Almost Completely in the Words of Others. Due to the meet organizer picking up a last minute deal to head off to the French alps and indulge in blowing his carbon allowance for the year and getting a lot of great snow, the following words are all from people on the meet with nearly no adulteration from the copy'n'paste collator, so you'll have to figure out who the various 'I's are within the text.

Well we eventually found the hut by default and sorry to have bothered you at such a late hour, but you'll be glad to know that we found the bunkhouse warm and welcoming on our arrival.

I had a strained neck and shoulder so didn't bring my climbing gear with me, but I think it would've been a tad cold belaying on Saturday, although Tony spent the day with Anna and Catherine teaching them how to set-up anchors and placing gear and Anna did her first VDiff lead. It was my first lead- albeit a baby one. Rachel and Neville both arrived on Saturday morning, arranging to meet at Stanage car park. On arrival, however, it was decided that the winds were too high for Stanage, so they headed over to the more sheltered Rivlin, where they soloed and lead 7 routes, including Regular Route (HVS 5a).

Five Bikes, Simon and Janet went cycling somewhere.

Cath, Maija, Emma and I went for a walk along Stanage Edge in quite pleasant conditions, nice and sunny although with a brisk wind. Emma unfortunately had to turn-back due to feeling feint with her flu bug. And later we all met up for tea and shopping in Outside of course!!

Saturday night was spent in the hut. New girl Emma taught Jules how to make handicraft bracelets, but no other major events of interest occurred (at least none that I was aware of).

Despite there being room in the hut, Neville decided to brave the winds and the freezing temps and sleep in his tent outside. After a bottle of wine and a mug of warm milk and brandy, Neville didn't even notice the cold and was surprised to find a small amount of snow had settled on his tent by the morning.

The weather was deemed too bad to climb on Sunday (high winds, black skies, hail and brimstone), so Neville found his car had been volunteered to drive people to the start of a walk up Jacob's Ladder. With a slight reluctance, Neville was persuaded to join Mayja, Jules, Cath B and Catherine O'C on the walk. Much of the walk was done facing backwards or with hands covering faces in order to protect eyes from the pelting hail stones. At the top (or as close as they could get given the winds at the top), they stopped to contemplate the insanity of the fell runners racing below. Bravely struggling in the conditions and looking miserable in their shorts [Mountain Rescue reported 10 people with various hypothemia symptoms taking part in the 24 mile Edale Skyline race.] I didn't understood why people running to the mountains, but it is very hard work, isn't it? That's why there were only skinny guys :-)

Feeling virtuous at having braved the weather, they all headed back to the Outside cafe for lunch and pre-home time faff.

And that's about it, I think Tony and Anna went for a walk near Chatsworth, and I expect Five Bikes, Simon and Janet went biking somewhere.