All photos & text courtesy for Dave Crowley

January and February, 1989

A group of LUHC-ers, doing what they do best, Clachaig Inn, 11 February 1989. Part of the Gang, having consumed copious amounts of 80 shillings, have a sing-song, which was probably derogatory about someone…

Somebody remembered it was DC’s birthday….


I was doing O.K. until Anne Leamey said “Isn’t it your birthday sometime around now DC?”

View across Hindscarth summit to the Skiddaw range. Having run away from a group who caught up with me at Dalehead, I decided I liked the look of the mountain on my right, so I did it. Nice view.

Keirsty and Helen put a survival bag to it’s proper use. Having caught up with the group again, and found they were being silly, I decided a photo was appropriate.

Arran , May 1989

View to Cir Mhor on the approach from Glen Rosa.

Group of LUHCers on the summit of Cir Mhor. From left to right, Jim, Linda, Oliver, and I think the girl hiding behind Linda was called Elaine.

View over DC’s boots to Glen Sannox. Laid back in a comfy position, I saw this view. Couldn’t be arsed to move my feet.

After the exertions of Saturday we decided to take it easy today. So we sat down on the side of the path, to think of silly things to do.

Yep, this Arran Granite is Sticky! Steve Baker’s contribution to silly time was to see if he could walk up the side of this boulder, no hands!

Linda’s abseil. Not to be out done by Steve, Linda decided to abseil off the boulder, all of 10’ high. (Well, Steve and I decided it would be fun, and talked her into it…)

The little things that liven things up… Of course, Arran is in Scotland, isn’t it? And what do you get in Scotland? Anti-midge precautions. LUHC style.

Skye 1989

Vicky and Oliver looking the worse for ware. Having survived the Mini-bus journey from Lancaster, they were actually too knackered to succumb to the pleasures of the Slighachan Hotel!

Linda is optimistic for the last half mile… Having managed to hitch from Slighachan to Staffin, we had to walk the last four miles or so to Floddigarry. Linda’s thumb didn’t work, so we had to walk all the way.

The easy way to move a tent. Continued in…

Even the wind gave a hand. Having gone for a walk along the Lochan, I returned to find the other three fighting the Dome. Never did find out why…

A Dome, a “Pastie.” And a Peapod. We eventually managed to get all three tents up, in an area about big enough for two..

A view of the next days route. Having fed and watered, we decided to climb the “Quirang”, which gave us this view of the way south which we’d be taking tomorrow.

We finally get going. Isn’t it typical? All summer term had been glorious sunshine (apart from week 1, but that was in Langdale..). This was June 24, Mid Summer’s day, so an Atlantic gale came in especially for us!

Ah yes, the “Pleasure Dome”. We walked as far as we could, but with the weather, and night coming in, we decided to leave the ridge, even thought we were still about four miles from our destination for the day. We found a sheltered spot , or so we thought.. Having made sure the Dome was safe for the girls, my tent was destroyed by a gust of wind, then the Pastie (Oliver’s) was damaged by the wind as we sat in the dome drinking tea. The net result: we all spent the night like Sardines, four of us in a two-man dome!
The “Pleasure Dome?” That was my contribution. We sat in the tent thinking of songs for the occasion, and Frankie goes to Hollywood’s album “Welcome to the Pleasure Dome” came to mind…

Feelings… Having got up about six o’clock the next day, we were discussing whether to go on or not. We decided that Linda’s feelings on the matter spoke for all of us… :)

LUHCers on Bla Bhein. Having spent a day in Portree recovering, we joined the rest of the gang in Glen Brittle, and the following day did Bla Bhein from Camasunary. John and a few others joined us for this one.

The view down to Glen Slighachan from the summit of Bla Bhein. No comment necessary, methinks!

Superman… Maybe the Pleasure Dome event got to Oliver, he seemed convinced he could fly off “the Prow” :)

Wales 1989

Llyn Idwal and Pen yr Ole Wen. Strictly speaking, this doesn’t belong here, ‘cos it was on an ‘extra curricular’ trip to Wales Linda and I went on during July. But the picture is nice, as was the trip, so I thought I’d throw it in.

South East ridge of Moel Siabod, looking south to the Moelwyns. Anybody who has read “The Duncton Chronicles” will know why I had to do Siabod. The two girls concerned weren’t too pleased when I called them back down about 200 m. But I think they made the Photo…

The Glyders and Tryffan from Siabod. A sight to warm the heart of any Mole! I asked a friend at work the other week, “What’s wrong with this photo?” His instant reply: “Well you’re on a mountain with four girls, for a start!” ‘Nuff said!

First ascent of Snowdon. 29 December 1989. Another ‘extra curricula’ trip with Linda, so we did Snowdon.. I think she thought I’d lost the plot when I started to run up the railway line, but I really wanted to get above that cloud inversion!

Linda with ”Vicky” scarf. Well that’s what she called it.

DC and Linda on the summit cairn.

It’s only faint, but it’s there! Cryb y Dysgol with Brocken Spectre, with the two of us forming the shadow.

Killin, 26-28 January 1990

8 out of 10…. We had a T-shirt at the time, which said Lancaster University Hikers, 8 out of 10 sheep prefer them” I think this proves a point, they’d followed us for about ½ a mile before I spotted them. :)

Asleep at the wheel? Linda after an aborted attempt on Ben Laws summit.

Early morning at Killin. One of my favourite photo’s. Not the kind of view to inspire one for a days on the fells, the view along Loch Tay from the camp site at Killin, about 0730 hrs, 28/1/1990.

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