Number in series 26; Year of publication 1932 - Fell and Rock ...
Number in series 26; Year of publication 1932 - Fell and Rock ...
Number in series 26; Year of publication 1932 - Fell and Rock ...
- No tags were found...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
182SIXTY YEARS AGOBY G. GRAHAM MACPHEE.In the Annual Report for the past year attention is drawn tothe small use made <strong>of</strong> the climb<strong>in</strong>g books provided <strong>in</strong> Clubcentres for members. The custom <strong>of</strong> record<strong>in</strong>g expeditions <strong>and</strong>climbs appears just recently to have fallen <strong>in</strong>to desuetude. Uptill four or five years ago accounts <strong>of</strong> members' do<strong>in</strong>gs were put<strong>in</strong> these books as a matter <strong>of</strong> course, <strong>and</strong> it seems strange thatthe practice should have ceased comparatively suddenly.One reason for this fall<strong>in</strong>g-<strong>of</strong>f might be that no noteworthyclimbs have been done recently. However, it is known that manynew routes have been made, some <strong>of</strong> them exceptionally severe,others moderate, <strong>and</strong> many old climbs have been repeated, soother reasons must be found. Perhaps it is sheer laz<strong>in</strong>ess; orthat climbers nowadays are so superior that they do not considerthese climbs worth record<strong>in</strong>g—surely the pride that apeshumility. Let us hope it is not selfishness, for that perta<strong>in</strong>s moreto angl<strong>in</strong>g than to climb<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> nobody should want to keepsecret some specially delectable scansorial discovery.It was my luck last June to go to Wastdalehead for theweek-end without previously arrang<strong>in</strong>g to meet a climb<strong>in</strong>gcompanion. To my surprise, not only was I the only would-beclimber there, but I appeared to be the only visitor at all, untila belated fell-walker or tourist turned up late on the Saturdayeven<strong>in</strong>g.A perusal <strong>of</strong> the Club climb<strong>in</strong>g book was no solace for mysolitude, as noth<strong>in</strong>g fresh had been entered s<strong>in</strong>ce my last visit.A glance at the old Visitors' Book revealed a different state <strong>of</strong>affairs. This conta<strong>in</strong>s most <strong>of</strong> Will Ritson's book, bound <strong>in</strong>leather <strong>and</strong> presented to the hotel by a benefactor whose<strong>in</strong>troductory note is pasted <strong>in</strong>side the cover.In those days people went to the opposite extreme <strong>and</strong>recorded the most trivial excursions, such as go<strong>in</strong>g over StyheadPass, walk<strong>in</strong>g from Gosforth, or even visit<strong>in</strong>g the shores <strong>of</strong>Wastwater. Many <strong>of</strong> the entries are <strong>in</strong>credibly banal, still morehave childish orthographical faults which make MonsieurPerrichon's little lapse seem not only probable but almost<strong>in</strong>evitable. Nevertheless, among them is much good sense.