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Chairman’s report During the last quarter there has been

virtually no official club activity owing

to the Covid-19 pandemic, this is

unprecedented. Thinking back to 2001

and foot and mouth disease while the

countryside was off limits we were still

allowed to congregate and indoor venues

like climbing walls and gyms were open.

We became quite creative. I remember

booking a trip down Boulby Potash Mine

for cavers to escape from the damaging

solar radiation.

With Covid-19 it has been the opposite.

Wild places have been the best places

to go; making those of us who live with

easy access realise how lucky we are. I

know that many members have been

taking advantage of the opportunity to

explore their local area more thoroughly

and found many surprises under their

noses. Alison and I have walked, run and

mountain-biked from home every week.

We've watched the nature around us

develop week on week with the seasons

and felt a closer connection. It has

made us re-think that we probably

should travel a bit less and enjoy what

is near to us more.

At the end of May and into June, slight

changes to the rules led to sea

kayakers, climbers and mountain bikers

venturing out in socially-distanced

groups of 6 or less. As we head into

July walkers are picking up a programme

of walks within the rules and keeping

local to reduce the road miles. Cyclists

have been on the roads throughout in ad

hoc small groups. This is becoming a bit

more structured, again within guidelines.

Cavers are arranging trips on an ad hoc

basis, but skiers don't have much

opportunity after the season came to an

unceremoniously early close.

We'll monitor the guidelines and

cautiously resume our activities. I hope

the much-talked-about second wave

doesn't materialise or is not severe and

our lives can return to some normality. I

think this pandemic will have changed all

of us in some way. Not all of it is bad,

but for many, who have lost loved ones

or their jobs or livelihood, life will never

be the same. I wish you all well and hope

you'll be fully enjoying the club's normal

activities and the deep friendships that

are built on that base as soon as

possible

.

April, May, June

2020

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Climbing Section

In lieu of being able to actually climb the climbers have been looking

longingly at a variety of rocks on their daily journeys out and about,

checking they’re still there and still climbable, all strictly observing the

Government guidance of course!

Scarecrow Crack East Banks and Jordu

While other climbers have been doing

their best to increase Club membership. Welcome

to the beautiful Bethany Fairbank and

congratulations to Mark and Anne.

Bethany has already been to her

first crag, such a lucky girl!!

For those climbers who were lucky enough to be in lockdown with another

climber they have been taking their allotted daily exercise in the glorious

spring weather.

May 18th, Peak Scar

Janet on Walking, Peak Scar Saturday. First

climbs of the year. I thought we might be the

first there but we’d been beaten to it. Also got to

Hag wood today (sheltered from the wind).

It`s much easier for us not having to worry

about social distancing! Phil Wadsworth

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May 25th, Wainstones

Wainstones was as beautiful as

ever. Phil and Janet looked ok

too. I was happy to boulder.

And rescue someone on a v dif

because they were too scared

having been unable to place

enough gear. - they went on to

boulder a f6. Just shows the difference in the

disciplines. Paul Gibb

May 31st, Park Nab

Pleasant hot afternoon with Phil

and Janet at Park Nab. Good to

see Graham and the boys as well.

John Birtall

June 3rd, Ingleby Incline

Phil and Janet in action on 'The Corner'

(VS 4c) at Ingleby Incline. Not many

midges this time and the rain held off.

Mark and Anne there with Bethany, Ray

also there, and late arrival Jim.

June 25th, Raven’s Scar

Some photos from Raven`s Scar.

"Airlift" and Jim on "Stardust" Just

squeezing in a 5b at the end of the

evening... It`s what happens when the

pubs are closed! Phil Wadsworth

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How to enjoy the outdoor

activities of your choice with the

greatest safety…….

There will be a limit of 6 people

on any trip, including the leader.

More than one trip can be

arranged if there

are more than 6

people.

Cars should not be

shared unless

people are from the

same household

Activities should be

within your capabilities

to help reduce reliance

on others for help and

assistance.

Food and drink should

not be shared.

