Trip Summary

Author: Ben B

This year's "semi-official" [i.e. Andrew counts it in his leaderboard stats] Scotland trip took us to the Grey Corrie bunkhouse in Roy Bridge, a few miles from Fort William. Andrew took on the gruelling Saturday drive up from Cambridge, with moral support supplied by Sumita, Jantine and Ben. Alex (H) joined the party at Birmingham International Airport, fresh from a wander up the US west coast. Saturday night was spent in the Tulloch Station bunkhouse (whose owners are cursed forever to be occupied in the frying of sausages), before relocating to our more permanent lodgings the next morning.

The Grey Corrie bunkhouse proved very comfortable. The puzzling scarcity of mugs was made up for by the box of boot newspaper – considered such a pleasing innovation that the Bunkhouse Review Board (BRB) representative was persuaded to withhold a rating (in favour of their earlier demolition order).

The first few days' walks were drawn from Andrew's impressive ring-binder of as-yet unbagged Munros, with two (Beinn Teallach and Beinn a'Chaorainn) checked off on Sunday, the first day of walking. The group were joined that day by Tom and Paul, arriving from an even less official Seathwaite trip. Monday saw a notable spike in the intensity, as Andrew, Ben, Alex, Tom and Paul took a trip into the Mamores. The stunning ridge walk included six Munros, plus assorted Tops, leaving Andrew's checklist sated. Meanwhile, Sumita and Jantine set out from the bunkhouse to explore the nearby forest. Their reports of an encounter with a dinosaur are yet to be independently verified, although the scratches they bore on their return appear to corroborate.

Tuesday was the day appointed for our meeting with Ben Nevis. The ascent of the "tourist track" to the halfway lochan proved more technical than expected, with some bold footwork required in negotiating ailing tour groups. From there, Andrew, Tom, Paul and Alex set off to conquer Carn Mor Dearg, before crossing the arête onto Ben Nevis. Andrew was called away on bagging duties at this point, and rejoined the group later in a state of some exhilaration (and exhaustion having decided it wise to run the 1300 m of descent from Ben Nevis to sea level). Ben, Sumita and Jantine continued the arduous ascent of the tourist track. At the summit was observed a most touching marriage proposal, swiftly curtailed by adverse atmospheric conditions (a sandstorm and choking cloud of cement dust). The descent was slowed by the need to offer patronising encouragement and misleading estimations of progress to those on the ascent ("there's a pub at the top, you know"). Andrew described the tourist track as perhaps one of the least interesting walks he had ever done.

Wednesday was spent exploring the high (Andrew: "dull") moorland of the Monadh Liath. ticking off another three Munros. It is a sad reflection on modern life that a bent spoon is no longer sufficient deterrent to stalker stalking. Nevertheless, the refuge we found in the stalkers' hut was very welcome, given the ever-present leporine threat hanging over these hills. The route onwards from our first pair of (admittedly underwhelming) Munros involved a great deal of treacherous bog-hopping, guided only by our navigational wits and a line of steel fence posts stretching the entire length of the ridge. This trek led to the high point of the day: the dramatic summit of Carn Dearg with its shear fall-off into the glen. Then followed a damp and rather cold hike down to the river and thence the road. This had been termed our "rest day" (or perhaps that was just what Andrew led people to believe), but when Paul's GPS told us that we'd walked over 27 km and Andrew's altimeter said we'd managed over 1500 m ascent, it hardly felt so in the end.

Thursday saw an exchange of personnel, with Alex K having arrived the previous day, and Andrew, Sumita and Jantine leaving for home. The weather was rather miserable, with thunderstorms forecast, so we took a drive along the Great Glen to Fort Augustus. After a silent yet fierce battle with selfie-stick wielding tourists, Ben secured the jetty overlooking Loch Ness, from where no monsters were seen that day. After terrorising walkers along the Calendonian Canal, we retired to a tea shop.

Friday and Saturday saw two forays into the Grey Corries. The dramatic landscape and good weather contributed to some very enjoyable hillwalking. Particularly memorable was an exhilarating bouldery descent followed by a clamber up the crushed-quartzite scree of Stob Ban. From the summit, we admired the glorious views out over the boggy wasteland beyond Loch Trieg, turning our backs on the monotonous heights of Ben Nevis.

