2024 is a leap year and unbelievably it is 8 years since the silliness that was GC69ETG occurred on Dog Leap Stairs.
The Veterans Edition of “Leap Up the Stairs into Leap Year" will take place from 5:30pm to 6:00pm on Thursday 29th February 2024. Note the terrain rating for this event reflects not only the highly precipitous nature of the stairs but the degeneration of some potential attendees since 2016 😊.
The location is Dog Leap Stairs in Newcastle. These stairs lead up from The Side to Castle Garth, which is (as luck would have it!) very close to a certain hostelry called the Bridge Hotel often frequented by local cachers! Dog Leap Stairs are famous as the location of the elopement of Bessie Surtees and Baron Eldon in 1772. Eldon’s horse leapt up the stairs and off they went.
The leaping timeline:
- 5:30 pm Assembly: at the bottom of Dog Leap Stairs. Please wear (seriously) a hi-vis vest or jacket AND a silly hat as a bit of silliness. Please keep your hi-vis and hat attire hidden from muggles until the stated assembly time.
- 5:40 pm Leaping: leaping up the stairs begins, and proceeds until all attendees have made it safely to the top in Castle Garth.
- 5:45 pm Signing: the log book will be signed by all attendees.
- 5:50-6pm: group photograph, geochat and the event ends.
- 6:00 pm: optional retirement to the Bridge Hotel for refreshments and recovery.
Were you there in 2016? Do you think you can still make it? Come along and find out!
Cautionary note: the 29th February:
Ladies: remember this is your once-in-four-years chance to propose! Gentleman: be warned should you refuse a proposal on 29th February you will have to pay a penalty – traditionally 12 pairs of ladies gloves.
Please note that any attendees who cannot negotiate Dog Leap Stairs are very welcome to meet in Castle Garth, await the Leapers' arrival, and sign the log.