Great Gable Remembrance Weekend 2008 Print
Written by Peter Burgess   
Tuesday, 11 November 2008

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Approaching Green Gable
Green Gable
With the publication of The Lost Sheep, Mick Fox of the K Fellfarers became aware of the OFC and even blessed our journal has being the second best club journal in the world (theirs allegedly better of course!).  By corresponding mainly by e-mail down the last few years, Mick was pleased to offer up information for The Lost Sheep and it culminated this year with his 'wild camping' piece becoming incorporated into The Cumbria magazine.  Terry Fletcher the Cumbria magazine editor liked it very much and an abridged version appeared in the October issue.  After a walk in August on Tower Ridge, Mick suggested I stay as his guest at High House , the K Fellfarers fantastic mountain hut in Seathwaite.  Not only did this present a new line of ascent for my Remembrance walk, Mick had suggested this would be a good chance to appraise the hut for a possible OFC gathering in the future.  More about that later.

Mick Fox climbs out from Gillercomb en route for Green Gable
Mick Fox
After a good night's sleep on Saturday eve, I woke bright and breezy to dark and moody weather.  Whilst washing up, the hut was subjected to a flash of lightning and an explosion of thunder - with the short thunder lag it had to be very close by indeed.  I thought our plans to ascend Great Gable had been dashed - not the place to be in thundery conditions.  However, after a heavy shower of hail, Mick Fox and I set out under the arch in the farm buildings at Seathwaite, bound for Gillercomb.  The cascades down Sour Milk Gill were fantastic and very soon conditions, although windy, improved as we ascended into the hanging valley.  Within another half hour or so we were on the flanks of Green Gable and the Helvellyn range was covered in a layer of snow like caster sugar.  The wind was quite fierce and many folk were being buffetted.  A young couple held each other's hands in order to keep stability.

Some of the gathered masses at the summit of Great Gable
Great Gable summit
Mick had told me to chase on to the summit as he had difficulty breathing with a recently bruised rib and so I set off at a bricker pace.  I foolishly told Mick I'd be in the orange OFC bothy shelter at the summit - it's yellow!  Sadly, he never did find me when he reached the summit but he had an entertaining few minutes calling out my name outside several orange bothy shelters! Sorry about that Mick!!

Members' Remembrance Photographs

Neil Haslewood and Andrew Leaney enjoy the weather!
Neil and Andrew
Once through (not so) Windy Gap, the ascent onto Great Gable soon followed and I was greeted with a shout of, "Peter!".  Both Andrew Leaney and Neil Haslewood had toiled their way up from Honister Hause.  I figured that many people would be put off by the forecast and unknown to me the Hileys et al were ascending Castle Crag for the service there (mobile reception is non existant in the valley and they had had a last minute change of plan).  The usual Remembrance address was given followed by the 2 minutes silence and tnen we descended to the Westmorland Cairn.  What was I thinking?  The windward side of the mountain was colder by about 10 degrees it seemed and we were soon retreating to the shelter of the leeward side.  Ben Hammond had seen us descend and had scrambled over the snow covered rocks to catch us.  It was great to see him and Sam again (it's the only time I see them!).

We all descended back to Windy Gap.  I traversed well right of the line of descending walkers - it can be a real bottle neck at the bad step on the descent.  Windy Gap was less windy and I parted company with the rest on Green Gable after I'd chased and called after 2 walkers thinking they were Mick!  Dropping onto Base Brown I sat for a while watching snow showers being chased across the sky like the spinnakers of vast yachts.  I came right down via Faun Crag to Seathwaite accompanied all the way by an ex-para.  I did tell him he didn't have to follow me but he seemed content that I was blazing a pathless route.

Returning to the K Fellfarers High House Mountain Hut
High House
Back at Seathwaite I wondered where Mick might be, but as I turned onto the driveway at High House there he was greeting me.  The outside of my garments were soaked but I was warm and dry inside and it had been a new experience for me.  It was a wonderful feeling to set forth from such a location in the morning and the brew of tea waiting for me on my return was just grand.  Wonderful walk, wonderful venue and wonderful company.  I think the OFC should try it some time.  Now who would like that? Anyway, if you would like to experience a little more of the outing then watch the following video:-

 

 
OFC Poppy produced by Peter Burgess (2007)
OFC poppy
Castle Crag Remembrance Service
To many local folk the gathering on top of Castle Crag is the real service of remembrance in the valley.  I heard on Saturday that Great Gable is the 'side show' and from what I've heard the service was really moving.  Although Christian in character the act of service is to ensure the bravery of the young men of the valley is remembered.  Apart from Roger and Ann Hiley, Dave Dimmock and several members of the K Fellfarers many others joined Mr Miles Jessop who delivered the service.  Mr Jessop is the owner of the Scafell Hotel in Rosthwaite.  Roger Hiley will be publishing his photographs with videos very soon. 


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"If you dear readers should get a bit of grit in your boots as you are crossing Hay Stacks in the years to come, please treat it with respect. It might be me." A Wainwright 1907-1991