Always contact the trip leader

prior to the trip.

And maintain social distancing at

all times.

Funding

Swaledale Outdoor Club has a

history of supporting members in

competitive activities and

expeditions and we have a

brilliant article on page 9 from

Isobel Brooks, recipient of a

competition grant.

These grants can be used to

purchase specialist equipment,

help towards travel and

accommodation costs or specific

training. Competitors should be at

a high standard, such as Isobel,

and to have shown commitment

and determination to have

reached this standard.

Members can also apply for

grants to help towards the costs

of a specific expedition. This can

include maps, visas, travel or

equipment costs.

Both grants are open to all

members. Your application needs

to identify what you need the

expenditure for, what you hope to

gain from the planned

competition or expedition and

how much you are applying for.

We expect to review the criteria

and processes for all club funding

over the next few months; the

results of this will be published in

the newsletter.

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April 7th, Life in a Bubble Then there were two of us....

The world may have stopped, nature does not

and it beckoned the two of us to escape the

bubble, get our boots on and rejoice in what

nature in Spring has to offer. A lot! We are

indeed privileged to live amid such beauty

and the current crisis was an opportunity to

explore our own locality in detail. We walked

paths and tracks for the first time despite

being resident in Gayles for almost 13 years! We encountered barely a

soul.

This was a refreshing 10 miler taking in the becks that run from Dalton

through Ravensworth, Hartforth to Gilling; picnic by the water's edge on

banks ablaze with colour; then a climb up from Hartforth following Jagger

Lane and into the refreshing cool of Gilling Wood. We paused by the

plague stone on Richmond Road expecting to see toilet rolls to have been

left rather than loaves of bread; then up to the moor top which echoed to

the song of skylark and curlew followed by a descent into Gayles to a cold

beer in a cottage garden.....O so privileged when I consider the stricken

lives of others.

We must try and plot this route using the new OS kit and Geoff's

instructions. It will probably take me longer than the walk.

Cheers everyone. Take care. See you soon. Graham & Glenys Rogers

Spring in North Yorkshire

Photos courtesy of walking section members

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April 23rd, Along the Swale

Last Thursday I walked out from my home in Richmond upstream,

pausing regularly to absorb the tranquillity and beauty of the glorious

woodland. A new flower was Herb Paris, a little further on I exchanged

glances with a Roe Deer. A dipper sang heartily from his stone in the

river as I approached Hudswell Steps. Up to the top, along the path and

through to the village of Hudswell emerging by the Church. Walking

downstream towards Green Bridge where I spotted a Sand Piper.

I continued to Angel’s Share Bakery to buy some delicious bread to take

home for lunch, yum! Caroline Stott

7th May, Coalsgarthdale I donned my shorts for the first time this year and headed off for a

solitary walk as Ron was busy with his lockdown project of building a shed

cum summerhouse at the bottom of the garden.

I crossed the fields onto the old racecourse. I left the

racecourse, crossing fields and descended into

Coalsgarthdale where the gorse was in full bloom. There

were also lots of primroses along the wall at the edge of the

woodland on the southern side of the valley.

The derelict farmhouse halfway along the dale was the inspiration for

Peter Robinson’s novel, Before the Poison. Several years ago Ron and I

joined the walk that he led in Coalsgarthdale for the Richmond Walking

and Book festival when he talked about the book.

At Coalsgarth Gate I turned left and headed along the track to join Hurgill

Road next to Beacon Cottage and then I rejoined the racecourse near

High Gingerfield Lodge.

I enjoyed the walk so much that I persuaded Ron to abandon his shed

building yesterday and we walked the route in reverse, extending it

slightly by heading up Westfields and taking the track next to Whitcliffe

Farm to reach Beacon Cottage on Hurgill Road. Pat Kassell

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May, Three Walks for the Price of One

Having returned to the UK on Friday 20 March my plan was to swap my

sailing kit for walking kit and head out into the hills as soon as possible

with my SOC friends. The UK going into lockdown three days later put

paid to that little plan.