I believe this trip had something to offer for all those involved. This was for several of the group a first trip to Scotland. For Andrew, it was a continuation of his Scottish conquest, bringing him close to the midway point of Munro Bagging; for Alex K, a spell of post-viva relaxation; and, for Alex H, some welcome mountain nap-time whilst waiting around for the rest of us. For the whole group, it was a chance to explore one of the most dramatic landscapes the UK has to offer. I hope there will be many more such trips to come. Seconded [AW].

Trip Participants

Andrew W, Tom A, Ben B, Paul F, Alex K, Alex H, Sumita C and Jantine B.

Trip Photos

Click on people’s names below to follow a link to their complete album. If you have any further photos of this trip that you would be willing to share on this page, please contact the Webmaster.

Trip Summary

An unofficial, almost spur-of-the-moment trip to the Lancashire Climbing and Caving Club hut near Blaenau Ffestiniog in mid-Snowdonia. The trip had three club members, plus nine other intern students, in the Cambridge area for the summer months from various European universities.

On Saturday, everyone except Philip walked together, doing a route from the hut up through Cwmorthin quarry, onto the Moelwyns, and then back down through the quarry. Those who hadn’t walked in Wales before were astonished to find the route went off-path. The weather was fantastic: soaring sun and superb visibility. Almost picnic weather!

Philip went off and did an antisocial walk around some disused mine workings by the Manods and Ro Wen.

In the evening, Maxime orchestrated bolognese for everyone, followed by apple crumble and far too much custard. The bunkhouse was a perfect size for 12 to heat the place up and have a good evening discussing everything from chapters of the bible through to the midges of Scotland.

The weather on Sunday was considerably less nice, with intermittent but thorough showers and poor visibility. Several people wisely decided to stay in the bunkhouse and wander around Blaenau instead of going for a walk. Everyone else decided that heading up to Rhosydd would be pleasant. It was wet. A phone got lost, then confirmed lost, then found. People slipped over on wet grass. Feet found bog. Lunch was had by a small tarn on the way back, in a brief break between showers.

Trip Participants

Philip W (Trip Leader), Maxime C, James H, Alex D, Gal K, Magali P, Julian S, Marie G, Lane B, Aurelie, Nathan

Trip Summary

For our final trip of the academic year, CUHWC headed to Rydal Hall in the Lake District. The large bunkhouse was ideal for accommodating hillwalkers desperate for a post-exams escape from Cambridge. An adjacent campsite and the shore of Rydal water provided additional space for campers.

On Saturday several groups walked the Fairfield horseshoe which lies directly north of the bunkhouse, whilst others (Phil, Becky, Jane and Simon) assiduously avoided it. The weather looked fair as we set out but as those on the Fairfield horseshoe reached Nab Scar it became apparent that this was going to be a very windy walk. There was little respite round the ridge and several instances of crawling and bottom-shuffling ensued. One member’s glasses were even blown off, providing an unexpected argument in favour of contact lenses. Everyone returned safely however, with the discovery of some of Ambleside’s finest pubs and apple pie shops on the way back to the bunkhouse.

As ever Saturday evening’s meals were delicious and everyone was fed with only a little chaos resulting from three food groups using the galley kitchen. After vast quantities of kitchiri, risotto and beetroot had been consumed the group divided, some to the pub, some to political discussion and others to make all the letters in Bananagrams into a grid about camelids. All this activity left no time for the use of the newly revamped songbooks, to the dismay of some and great joy of others.

Six people spent both days on a scrambling course, learning ropework techniques and gaining confidence on some of the Lake District’s finest scrambles. This group’s longer day on Sunday allowed a few of us to walk the Langdale skyline (taking in one fewer Wainwright than on Saturday, disappointingly for Andrew W). Other groups headed off to satisfy the urge for wild swimming in a gorge scramble and to wander over Loughrigg Fell.

A sunny Sunday in the Lakes felt like an appropriate close to the year’s walking and everyone left enthused about their various summer plans and, hopefully, next year’s trips.

