BB1942 : End of Year Report

Saturday 28th December 2019

Another year of keeping the relentless, remorseless old foe at bay is now almost complete.  How have we fared?  Well, today’s outing was a minor triumph.  The forecast of a few days back proved wrong (again) and it turned out to be dry if somewhat atmospherically gloomy.  Not a day for the high or boggy fells but ideal for an end of year scamper on limestone.

Our objective was The Derby Arms at Witherslack but although we parked only a hundred yards away, we had to earn the right to enter and that meant walking first to Lord’s Seat on Whitbarrow Scar, there to meet, we hoped, with Martin C and Stuart who would approach from the north end.

It was good to have Ian back with us from the deep south (well, Cheshire, actually) for his seasonal outing, along with son George.  Martin S was also accompanied by his son, Jamie.  Mike, Philip, Terry and I completed the southern team.

We managed to pass the front door of the pub without cheating and made our way over to the woods at the foot of the scar.  

Here we had a setback.  The path shown on the map didn’t seem to exist on the ground.  There were stern signs warning us off.  After a bit of consultation with competing mapping apps that didn’t agree on where we were, we climbed a steep, wooded banking and over onto the huge slab that is the old quarry floor.

In reality this was a more interesting way to the top (and not as greasy as I feared) but it did put us behind schedule for meeting at the appointed time.  At the top of the quarry slope we joined the “proper” path up and onto the scar.  The distant views were mistily atmospheric.  We might have been in anticyclonic gloom but it didn’t feel gloomy.

In the distance we could see Martin and Stuart waiting for us at the Lord’s Seat cairn.  

We stopped there for a light bite.  Martin C tried to ply us with seasonal whisky.

Having failed in his attempt to get us all drunk, he waved us farewell and returned to the north.  We, now accompanied by Stuart, descended by the somewhat slippery, steep path down to the Witherslack naughty boys school.

Our route to our final objective was via the bridle path that leads over Yewbarrow and down to the Derby Arms for the traditional walk and year ending activity.

So that concludes the BOOTboys year.  How have we fared compared with those previous?  Well, at the end of this report, the nerds amongst you can examine the stats compiled by this nerd.  For the moment, suffice it to say that it has been a very enjoyable year both socially and in terms of activity but, if those of us who have it in mind to achieve the objective of completing our Wainwright rounds, in 2020 we must try harder!

Let me finish by thanking all the Comitibi for their comradeship throughout 2019 and to wish all our Followers a very Happy New Year.

And to get it off to a jovial start, here is a caption competition for you.

Mike managed to capture me in a rather strange position.  

A modest prize awaits the person who submits the most amusing caption.

Entries by Sunday 5th January 2020 please.

Don, Saturday 28th December 2019

Stats for the Nerds:

The total number of qualifying events was 42, just above average, and the number of participants was 24, which is at the upper end of the scale, as was the average turnout per outing (4.9).  That’s the good news.

The less impressive stat is that our total feet climbed, 83,089, was rather poor (albeit better than 2018) and the average (1,978) represents the first drop below the 2,000 mark since 2013.  However the average distance (9.5 miles) was only a little behind and the total mileage (397) a fraction ahead of the long term figure.

 

BOOTboys

If you want to follow
T
he BOOTboys
let us know and
you will receive
automatic
notification
of new
BOOTboys reports

          Click on
to contact us.

BOOTboys
are now on Facebook

  

For the Index pages
of our various outings
click on the relevant
link below:

Home Page

BB04

BB05

BB06

BB07

BB08

BB09

BB10

BB11

BB12

BB13

BB14

BB15

BB16

BB17

BB18

BB19

Archive

If you want to know which BOOTboys reports refer to having visited any particular Wainwright or certain other tops, see BOOTboys Hill Log
 Warning- it might not be fully up-to-date!

Do you have any comments you would like to make or questions you would like to ask?

If so, please click on .  We look forward to hearing from you.  If you do NOT want your comments to appear on this website, please say so otherwise we will assume that we have your permission for publication in whatever responsible manner we consider appropriate.  Alternatively you can leave a comment on Facebook.

If you would like to become a BOOTboys Follower click on to let us know and you will receive automatic notification of new reports.

Comitibus:

Comitibus:  Don, Martin S, Jamie, George, Ian, Terry, Mike, Stuart, Philip, Martin C

Map OS 1:50k

STATISTICS

BB1942 : End of Year Report

Date:

Saturday 28th December 2019

Features:

Whitbarrow Scar

Comitibus:

Don, Ian + George, Martin C, Martin S + Jamie,
Mike, Philip, Stuart, Terry

Distance in miles (Garmin):

8.7

Height climbed in feet (OMN):

1,591

GPX track

BB1942.gpx

 

If you want to follow The BOOTboys let us know and you will receive automatic notification of new BOOTboys reports.   Click on to contact us.  BOOTboys are also on Facebook

For the index pages of our various earlier outings click on the relevant link below:

Home

BB04

BB05

BB06

 BB07

BB08

BB09

BB10

BB11

BB12

BB13

BB14

BB15

BB16

BB17

BB18

BB19

Archive

Photos have been gleaned from many sources although mostly from me and other BOOTboys. Likewise written comment.
I apologise if I have failed to acknowledge properly the source or infringed copyright.
Please let me know and I will do my best to put things right.
Unless stated otherwise, please feel free to download the material if you wish.
A reference back to this website would be appreciated.

BOOTboys 2019

E-mail addresses on this web site are protected by Email Riddler

Spam Trawlers will be further frustrated by  Spam Blocker: help fight spam e-mail!

 BOOTboys© is a Lakeland Enterprise production brought to you by

Comitibus Communications©

Do you have any comments you would like to make or questions you would like to ask?

If so, please click on .  We look forward to hearing from you.  If you do NOT want your comments to appear on this website, please say so otherwise we will assume that we have your permission for publication in whatever responsible manner we consider appropriate.  Alternatively you can leave a comment on Facebook.

If you would like to become a BOOTboys Follower click on to let us know and you will receive automatic notification of new reports.