Under normal circumstances Frank Broughton,

Bruce Stainsby and Graham Moss would join me

on occasions, as a group, for a walk and natter.

This was not currently permissible as a group so

instead I set up three May walks; Tuesday 19

with Graham, Friday 22 with Frank and Tuesday

26 with Bruce.

For the walk with Graham we had a great, if cloudy, windy and cold at

times, walk over to and onto Fremington Edge before crossing back over

Arkengarthdale and up to Fore Gill Gate before returning to the cars

under a blue sky and shirtsleeve weather. Having not previously seen at

first hand the impact of the July 2019 floods in Arkengarthdale and

Swaledale, I was shocked by the amount of devastation caused to the

riverbanks and adjoining areas and pleased to hear that SOC was

supporting initiatives to repair some of the damage.

Friday saw me and Frank park near the outskirts of Marske and make our

way over towards Hurst and up onto Fremington Edge before returning

via Telfit Bank to the cars by mid-afternoon. Though we walked in bright

sunshine for most of the time it was again a day of very high winds

enhanced at regular periods by wind driven showers.

The final walk of the three saw me and Bruce meet up on the edge of the

North York Moors and follow the route of the Guisborough Moor Race.. No

cold northerly winds this time, just a nice clear, sunny and warm day to

enjoy the far reaching views out to the North Sea (watch out for me

hopefully sailing past in July 2021) and back over to Captain Cook’s

Monument and Roseberry Topping with great chunks of North Yorkshire

laid out below us.

It was great to be back out with SOC friends in the Dales and Moors,

catching up on their news and adventures far and wide before the world

came to a halt. ‘Three Walks for The Price of One’ can definitely be

recommended though the same can’t be said for some of the home

haircuts seen along the way. Trevor Thurlow

May 26th, Bempton Cliffs

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I went kayaking with two club members, obviously

I love life and we all observed strict self-isolating,

on and off the water. 5 hours of mind relief! Mark Redmond

Membership Cards

Please note that membership cards are no longer being sent out to new

and renewing members. In order to obtain shopping discounts please

download the SOC discount list from the website and present this when

making a purchase.

Communications Policy

This has been reviewed and updated. The updated version is now on the

website for those of you who are interested. You will also find a whole

range of policies there that I bet you never knew existed, some

interesting reading for those of you who are still in isolation!

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Swaledale Outdoor Club competition funding Thank you very much to SOC for giving me a grant towards my ski racing

costs. I have used the £260 grant to buy a cat suit and GS poles for my

racing and training this year (as seen in the photo).

I have been skiing since I was 4 and started

training for slalom racing when I was 9. This was

mostly with Tigers Ski Club at Sunderland dry ski

slope, but I was also invited to join Richmond

School’s training (also at Sunderland) from age

10. I attend school training most Tuesday

evenings and also attend Ravens Tigers Racing

training from time to time. I’m now 15.

I regularly compete in dry slope slalom events around the UK and the

school team enters the English Schools Ski Association (ESSkiA) races

each year. We have reached the national final several times and last year

also reached the British final.

This year Richmond School entered a girls’ team into the British

Schoolgirls races in Flaine, France, both at

the end of January. I was a member of the

girls’ team of three. We arranged 2 days of

local coaching in slalom and giant slalom

followed by 2 days of racing in these

disciplines. We finished in the top half of the

field and the races were a fantastic

experience.

From my results in the ESSkiA races, I was selected for the ESSkiA

training camp in Geilo, Norway at the end of February. This was a full

week of intensive training with some of the best skiers in the country and

I was very pleased to record the 3rd fastest female time for GS on the

timed runs. I enjoyed the week thoroughly, making new friends as well.

Ski racing is a very rewarding sport. There is a high level of commitment

to training, but seeing this lead to improving performance is very

satisfying. I have made good friends in the ski team, in Ravens Tigers

Racing and with other skiers I regularly meet at races. Richmond School

needs more members to strengthen the squad and I would recommend it

to anyone who has a little skiing experience. If you’d like to give it a try,

please contact my Mum or Dad. Isobel Brooks

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We’ve had to abandon our planned programme of rides so if

you’re not on our mailing list and you’d like to join the club for

a ride then contact the Mountain Bike section organiser via our

website.