Trip Participants

Philip W (Trip Leader), Josh A (Trip Safety Officer), Ben M (Mascot), Paul C, Matt H, Thomas A, Helen F, Sumita C, Zekang C, Heidi SØ, Benjamin B, Sam L, Camilla P, Andrew W, April C, William G, Jade C, Felix P, Jamie C, Valerie A, Pascal F, Immy C, Daria C, James H, Karol P, Jakub S, James L, David W, Maxime C, Qurrat-ul-A, Fingal L, Simon W, Jane P, Robert H, Matthew A, John O, David H, Tom L, Becky H

Photos

Click on people’s names below to follow a link to their complete album. If you have any further photos of this trip that you would be willing to share on this page, please contact the Webmaster.

Trip Summary

For this term’s day trip, CUHWC headed to near Hawnby in the North York Moors. This is only the second time we’ve visited this area; last time was in 2002! There were a number of new members in the group, who all seemed to enjoy themselves, even if they did get sunburned.

After a prompt 07:00 start from Queen’s Road, we arrived at 10:00 and after some route card faff got going a bit before 11:00. There were three groups — a ‘slow’ and ‘fast’ group doing the horseshoe around Bilsdale West Moor, Black Moor, White Gill Head and then Coomb Hill. Predictably, the ‘fast’ group spent a long time trying to catch up with the ‘slow’ group before finally overtaking them. The ‘slow’ group had a wonderful time trying to identify various birds on the moors — after much debating, it was decided that we saw lapwings, curlews and (the more easily identified) red grouse.

The third group (of two) did roughly the same route, but in the opposite direction, and focused on practicing their navigation skills. They saw a lot of dead animals (two sheep, lots of spiders, a hedgehog, several rabbits and several pheasants and other birds) in Thorodale. It was labelled the valley of death, and they warned the other groups not to go there. Nobody on the trip died, which is good because it would have resulted in a lot of paperwork.

All three groups got back to Hawnby in time to stock up on cream teas at the tea shop and pub, before heading off back to Cambridge to get in at about 23:00.

Trip Participants

Philip W (Trip Leader), Paul C (Trip Safety Officer), Tom A, Michael F, Zekang C, Juliette M, Sriram K, Angela G, Adrien L, Sumita C, Carolina C, Simon C, Nebibe V, Jantine B, Dilip K, Amani Z, Qurrat-ul-A, Ben W

Photos

Click on people’s names below to follow a link to their complete album. If you have any further photos of this trip that you would be willing to share on this page, please contact the Webmaster.

Author: Adrien L

Trip Summary

For this first trip of Easter 2015, CUHWC stayed in the Tan yr Wyddfa hut, in the heart of Snowdonia, at the foot of Snowdon's western side. This trip was much awaited, with an almost record-breaking full sign-up by 6:29AM. As was the case for the previous trip to Cwm Dyli, only one of the 16 trip participants was an undergraduate. A good proportion of relatively new members was observed, with no fewer than six members having been on two trips or fewer before.

The ideal location of the hut enabled a variety of walks for all members. Those wanting to walk up the highest point in Wales for the first time had a great walk to Snowdon, while one of the more experienced hill baggers (Andrew) got the opportunity to bag his last Snowdonian Nuttall, Mynydd Mawr. A navigation course was successfully run on Saturday, with Joe, club member and ML, taking three individuals between Snowdon and Yr Aran to teach them the fundamentals of hillwalking navigation. The Nantlle ridge proved particularly successful, with a group doing most of it on Saturday, coming back to Rhyd Ddu in a loop through the Beddgelert Forest in what turned out to be a long and tiring walk. Unfortunately, low clouds and light rain were endured in the morning, sadly depriving the brave hillwalkers of the stunning view. A second group ventured there on Sunday for a shorter, navigation-practice oriented walk, and experienced even worse weather conditions, with strong winds along the ridge (the low clouds being however ideal for practising navigation!). This trip featured a good number of small-group walks (five route cards for 16 people on Sunday), enabling a couple of members to enjoy relaxed walks, with an afternoon nap reported at the shore of the Llyn y Dywarchen Reservoir, and an (unexpectedly tortuous) walk back in the Beddgelert Forest after a nice train ride from Rhyd Ddu. Despite this relatively inclement May weather, it can be said with high confidence that the participants thoroughly enjoyed their time out in the hills.

The evenings were no less fun, considering the delicious food that was cooked and the impressive amount of singing that took place! The absence of the Song Books revealed that some club members could actually recall the most iconic songs, such as the "Cow Song" and the "Cambridge Hillwalker", while leaving much space for many "unofficial" songs which had a great success. Overall, much fun was had on Saturday night around a vigorous fire in the cosy ambiance of the vast living room.

