Karabiner Mountaineering Club

December 1998 Newsletter Forthcoming Meets

"I accept that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a risk of personal injury or death. I am aware of and shall accept these risks and wish to participate in these activities voluntarily and shall be responsible for my own actions and involvement."

Dec 6th: Kettleshulme Walk: Len & Ken

** THE VOLUNTEER IS PHIL RAMSBOTTOM **

The Kettleshulme meet on December 6th has Phil Ramsbottom as the leader for the fuller. After yet another birthday there is no way that I can lead a walk that would satisfy the youngers and middles. Last year Lorna kindly helped out but finding the way over the local stileage is not everyone's cup of tea. However all that is traditional is not of necessity earmarked for the meets wastebin, especially at this time of the year.

I cannot guarantee Olympic qualification but may be able to lead a minor circuit leisurely no doubt to the joy of others?. All I ask is that any member taking the job remembers that most of the people who turn up don't want gutting and like a pub stop at some time during the day, also coffee late morning requires a location not in a swamp. To satisfy me of your humanities, map reading capability and bull fighting potential 0161 42V 5230 is the number required. In the meantime the walk starts from Len Stubbs Kettleshulme bungalow namely 1 Paddock Close, off Paddock Lane opposite the Bull in Kettleshulme village at 9-30 Early morning tea etc will be available from around 8-30 am. Park with care etc. Usual rules apply.

Ken Beetham

Dec 12th - 13th: Christmas KMC Bash: The KMC

Valiantly organised this year by Roger and Brigit Mapleson. The cost is a mere six pounds (£6.00) and will secure you the usual Welsh Sunshine and Frolics. Volunteers are required to help with providing festive food and precise decorations. Music on-line and DJ's to hand.

Anne Woolley has volunteered as the cunning stunt co-ordinator and will be on the hunt for gaming members. Everyone at the hut will be expected to partake of these humiliating and degrading games, probably in relays so everyone gets a laugh at some point. Water pistols and farty balloons should be brought along to grease the operations.

Dec 19th - 20th: All yours

Dec 26th - 27th: Christmas recovery

Jan 2/3: No meet planned

Jan 9/10: Ty Powdyr

There will be a meet. Honest.

Jan 17: Roaches local Walk: Brian Taylor

Starts at Tittesworth reservoir car park GR 994603 OS Sheet 118. The route takes the ridge of the Roaches , then descending to Danebridge, the exact route from there back to car park is yet to be defined (it's a secret at the moment). Distance approx. 12 miles. Start 9:30 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. start.

Jan 24: Derwent Valley And Howden Edge Walk: Linda Crossley

Meet at the (free) car park at the National Park info centre between Derwent and Ladybower reservoirs (OS Outdoor Leisure 1, Dark Peak GR173 893) at 9.45am for the 10.00am bus (55p adults, 35p OAP's). There's only 1 bus per hour, so for late arrivals or if the weather is horrendous, then a walk up the east side of Derwent reservoir and turn east up Abbey brook valley to Sheepfold Clough is a shorter version of the walk.

The walk proper begins at the road head at the side of Howden reservoir (168 939). North through woods, over Slippery Stones, a re-erected 17th century Packhorse Bridge, and east up Cut Gate Path. Now continue south along Howden Edge, past High Stones to a broken wall leading to the top of Gravy Clough. Slither down to Abbey Brook; wade across this, scramble steeply up to pick up the path up Sheepfold Clough. Look for a Lost Lad, boulder on Back Tor then it's plain sailing along the crazy paving footpath. Pass by Cakes of Bread, a Salt Cellar and Wheel Stones to wend back through meadows and along the road back to the car park.

See me in the pub on Thursdays if you've any queries, for lifts etc.

Jan 30/31: Working Party Meet: Dave Wylie

Dave will supply details nearer the time. So keep you shovels clean until then.

Feb 7: Yorkshire Walk: Frank Williams

Meet at Ribble Head, parking at Grid Ref: 765793 Outdoor Leisure Map "The Three Peaks", near the junction of the B6479 with B6255.