June 14th, Reeth

Game on for the mountain bike section!

We had two groups out today (a six and

a four) - our first club rides for three

months. It was great to catch up with

friends and

eat ice-cream

on Reeth

green

afterwards.

June 20th, Wensleydale Great ride in Wensleydale today,

five of us out, a lovely warm day

and ice-cream to finish.

And another group out and about in

Wensleydale today. Thanks Russ

for organising a

second team,

good to see

people meeting up again.

June 27th, Reeth Fab ride from Reeth today. Weather better

than forecast. Thanks Judith & Steve for

organising.

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Pre-Lockdown Ski Touring - March 2020

Mark Ireland, Andrew Hogarth and I were all set for a classic hut to hut ski tour,

everything was booked and even the weather was looking settled and very

promising. Then coronavirus got in the way. Our tour was to start from Ischgl in

Austria and guess where the Austrian outbreak was centred? As the trip

approached, it became increasing unlikely. The day before we were due to fly,

the huts were closed and flights cancelled (with hindsight, this was quite lucky

as we may have found it extremely difficult to return home).

We needed a plan B. Scotland had had a pretty decent winter and some recent

snow. We were very conscious of coronavirus guidance and precautions and

needed to think what was possible and sensible. As we travelled north, we could

see that the snow line was around 500m, so we'd be carrying skis for a

significant part of the day. Mountains where we could gain height quickly and

stay high were what we needed. Above the snowline there looked to be good

snow cover.

Day 1 Beinn a Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach from Roughburn

Forest tracks and sodden, heather-covered peat took us to the SW ridge. Hard

going with skis, but the snowline was reached at 550m. We skied on skins with

ever-improving views across to the Easains, Grey Corries and Aonach Mor. Skins

stayed on for the traverse of the central (1052m) and northern tops (ever

watchful for the massive cornices

overhanging the eastern cliffs). Skins off and

at first conditions were challenging but it

wasn't long before we found beautiful

consolidated snow and had a lovely descent

to the col at 614m.

Skins on again and we picked our way up

through rocky outcrops to the summit of Beinn Teallach (915m). Going down

again we found the snow less forgiving than we expected. The valley became

quite a slow and tortuous route-picking exercise and we ended up back at the

car in the dark at 8pm (not sure quite how we did it without head torches).

Day 2 Creag Meagaidh from Moy

We'd spent a lot of time discussing options, but a brutal up and down of Creag

Meagaidh via the Moy Burn looked to promise maximum skiing. On the approach

we took a fancy to the Creag na Cailliche ridge, so picked our way up this. We

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managed to get our skis on at 500m and skinned up another 630m to the top.

Again there were some magnificent cornices near the summit. On the way up

we'd been looking into Coire na h-Uamha to the west and decided to change our

plan entirely and ski west from the summit to Bealach a Bharnish, then south

into the corrie. This was a great choice and we enjoyed a superb descent to the

col, then in the corrie to the forest. The forest track had superb snow cover and

allowed us an exciting ski all the way down to 400m before we ran out of snow

and had to carry skis.

Day 3 Meall nan Tarmachan

The plan was to ski Ben Lawers via Coire

Odhar. The advantage of this area being

that you can drive to 450m (the road to

Glen Lyon actually summits at 549m). I'd

received a phone call that I needed to

head home (my deputy's wife was

showing Covid-19 symptoms, so he

needed to self isolate at home). The

others drove to Ben Lawers to find the

snow cover was poor. Instead Mark headed west and summitted Meall nan

Tarmachan (1044m). He reported a worthwhile day, but not as good as the

previous 2.

This was a superb trip, having grabbed some excellent ski touring after the

disappointment of not going to Austria. Within 2 days of arriving home, the

country was in lockdown. Paul Brooks

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