Trip Participants

Andrew W (Trip Leader), Paul C (Trip Safety Officer), Ben M (Mascot), Adrien L, April C, An L, Camilla P, Juliette M, Matt H, Sumita C, Joe H, Tom A, Heidi S, Zekang C, Ben B, Alex H, and James H.

Photos

Click on people's names below to follow a link to their complete album. If you have any further photos of this trip that you would be willing to share on this page, please contact the Webmaster.

Author: Andrew Williamson

Trip Summary

For the fifth consecutive year, CUHWC returned to the Pinnacle Club's wonderful Emily Kelly Hut at the base of Snowdon for our Easter Vacation Trip. The majority of people travelled from Cambridge for the trip, with the highest number staying over the weekend, but some members were present for each day of the trip. Of those attending, only one was an undergraduate, contrasting rather starkly with last year's equivalent trip when undergraduates were almost in majority.

We enjoyed a mix of weather, with a couple of days being blessed with stunningly clear skies and another couple seeing a fair amount of cloud and rain. We were nevertheless undeterred. Between us, we visited Snowdon several times using a variety of routes, the peaks of the Glyders, some of the less frequented western Carneddau hills, a couple of valley walks and an attempt on Moel Siabod, which was sadly rained off. There was the standard complement of high-quality evening meals and socialising (not to mention a number of involved discussions on, for example, tax, politics and British politeness).

Taken together, all of the above rendered this yet another memorable trip to Cwm Dyli for CUHWC, even if this year's was less popular than some of the previous trips; we look ahead to our next visit here with a great deal of optimism.

Trip Participants

Andrew W (Trip Leader), Paul C (Trip Safety Officer), Ben More (Mascot), Adrien L, Matt A, Michael F, Will G, April C, Matt H, Camilla P, Sumita C and Ranulph D.

Photos

Click on people's names below to follow a link to their complete album. If you have any further photos of this trip that you would be willing to share on this page, please contact the Webmaster.

Author: Andrew Williamson

Trip Summary

Anticipation was suitably high for CUHWC’s first visit to the ‘toy town’ (Presidential communication) that is Halton Gill. Living up to these expectations, the final weekend trip of Lent Term was a true success for the 31 hillwalkers involved (with some additional places filled by CUMC). Nestled in one of the quieter valleys of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and among some of the Yorkshire Dales’ most impressive limestone scenery, Halton Gill Bunk Barn was widely accepted to be some of the best accommodation that CUHWC has been fortunate enough to stay in. Indeed, it even boasted a sauna and (table) games room! We were blessed with dry, if cloudy, weather for the trip and the mild temperatures meant that the only snow remaining was in wall-side drifts.

Taking advantage of the bunkhouse’s proximity to the Yorkshire Three Peaks, and in particular Pen-y-Ghent, the vast majority of trip participants (even, perhaps, all of them?) visited Pen-y-Ghent on Saturday. Various permutations followed from Pen-y-Ghent: one walk included an ascent of the nearby Fountains Fell by following the Pennine Way, one combined this with an ascent of the higher Ingleborough, while others headed northwards or down into Horton-in-Ribblesdale. There was no shortage of longer routes, too, with two groups returning post-sunset, and one of these had completed the Three Peaks over their 13-hour day.

Saturday evening, though lacking any singing, was as always first class if a little delayed with the late returners (and the distraction that was the sauna!). We were treated to an impressive array of meals, even if one group was rather puzzled by their failed attempt at baking brownies.

On Sunday, our walks were shorter (with some even being dangerously like rambling), but we managed to explore the broad ridge of Horse Head Moor to the east of the bunkhouse, the quietness and splendour of the Littondale valley with its inherently impressive geology, and the area surrounding Malham Tarn. A few others drove to the nearby Wharfedale or to the epic Kilnsey Crag.

Overall, the trip was an ideal way to mark the end of term for all of those involved, with the bar set highly for our vacation trip and Easter Term outings.

