Newlands Valley and the approach track in foreground
The Carlisle Climbing Club hut in the Newlands Valley is a bit of a throwback to a bygone age of (Victorian) endeavour! Hard to get to, a two kilometre track at the end of a narrow country lane, no electricity so heating by a pot bellied stove only, and lighting by gas lamps! These hardships only added to the experience of the few hardy members who attended the meet.
the hut 
damp 
snowy
Six members: Karl and Jayne, Richard, Alan, Simon and Carmen, met up on Friday night and were joined by Rebecca on Saturday morning.
The weather was grim at valley level in the morning. Richard headed off for the tops around Grizedale while Karl nobly volunteered to stay in the hut to mither the stove before eventually venturing out up the valley towards Dale head. The rest headed off down the valley to scale the Cat Bell/ Maiden Moor/High Spy ridge, heading south into increasingly wintry weather, eventually battling up Dale Head and Hindscarth, where the weather was horizontal wet snow.
richard 
richard
Everyone returned to a very warm hut and whilst Simon and Carmen returned to York for a music gig followed by a running event in the Peak District on Sunday, and Rebecca went home to Ambleside; the four remaining got stuck into the food. Mexican Tortillas to start from Richard, Mexican Chili from Karl and Jayne and finally not Mexican but Yorkshire Fat Rascals from Alan. All slept well!!!
stove 
scoff
The morning came with much clearer weather. Richard went off to do some Wainwrights near Skiddaw. Alan had a great day on Blencathra where although the sky was blue there was a strong cold wind and blowing snow which was laying and compacting well. Jayne and Karl planned to go biking in Grizedale but eventually made the right decision to also venture onto the slopes of Blencathra and some spectacular views.
Blencathra looking magnificent in the snow
A good meet in a remote and atmospheric hut. Everybody got out and did stuff despite the weather. Just as it should be.