EXTRACT FROM THE LOG BOOK DECEMBER 1950
The following appeared in the February 1998
newsletter……
…. which describes the very first Meet at Maes
Caradoc, 26th - 30 December 1950, and sounds quite
dramatic. Seven (of the current 18) members attended this
(third) Club Meet, and were persuaded to participate in
making a film of their first climb. This involved taking a
camera and tripod up through Cwm Idwal to the foot of the
Cneifon Arete, which was icy and treacherous. The film
director (John Fowle) sent most of the party up the arête
to be filmed in suitable positions, and Phil Gurdon obliged
the camera by climbing onto the skyline, then risking his
neck climbing onto the tea-table. A minor mishap proved to
be a blessing when John dropped the tripod about 200 ft,
with only minor damage, but in descending to retrieve it,
discovered the snow slope to be an ideal place from which
to shoot. Stella Chapman was then called upon to freeze in
position for some time whilst filming took place. After the
climbers reached the summit, Stella and John retired
(eventually) to the hut to thaw out. Having lit the fire,
and prepared supper, they decided that if the climbers had
not returned by 8.30pm they should go and search for them.
Accordingly, at 9pm they left for Idwal, one by the old
road and one by the new. John quickly met up with Phil
Gurdon and Geoff Smith, who reported that Inez McLaughlan
had sprained or cracked her ankle, and Phil Williams had
accompanied her to hospital in Bangor.
The climbing party had been up the Gribin Ridge,
descended via Bristly Ridge, and traversed for over an hour
in beautiful snow, before visibility worsened due to cloud
and snow. The compass being found unreliable, they ended up
on steep snow-covered rocks, near Glyder Fach. Rather than
continue into the unknown, they decided to retrace their
steps to Gribin, and by 4pm they judged (with the aid of
the map and compass) they had reached the head of Cwm
Idwal. A long snow slope gave an opportunity to gain from
the approaching darkness, by glissading down. But while
attempting to glissade, Inez caught her left foot, damaging
her ankle. It was impossible for her to walk, so she was
lowered down on a rope about 200ft, and then carried a
further 200ft by various members. It then became clear that
the party was in fact descending to Llyn Bochlwyd. As
darkness fell, they decided that someone should go for
help, and Geoff accordingly set off for Idwal Youth Hostel
to raise a stretcher party. He arrived there at 5.30pm in a
battered condition himself, having slipped several times on
large patches of ice, and wondering whether a 2nd stretcher
party might be needed! However, he made it, and those at
the Youth Hostel responded magnificently to the call for
volunteers, 17 people setting out with stretcher and
numerous torches, with Geoff as guide.
Meanwhile, Inez had been carried down to Llyn Bochlwyd and
along the track to Idwal by the others, but was suffering
from shock and the cold. By the time the two parties met at
the outflow of the Llyn, (6.30pm) the two Phils had
gallantly given her much of their clothing to wear, so the
sight of the rescuers torches was extremely welcome! It was
then discovered that the stretcher was without ropes, so
the remaining rope of the climbing party was used to help
lower the stretcher, with Inez, down the treacherous slope.
The rescue party reached the Youth Hostel about 8pm, with
much relief all round.
Inez had cracked her fibula, which was duly plastered and
she spent a night in hospital, thawing out. She was able to
leave the next day, and re-joined the meet, having been
collected by Stella and John, who drove up the old road
back to Maes Caradoc It appears that Inez stayed on, since
she is reported as providing supper while the others were
out walking. Some photographs taken during this meet are
now displayed at Caseg. But the film they made has not, so
far, come to light.