Trip Participants

Thomas L (Trip Leader), Josh A (Trip Safety Officer), Ben M (Mascot), Valerie A, Tom A, Emily B, David B, Harriet C, Zekang C, Daria C, Ros C, Jamie C, James D, April G, William G, Matt H, Becky H, Andy H, Tina K, Alex K, Philipp K (with CUMC), Sam L, Alexander L (with CUMC), Adrien L, Fingal L, Juliette M, Yining N, Rose P (with CUMC), Helen P, Alex R, Toby S, Kathrin S, Lucie S, Andrew W, Philip W and Steven W.

Photos

Click on people's names below to follow a link to their complete album. If you have any further photos of this trip that you would be willing to share on this page, please contact the Webmaster.

Trip Summary

For the second trip of Lent term, the club headed up to the Low Gillerthewaite Field Centre, located in stunning Ennerdale in the Western Fells, last visited by the club in 2012. This was our first joint trip with our counterparts in the ‘other place’, the Oxford University Walking Club, perhaps our largest ever. More than 50 people attended from both clubs – presenting a small challenge for the Trip Leader and Safety Officer, Tom L and Josh A! Despite a slightly chaotic start in the morning, groups from both clubs headed up onto the north and south aspects of the Ennerdale horseshoe, tackling High Stile, High Crag and Haystacks – said to be Wainwright’s favourite Lakeland fell – while others headed to Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar to the south.

Hillwalkers learnt a lot from their counterparts in the ‘other place’; many found it useful to see the different approaches of the two clubs and learn lessons. Many of the Oxford hillwalkers enjoyed the freedom of our walk approach, allowing walks to be decided upon and lead more flexibly, although perhaps fewer enjoyed the singing of the ‘Cow Song’ into the evening! Some in OUWC were slightly surprised by the pace of some CUHWC walks – with Philip W and Paul C giving two OUWC members a good challenge with a ‘brisk’ walk around the entirety of the 20-mile Ennerdale horseshoe.

Back at the hut on the Saturday night, as always there was an exciting range of meals on offer – even if the small kitchen did pose a bit of a challenge with 52 hungry hillwalkers! Lentil and Cardamon soup was on offer, together with vegetable tapas and homemade chocolate torte. Many enjoyed another clear day on the hills on Sunday, with parties tending to head to the ‘opposite’ side of the horseshoe, or alternatively for a more gentle stroll around Ennerdale Water. Everyone (except for the group lead by the Trip Leader!) returned on time by 3:30, before the lengthy drive back over the Pennines to Wetherby and on to Cambridge.

Trip Participants

Thomas L (Trip Leader), Josh A (Trip Safety Officer), Ben M (Mascot), Valerie A, Tom A, Greg C, Daria C, Tanya C, Paul C, Anthony C, Eleri C, Jamie C, Antonin D, Paul F, Virrup G, Wenting G, Matt H, Alex H, Yanting J, Clementine M, Yining N, Jane P, Heidi S Ø, Kathrin S, Lucie S, George W, Simon W, Philip W and 20 OUWC members.

Photos

Click on people's names below to follow a link to their complete album. If you have any further photos of this trip that you would be willing to share on this page, please contact the Webmaster.

An eventful trip to the Tan-y-Garth bunkhouse in Capel Curig. Firstly, sign-up filled the minute immediately preceding 7am, after a serving of pancakes for those who arrived even earlier! By the time the clock ticked 8 o'clock well over 10 reserves were standing around. Quick thinking from the outgoing President, meant the club was able to open up the trip to 10 on the reserve list by booking the nearby Siabod Longhouse. First danger averted.

All of a sudden it was Friday, sitting in an MPV leaving Cambridge on the A14. As the incoming President wrote:

"With no great mishap we were back on the A14
Speeding down the dual carriageway to Kettering
Till out of the blue our tyre punctured
To sit on the hard shoulder was not quite the trip's function
A long phone call and finally a curry arrived
While we rambled dangerously a field that nigh

Perched on our seats on the edge of despair
Yearning to breathe that fresh mountain air."

When we finally made it to Siabod Longhouse, it was gone 4am.

All walks on the Saturday were relatively successful with good winter conditions, though the wind was problematic on higher ridges. Fantastic visibility below cloud level. Sunday was even better with lighter winds and significant sunshine and blue sky, particularly during the middle of the day. Even more winter experience was gained with a walk introducing crampon as-well-as ice axe use on the southern half of the Snowdon horseshoe.

