Top Of The Old Man of Coniston Club members met at the Barrow Mountaineering Club hut in the Coppermines Valley near to Coniston in the Lake District for our first weekend meet of 2018. As affiliates of the British Mountaineering Club we are able to hire huts belonging to other clubs for our own sole use. This oneis near to the top of a hill track in the Coppermines Valley and offers accommodation for up to 16 guests. With a kitchen, lounge,three bedrooms plus wash rooms and toilets there is also a cosy atmosphere when the two wood burning stoves are lit. It is also well placed for walking as it is right next to the Coniston mountains 190 metres above sea level. On Friday people arriving early managed to get out to Levers Waterand other nearby locations while one group got to the top of Wetherlam 762 metres. With mostly clear conditions this was the best day for views. On Saturday everyone decided to head for Coniston Old Man 803 metres. Setting out at different times everyone was actually at the top at the same time for a group photograph. Higher up it wasmisty with the final 100 metres being a little icy and the summit quite frosted. Here we split into two groups. One headed down to Goat’s Hawse, Goat’s Water and the Walna Sca Road before returningto the hut whilst the other continued over Brim Fell to Swirl How.Here the descent down Prison Band to Swirl Hawse was quite icy andcare was needed to make a safe descent. From the Hawse a decent was made to Levers Water and then to the hut. In the evening there was a very sociable group meal with special thanks going to David, Michele and Helen for providing and cookingthe food. Many thanks also to everyone who got the hut ship shape on Sunday morning. There was a morning walk to Tarn Hows and Black Crag before everyone made their way safely home.