This is a relatively dry route, and in the crisp conditions which I have ordered, will be absolutely fantastically enjoyable.

We follow the path by the railway north till we reach the portal of the Bleamoor Tunnel, itself an interesting monument to the nineteenth century engineering, then follow the track above the tunnel descending through the forest to the Dent Head portal. Down to Bridge End, where it is usually possible to buy a refreshing pint. (A pint, that is of, refreshing goats' milk !) We will then take it easy along Dentdale, walking alongside the interesting River Dee, stopping off for another pint at the pub at Cow Dub Bridge.

We leave the road at Ewegates and walk through fields to Whernside Manor, turning South East, we then walk along the spring line over Great Wold and Craven Wold. We may if the day allows then go over Whernside, them as wants to can. Then South-East by South we descend back to the south portal, to return down Little Dale to Ribble Head.

On the drive back we can recommend the Hill Inn or more Yorkshire fare at the "Settle Down" Caff in Settle itself. Lovely toasted teacakes runnin' Wi' butter and anyway "you can have anything you want at Alice's Restaurant" in the immortal words of Arlo Guthrie.

See you there it'll be great. In case of ten foot snowdrifts a more local walk will be arranged.

Feb 13/14: Alex Macintyre Hut, Onich: Andrew Croughton

Hopefully full winter conditions with easy access to the whole of the Nevis and Glencoe ranges. Limited to 16 places. £3.50 per night payed to Andrew will secure your place in heaven.

Can easily be combined with the following meet to make a really good week of snow and ice in the Scottish Mountains.

Feb 14/18: CIC Hut, Ben Nevis: Sean Kelly

Where else in the British hills does one find a 2 km sequence of ridges, gullies, walks and buttresses, which are home to a collection of the most brilliant ice routes to the true mountaineer. To ascend any of these magnificent lines is to step into Scottish climbing history - Raeburn & Bell, Smith & Marshall, Clough, Patey & MacInnes, and more recently Geddes, Rouse, Muir and Anderson! On my first trip to the Ben (1958) nearly all the major routes still awaited a second ascent and zero had only been climbed three times. How times have changed. I recall teaming up to climb with Mick Geddes, who later went on to do the first repeat of the Orion Face. Of climbing the 'Curtain' with Parbatti in '76 and Tower Ridge with Jim Symon in '83 both in "full conditions", of a perfect January day in '95 with Al Metelko and the whole place to ourselves (avalanche risk 5) and encountering a double cornice at the top of Ledge Route.

Tempted? Now for the hard sell - the Charles Ingles Clark hut is situated a good 2 hours walk up the Allt a' Mhuillinn (pron. Voolin), longer in deep snow. It's at GR NN168723 (BMC car-park at Tolundy). Cost for the week is £25 (twenty five pounds) non-refundable, payable to the meet leader in advance. Cheques payable to the K.M.C. please. There are only 8 places available so it's first come first served. i.e. pay up early or grouse. Which reminds me. Don't forget the Malt. It can be quite chilly on the Ben in February.

Can be combined with the previous week end meet for a full Scottish experience.

Feb 20/21: Ty Powdyr

And her too. Another meet. Honest. There will be lots of snow to go at.

Feb 27/28: Todmorden Walk: Phil Ramsbottom

Starting at Todmorden railway station, out towards and join the Pennine Way and over to Hard Castle crag and then over Stoodley Pike and back to Todmorden, about 16 miles.

Start early for the day light. 9:15 for 9:30 start.

March 20th - 21st: Aite Cruinnichidh Hostel, Roybridge: Chris Williamson.

Once again, the bumper fun Scottish winter weekend with something for everyone.

This ever popular meet has moved to mid-March, for 1999, in the hope of usable white-stuff. We have fourteen beds booked. The full fee of sixteen pounds, pressed into my hand, reserves yours. Cheques to the KMC preferred.

For those who aren't in 'the know', your money buys you a single bunk and duvet, central heating, hot water, all mod cons and somewhere to plug your hair dryer in - what a rufty-tufty bunch we are. If that isn't enough, it's about two minutes from Hostel to Hotel.