Author: Andrew Williamson

Trip Summary

The New Year trip (5–9 January) followed recent tradition and returned to Seathwaite's wonderful High House. We were treated to rather a mix of weather, although there was an almost complete lack of snow. Between us, we managed to explore a number of the hills around the bunkhouse over the trip, including Scafell Pike, the Gables, Kirk Fell, Castle Crag and some of the Central Fells, in addition to the more distant peaks of the Coledale Horseshoe. We battled with the weather on a couple of days, especially when it threatened to cut us off at High House by flooding the approach road; thankfully, this was largely to no avail. Many members regard this trip as the beacon of CUHWC’s evening socialising and this year's trip was no exception to such a title. Overall, it set the bar pretty highly for another year of memories with CUHWC. Further details of the trip, including the threatening 'floods', can be found in the Trip Book.

Trip Participants

Marcus T (Trip Leader), Michael F (Trip Safety Officer), Ben M (Mascot), Josh A, Andrew W, David H, Anthony C, Paul F, David W, Adrien L, Jade C, Tom N, Xavier B, Zekang C and Fingal L.

Photos

Click on people's names below to follow a link to their complete album. If you have any further photos of this trip that you would be willing to share on this page, please contact the Webmaster.

Author: Andrew Williamson

Trip Summary

The final trip of Michaelmas 2014 was to Dartmoor and a new bunkhouse for the Club: Powdermills. Continuing the contrast with Michaelmas 2013 in terms of weather, there were some quite stunning conditions on this trip. The trip also featured the second centrally organised CUHWC Christmas Dinner on the Saturday evening.

Trip Participants

Thomas L (Trip Leader), Rose P (Trip Safety Officer), Ben M (Mascot), Matt H, Joe H, Becky H, Tom A, Ben B, Ros C, Malinda M, Philip W, Alex K, Tom H, Alex H, Constanze H, Eleri C, Marcus T, Barbara J, Stan J, Camilla P, Sam L, Josh A, Yining N, Evan K, Simon W, Valerie A and Madeline K.

Photos

Click on people's names below to follow a link to their complete album.

Author: Andrew Williamson

Trip Summary

A firm Club favourite, the ULGMC's Caseg Ffraith Hut saw a group of 40 CUHWC members descend on it for a weekend of fun in mid-November. Just to further reinforce the Club's love of this location, we had weather that was nothing short of stunning on both Saturday and Sunday, meaning between us we thoroughly explored the Glyderau, Carneddau, with groups on each day travelling further afield to the Snowdon range. On Saturday, many groups scrambled on Tryfan, either by the classic North Ridge or Heather Terrace, most then extending their routes onto the Glyderau as documented by many classic photos on the Cantilever. A more ambitious contingent headed across to the Carneddau from there, finishing their route as the sun set. A large group completed the Snowdon Horseshoe. As is becoming traditional in Michaelmas, a successful navigation course was organised by one of the Safety Officers, Andy, on the Saturday, which gave six Club members some more training in planning and leading routes. Since CUMC were staying in a bunkhouse close to ours, there was some joint socialising (and cooking) on Saturday evening, as we got to know each other over a glass of some excellent mulled wine, thanks to the Treasurer's forward planning. Several of our members were also able to 'try out' climbing with CUMC on both days. The fact that climbing resulted in at least one late finish highlighted for some Club members the importance of not permitting climbing on hillwalking trips, though clearly this trip was a suitable opportunity to allow this to happen. On Sunday, most people headed onto the Carneddau, experiencing glorious conditions as they emerged above the clouds, with more than one brocken spectre for good measure. Another set of people scrambled onto Tryfan and the Glyders, and more people headed for Snowdon. All in all, another incredible trip, rekindling CUHWC's love of the Ogwen Valley, perhaps in view of the extreme weather we experienced here this time last year.

Trip Participants

Thomas L (Trip Leader), Andy H (Trip Safety Officer), Ben M (Mascot), Matt H, Michael F, Tom O, Andrew W, Peter K, Tom A, Greg C, Becky H, Jade C, Camilla P, Ben B, Allison P, Lucie S, Adrien L, Antonia C, Alex K, Yingda L, Yining N, Denise H, Aude C, John O, Philip W, Ranulph D, Kerrie Ann K, Jamie C, Josh A, Helen P, Laurent M, Julia J, Clementine M, Will W, Heidi S O, David B, Emily B, Tina K, Valerie A, Kenny T, Carson W, Matthew K and Helen P. Some notable CUHWC members were on the CUMC trip (and thus joined our socialising on Saturday evening): Tom H, Rose P, Paul F and Alexander L.

