The Climbing Chronicles (eBook)

A young climber exploring the mountains of Wales, the Lake District and Scotland in the 1940s

John Parker (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: EPUB

2014 | 1. Auflage
300 Seiten
Vertebrate Digital (Verlag)
978-1-898573-93-7 (ISBN)

Infos

The Climbing Chronicles record the 1940s climbing exploits of Harry Parker. Born in Blackburn on 29 February 1916, Harry started climbing before the war and continued to do so after its conclusion, exploring the Peak District, Wales, the Lake District and Scotland. Each night he noted down his adventures in his 'chronicles', recording the routes he climbed, the walks, bicycle rides and journeys he undertook, and the people he met along the way. Harry's remarkable diaries have now been transcribed by his son John, and the resulting Chronicles offer a first-hand view of climbing and walking in Britain in the 1940s. With an enthusiasm for the outdoors and a sense of fun that springs from every entry, The Climbing Chronicles is an entertaining and fascinating - not to mention quirky - read.

Textauszug

— Our doings in the Lake District —

July 1942

Saturday 11th July

Victoria Station 9.35 by luck and nowt else, everyone seemed to be making tracks for same place. Found couple seats on train in No. 11 platform – fleeting glimpse of Norman & Mother.

Train left 9.50ish stopped Bolton, Chorley and Preston – persuaded nervousy lady not to change – ‘crowned’ by her suitcase as train jerked into motion. Left Lancaster noon, changed Carnforth – complete with lady and suitcase. Had choc. (wrapped in plain cellophane) on way to Oxenholme – changed again at this fair spot and finally reached Windermere around 1.40.

Weather cloudy (white, low and thick) with intermittent sunshine. Piloted nervousy lady with suitcase into Toby Jug – passable luncheon – jellied veal, salad (ok) bread & butter – cherry flan (excellent), price 3/2 (not so good).

Deposited NL and suitcase at queue for Ambleside bus and returned to weigh rucksack outside Toby Jug.

At the cost of 1d each obtained the following results:

Alex 12 st. 8 lb. without rucksack, 14 st. 10 lb. with 30 lb. rucksack

Self 9 st. 13½ lb. without rucksack, 12 st. 9½ lb. with 38 lb. rucksack

Two pairs of boots!

Bought cards and things and sauntered down to Bowness – visited boys and then changed to boots on hill overlooking tennis courts – bar of Alex’s chocolate.

Crossed via Bowness ferry in company with hordes of Moira House Schoolgirls and so hit the trail skirting Windermere and going North.

Very warm work in fact almost bloody warm and rather chaffing on the pieds.

Four cyclists only passed us on this stretch. Stopped for sandwiches near Blelham Tarn 5.30 and so to main Ambleside–Skelwith Bridge road.

We were gazing pensively at a Ribble bus timetable when a car came past and stopped down the road. It turned out to be a taxi but the trip in style to Ambleside was under the circumstances cheap at 6d each.

Had a beer each at pub in Waterhead (Waterhead Hotel) and sauntered up towards centre of Ambleside – 1d bus ride to centre – rot setting in and finally caught 7.22 to Grasmere (rather full).

Reached YH just in time for soup course – usual moan from Warden re. lateness (Russian order to be got away!).

Net result of 8- or 9-mile road walk – one blister on sole of left foot and general soreness of both feet – curse it.

After supper dived down to Travellers’ Rest but no cider! Had a beer followed by another ‘tonic’ shandy at the Swan. And the rains came – managed to get our feet wet in dash back through fields.

‘It’s eleven o’clock British Double Summer Time?’

Sunday 12th July

Terrific morning – cloudless etc, repeated last night’s performance of cold shower – very acceptable too. Decent brekker – plenty of sugar but surprisingly little milk.

Did my chores i.e. just in time to peel one potato. Warden has a bit of a bark (and large corporation) but runs the place very efficiently and is really quite a good soul.

Took photo of Youth Hostel and sent card to mother.

Left 10ish and proceeded up the valley – took photo of house in foreground and crags at head of valley.

Proceeded to Easedale Tarn non-stop, soles of feet beginning to feel sore and damned hot and rucksack tending to weigh (Alex carrying rope – thank God!).

Carried on to next tarn which proved to be missing – rested and then tackled last bit to col beneath Sergeant Man – sun now gone in but magnificent view. On our way up a bomber had the audacity to fly below the thick white clouds (at about 3,000 ft) and up the Thirlmere Valley below level of Helvellyn.

Skirted back of Pavey Ark and Pikes – feet raising hell at this point! and finally after a last tough bit when rucksack also began to make its presence felt we reached Angle Tarn about 2ish. Here we had lunch with two very cheerful girls Kay (Bournemouth) & Dorothy (Cheltenham) who were going from Elterwater to Wasdale YH in sandals – occasioned by blistered and sore feet. Actually it was their first time in LD but we began to see sense when it transpired that they were just completing training at London College (evacuated to Huddersfield) as gym instructresses for seniors eleven and on.

They had a very amusing way of pinning gaily coloured socks out to dry on back of ruckers.