... and of course, all the attractions of Lochaber are there for you to enjoy, from walking, though both varieties of skiing, to the really frightening stuff. Need I say more?

Location: Aite Cruinnichidh Self-catering Lodge is at GR300810 on OS 1:50 000 sheet 41, Ben Nevis & Fort William.

MEETS LIST 1999 (INTERIM 26.11.98 VIEW)

Volunteers for last few slots welcomed / encouraged, see Mark Garrod

JAN	2/3	No meet planned
JAN	9/10	Ty Powdyr
JAN	16/17	Local Walk	Brian Taylor
JAN	23/24	Local Walk	Linda Crossley
JAN	30/31	Working Party Meet	Dave Wylie
FEB	6/7	Local Walk	Frank Williams
FEB	13/14	Alex Macintyre Hut, Onich (16 places)	Andy Croughton
FEB	14/18	CIC Hut, Ben Nevis (mid-week - 8 places)	Sean Kelly
FEB	20/21	Ty Powdyr
FEB	27/28	Todmorden Walk	Phil Ramsbottom
MAR	6/7	Jocks Spot, Newtonmore (10 places)	Colin Maddison
MAR	13/14	Peak Walk	Iain McCallum
MAR	20/21	Aite Cruinnichidh, Roybridge	Chris Williamson
MAR	27/28	President's Hot Pot	Rick Kruze
Ditto		Annual Fell Race - Glossop area	Kevin Anderson
APR	3/4	BH
APR	10/11
APR	17/18	Rawhead, Langdale - FRCC Joint Meet	Bob Anderson
APR	24/25
MAY	1/2	BH Pembroke, Camping	Al Metelko
MAY	8/9	Froggatt	Sue Brooke
MAY	15/16	Working Party Meet	Dave Wylie
MAY	22/23	Yorkshire Grit	Rick Kruze
MAY	29/30	BH Islay & Jura	Tony Gask
JUN	5/6	Millstone	Roger Mapleson
JUN	12/13	Derbyshire Limestone	Dave Dillon
JUN	19/20	Ty Powdyr	Joanne Goodwin
JUN	26/27	Northumberland Coast Camping	Michelle Harvie
JUL	3/4	Whitburn Climbing/Walking	Peter Walker
JUL	10/11	Langdale Camping & Gimmer	Sheena Hendrie
JUL	17/18	Roaches	Mary Stuart
JUL	24/25	Ty Powdyr	Bob Anderson & Iain McCallum
JUL	31/1	Kinder Climbing and Walk-in(g)	Vinny Goodwin
AUG	7/8	Wasdale Camping	Phil Ramsbottom
AUG	14/15	Stanage	Sue Brooke
AUG	21/22
AUG	28/29	BH Arran, prob hut / bunkhouse	Keith Williams
SEP	4/5	Crafnant Climbing	Sabina Cosulich
SEP	11/12	Dunmail Raise Hut	Joe Flynn
SEP	18/19	Laddow	Ken Beetham
SEP	25/26	Working Party Meet	Dave Wylie
OCT	2/3	Yorkshire Dales Walk	Iain McCallum
OCT	9/10	Ty Powdyr
OCT	16/17	"Ice" Climbing at Dover	Al Metelko
OCT	16/17	(Alt) Kentmere Walk	Linda Batey
OCT	23/24	Annual Dinner - Shap Wells Hotel	The Committee
OCT	30/31	Forest of Bowland Walk	Pat Holt & Walk Leader
NOV	6/7	Ty Powdyr, Bonfire Meet	The KMC
NOV	13/14	Mountain Biking	Ian Bennett
NOV	20/21	Walk, Southern Pennines	Keith Williams
NOV	27/28	Local Fell Run - Winter Warmer	Craig Marsden
DEC	4/5	Kettleshulme	Len Stubbs and Walk Leader
DEC	11/12	Bouldering Competition	Rob Allen
DEC	18/19	Ty Powdyr, Christmas Bash	To be "arranged"
DEC	25/26	Christmas - intentionally left blank

December 1998 Newsletter Index.

Copyright © 1998 Karabiner Mountaineering Club