Photos

Click on people's names below to follow a link to their complete album.

Author: Andrew Williamson

Trip Summary

Nestled on the slopes of Sheffield Pike in the Lake District, the Bury Jubilee Outdoor Pursuits Centre near Glenridding was the location of the first weekend trip of Michaelmas 2014. This was an(other!) exciting new bunkhouse for the Club, with spaces for 30 people, and somewhere we definitely hope to return to in the future. A decent hoard of newcomers merged with older members to create another memorable start to the year's weekend trips. Making the most of the hut's proximity to Helvellyn, most people chose to climb it on one or both days of the trip. Everyone enjoyed their scrambles to the summit via Striding and Swirral Edges, with extensions from there taking groups northwards along the rolling Dodds or southwards onto the more rugged Fairfield and St. Sunday Crag. A large group headed east towards Place Fell on Sunday, and one group ventured onto the Far Eastern Fells on Saturday, even if their route was cut short due to a fall from a bridge that was "slippery, just like railway sleepers"; thankfully, the incurred injuries were not as bad as they could have been. The trip's weather was certainly a blessing, too, with only the odd passing rain shower to deal with. The kitchen coped well with the many ambitious cooking groups on Saturday evening, and there was the customary pumpkin carving to celebrate Hallowe'en, just about making up for one of the less enthusiastic singing sessions than we've had of late; this left more than one of the trip's participants somewhat disgruntled.

Trip Participants

Thomas L (Trip Leader), Rose P (Trip Safety Officer), Ben M (Mascot), Matt H, Paul C, Andrew W, David B, Emily B, Tom A, Michael F, Laurent M, Ranulph D, Paul F, Tamas S-T, Charlotte Z, Denise H, Yining N, Karol P, Ben B, Adrien L, Constanze H, Madeline K, Ros C, Marcus T, Valerie A, Alex R, Zekang C, Cammy M, Katrin S, Kenny T and Stefania G. Michael & Helen A made a brief appearance.

Photos

Click on people's names below to follow a link to their complete photo album.

Author: Andrew Williamson

Trip Summary

Our 'silver' (25th) Freshers' Day Trip to Edale in the Peak District wasn't much different to the previous 24 in terms of format, but as the years continue to change, so too do the participants. We welcomed another keen group of newcomers to the Club, and though we didn't quite manage to equal last year's record high of 64, we still had 62 people in attendance, principally thanks to some careful transport planning and Freshers' Squash plugging. A variety of walks took the groups from Edale across to Hayfield, each with varying quantities of bog included. Though the weather wasn't quite as good as it has been in recent years, with some strong gusts buffeting the Kinder Plateau and surrounding ridges in particular, the trip was enjoyed by those who took part, providing the foundations for many people's involvement with the Club, and giving some older members yet another opportunity to tell newcomers about how good it is. As has become traditional, most groups finished with a pint and some food in the pub in Hayfield before the return to Cambridge and the next escape to the hills in a fortnight's time.

Trip Participants

Thomas L (Trip Leader), Rose P, Andy H (Stuff), Paul C, David H, John O, Josh A, Alex K, Laurent M, Andrew W, Marcus T, Paul F, Philip W, Natthawut A, Nadia A, Amanda C, Helen C, Catherine C-B, Wojciech C, Amanda F, Sarah F, Lorena G-P, Pierre H, Jared H, Lizzi H, Brenda J, J Yanting, Wojciech K, Alisha K, Evan K, Viktor K, Fingal L, Christiane L, Shiqing M, Malinda M, Barbara M, Natalie M, Amiya N, Felix P, Katren R, Gavin R, Nicole S, Morgan S, Beth S, Antonia S, Jean T, Joe W, Nathan W L, Benjamin W, Tina K, Allison P, Camilla P, Lucie S, Carson W, Zekang C, Kathrin S, Alexander L, Ben B, Yining N, David B and Emily B.

Photos

Click on the person's name below to follow a link to their full album.

If anybody has any further photos of the trip that they would like to share on this page, please contact the Webmaster.