We carried on together to Esk Hause (photo of Gable in cloud) and Sprinkling Tarn at which point the sun came out, for as it turned out the remainder of the day.

And so to Sty Head and a rest and sunbathe. Here our paths parted and around 4.20 we started along Gable Traverse after taking photos of Piers Ghyll – Scafell on one and Great End on another.

Carefully inspected East Face of Kern Knotts, Innominate etc. – photo of Kern Knotts Chimney – sky at this time was cloudless and the sunshine and shadows terrific.

We then reached the Needle after a bit of sweat along the Traverse.

Took what should be good photos of Needle and Langmell – Piers Gill (1/125, f11).

Had a ‘do’ at Wasdale Crack but at the difficult bit thought twice (right foot too shakey after strenuous tramp).

Nice trek along traverse to col between Gable and Kirkfell during which we got a glimpse of IoM and later from the col of Dumfries – photo of panorama.

Dropped down in blazing sunshine and rather painfully to Black Sail Hut – noticing on route decent pool for bathing (mental note) – arrived 7.20ish.

Hostel almost full – four girls and ten chaps. Good dinner followed by a bathe and attention to feet. Took view of Hostel in sunshine f11 – 1/25.

Monday 13th July

Bathe in the small pool upstream – good brekker – card to mother. Left Hostel 10 a.m. approx. – down valley through Forestry Commission to bridge over R. Liga, raining very steadily cloud below 2,000 ft.

Climbed up watercourse until we came to what appeared to be base of Pillar – sheltered and had chocolate & cigarette – more climbing damned steep!

Reached a track which appeared too low for High Level Route – crags all round – no sign of Pillar – decided to carry on to top and find ourselves and so arrived on ridge and top of Pillar Mtn. – had lunch 12 a.m.

No sign of Pillar Rock! – took compass bearing and over the edge we go – Pisgah thank goodness – on to the top as a matter of form and then down into Jordan’s Gap – still raining.

Examined climbs – crikey are they difficult – look lousy – finally decided to tackle West Jordan Climb 50 ft.

Half way up just past the scarp – ‘wish I didn’t feel so windy’ – belayed at top – Alex came up without any trouble. Rambled around top of the rock and then climbed down Central Jordan.

Dropped down wicked looking scree to top of this ‘ere Walker’s Gully (Severe).

My hat! – the ‘book’s’ remarks re. the finish of the climb are certainly justified.

Nearly shot down scree and over the top.

Alex climbed up V groove on side of Shamrock and self prospected top of W. Gully – def. lousy for a short man.

Decided to give front face of Shamrock a miss due to unhealthy state of ‘holds’ – lichen covered and very wet!

Finally dropped down to bottom and ate some more chocolate after which carried up hillside track leading to Scarth Gap.

Reached same as we thought 5.10ish (collected horse shoe on top of Scarth Gap) but later on meeting three Yorkshire girls found it to be ten to six and learned they had swiped last of tea at Gatesgarth so we turned round and accompanied them back to base – interesting chat with ‘tartan skirt’.

Just in time for supper. After supper Alex & self did a spot of gymnastic work on ‘Gable End’ and afterwards decided to make a trip with three girls up hillside to rocks at top recommended by Warden as useful for practice.

Alex & Tartan (Oily) reached rocks first and started climbing. Barbara Boat next climbed on left and I stood below giving a running commentary. Dorothy Scaife was just above me when Alex shouts ‘look out’ and low and behold a large boulder about 2 ft. cube started descending rapidiment – at first it seemed to be in my line but suddenly hit the head of a slanting gully and shot in three pieces right at Dorothy. She ducked flat on the floor and the biggest piece passed about a foot or so over her head. Unfortunately there was a certain amount of ‘shrapnel’ and she was cut on the hand (about ¾ inches and quite deep) and slightly on the face.

We returned with much wisecracking to Hostel, Dorothy fortunately being the nurse of the party did some useful first aid to the accompaniment of Beethoven’s Fifth.

Had two bars of choc together – Alex mended his boot. I chatted with the Warden (Preston chap) but didn’t succeed in getting some tea! – and so to bed, ‘The 13th’.

Tuesday 14th July

Rose 7.30ish cloudy – spot of blue sky – showery. Alex & I had bathe before breakfast.

Peeled spuds as chore. Had word with big Canadian member of RCAF 214 Sq RAF.

Donned shorts and green jersey – packed rucker with rope and horseshoe. Had further words with Oily, Dor & Barb during which promised to respond to request to send prints of Black Sail Hut and one of Napes Needle for Tartan.

After usual farewells left and trudged up Black Sail Pass in dry weather.

Spot of rain near top of pass but that was all.

Chatted to two girls and then started up path to Looking Stead – reached cain below summit and started on High...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 15.12.2014
• Verlagsort: London
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Biografien / Erfahrungsberichte
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Essays / Feuilleton
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Sport
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Geowissenschaften ► Geografie / Kartografie
• ISBN-10: 1-898573-93-X / 189857393X
• ISBN-13: 978-1-898573-93-7 / 9781898573937