in breach of the trades description act, there was certainly no evidence of anyone remotely near the term youth or even middle age in our senior citizen’s room, luckily no snorers either, although there was a regular stream (right word) of visitors to the loo. There is something about fresh air and exercise which makes both food and alcohol disappear at a rapid rate and after a fun evening and hearty breakfast a slightly different party made its way to the start of the return route.
After a very early fight against the effects of gravity I joined a mixed group of both walkers and runners under the leadership of our human satnav and chief Sherpa Tim. Wisdom and a growing desire not to go wrong and walk further then necessary quickly made this the group to be with if finishing intact was the aim. However, there were several moments of doubt on the steep ascent of Walna Scar Road when deep in my oxygen starved mind I questioned the sanity of myself and my fellow sufferers. But, suddenly we were treated to an all new experience the joy of gravity working for you and soon the finish line was in sight. We marched (stumbled) into Torver to the triumphant sounds of local brass bands, not sure how Chis managed to organise that.
Best part of the weekend, the great company of fellow Ripon Runners and the fantastic Lakes scenery. Worst part, getting out of Jo and Ian’s car on arrival back home, wrecked, hardly does it credit. Can’t wait for next year. Many thanks to Chris, Tim, Mike and Jill for all their hard work in producing a real fun event.”
Post Script – On resigning from my post as Social weekend organiser I was gratified that almost immediately Matt and Jill volunteered for this most onerous of roles for 2023. I will most definitely be there, wherever “there” turns out to be.
CJB – April 2022