Karabiner Mountaineering Club

December 1998 Newsletter Meet Reports

June 28: Almscliff: Robert Clark

Members and guests present; Peter Bannister, Matthew Taylor, Dave Wylie, Al Metelko, Jon 'Goose' Whitham, Rob 'Umph' Allen, Derbhla, Robert Clark, Mystery Almscliff Shoe Thief, John, Nicky and Chloe Hynes and friends.

Blustery weather made this more like late October than June. However after a showery morning it stayed mostly dry for the rest of the day. The rock was mostly clean and dry. Quite a few good routes were done, including; Fluted Columns (s), Square Chimney (s - ?), Whisky Crack (s), Stew Pot (VD), South Wall Traverse (vs 4c), V Chimney and Traverse (VD), Overhanging Groove (HVS 5a), Central Climb (vs 4c), Parsons Chimney (HS), and Whiskey Wall (E3 5b - by various people top rope, to varying degrees of success).

This was Derblas's first outing with the KMC and first trip climbing - I hope Almscliff hasn't put her off for life. Special mention has to be made of John and Nicky Hynes, who came all the way from New Zealand to introduce Chloe (age 15 months) to the delights of Yorkshire Grit!

Oh and someone pinched Rob Allen's old and tatty trainers from below the crag. Apparently this has been happening quite a lot recently around Yorkshire - you have been warned.

The meet was rounded off quite nicely with a visit to Harry Ramsdens on the way home to top up the cholesterol level.

July 17,18,19: Cader Idris: Bob Anderson

Present : Bob Anderson, Neville McMillan, Sheena Hendrie, Kathy Divine, Michelle Harvie, Mark GArrod, Duncan Lee, Sabina Cosulich, Iain McCallum, Derek Seddon.

Guests : Jeremey Engineer, James Nixon, Carina (All Kathy's friends) and Christine Beeston.

Total 14

Bob, Neville and Sheena arrived Friday lunchtime in hot sunshine, and after suitable refreshment walked up to Cader to inspect the Cyfrwy cliffs before ascending to the ridge and returning down to the valley via the pony track.

Kathy and friends arrived about 10:30 p.m. but as the early starters were trapped in the pub until after 11:00 p.m. meeting up did not take place until next morning.

The Caffreys ale must have been good as the meet leader was roused from his slumber at 9:15 a.m. by Iain McCallum's dulcet tones, shortly to be followed by the arrival of Derek, Mark, Michelle and Christine. Climbing was vetoed due to the cold wind and clag on the crag so Kathy and friends took to their bicycles whilst the rest of us enjoyed a fine walk along Cader from its extreme western end. Surprise, surprise, the descent path ended at the pub.

Sunday dawned wet. In fact it had rained most of the night. However, things were looking brighter by 9:00 a.m. and plans were laid. Kathy and friends decided to traverse Cader (on foot) from North (Cader Gates) to South (campsite). Bob, Mark, Michelle and Christine had a very pleasant walk on hills to the east of Cross Foxes (Cae Afon I think) without seeing a single person all day. Iain, Derek, Neville and Sheena took the early bath, but Duncan and Sabina set off in a shower to climb a 600ft VD on Cyfrwy (Alpine Training). On arrival at their route they found it already occupied by a party of three, so they switched to Bowden's classic VS - Obsession - a sterling effort to climb it on wet rock, well done Duncan and Sabina.

As summer weather goes it wasn't brilliant, but these days on the hill in July 1998 without getting wet definitely a bonus.

Thanks for coming, I had a great weekend.

August 1: Bob Graham Round: Alison Curle

Having been so near and yet so far only 4 weeks earlier I was determined that this time was going to be successful. I only hoped that I had recovered enough not to suffer too much and the reserves were sufficient to see me through. The hardest part this time was certainly the mental preparation, especially preparing for a midnight start.

On the run up to the first attempt I avoided watching the weather forecast all week and was prepared to take what came - and come it did. However, this time I did watch the forecast but could not believe that a 48-hour weather window was predicted. Even as we drove up I couldn't believe it as we drove through several very heavy showers. As Keswick approached sure enough the roads were dry and the sky was clear. In fact we could even see some stars. Standing at the Moot Hall, I longed for a beer as we watched the drunken youths stagger down the street.

Jack and I set off at 00.30 down the street and into the darkness. It was a strange feeling as I'd only reccied this leg in daylight. The ground was much wetter this time and it was impossible to avoid the puddles in the dark. We managed to get the route right this time and arrived at the end of the road in about 40 minutes, where fell shoes awaited. It was a beautiful night going up Robinson but a light cloud came in at the top, making navigation a little more taxing. We reached Hindscarth a little later than schedule and were not able to contour round the ridge from there to Dale Head because of the mist. Honister was reached a little off schedule at 03.00. A quick cup of tea and cake and I was off up Grey Knotts with Ian, Dave Hainsworth and Madeleine, leaving a relieved Jack to take our car back to the Gritstone Club Hut.

The mist remained until dawn broke at about 04.15 as we were heading up Green Gable. It was a great experience being in the hills at dawn with the cloud touching the surrounding hills and filling the valleys. We had a little difficulty finding the summit of Brandreth but after that there were no other navigational problems on the whole round. I couldn't believe my luck. Only the girls did the whole of that leg the men stayed on Pillar to watch us climb Steeple. A great route down Yewbarrow gained us around 5 minutes and we arrived at Wasdale at 07.46. After a breakfast of soup, rice pudding and tinned fruit, I was ready for the hardest leg.

I set off up Scafell with Chas, Jean and Andy. We climbed up a different route from the first attempt but didn't actually gain any time. Yet again the top of Scafell was enshrined in cloud and it was cold and windy. We took the Lord's Rake route to Scafell Pike. It wasn't until we reached Broad Crag that we started to see other people on the hills. The cloud had dispersed again now although it still lingered in the distance. After Ill Crag we saw a clockwise Bob Graham attempt. We think he may have been going to miss out Ill Crag until he saw us! Our route off Bowfell could have been better but we didn't lose any time. We had a very welcome tea break at Rossett Pike courtesy of Jack and Colin. A short stop and we were off again, back on schedule. Good route off Calf Crag and Dunmail got me ahead of schedule and I arrived at Dunmail at 13.53. I kept feeling it was evening, as that was the time on the previous attempt. My body clock had completely gone by now. Another bowl of soup, rice pudding and tinned fruit and clean shoes and socks and all male support saw me on my way again.

We were soon at the top of Seat Sandal, which was all too much for Michael and Jed who headed back. I was very relieved to be doing this leg in daylight, I'd had enough of epics on it. The sky was quite grey but the cloud level was high and it was perfect for running in. What a difference to be able to pick the route out over the Dodds. We could see for miles. The company this time was Chris Hodgson, Paul Glover, John Sykes and Steven Sykes and the banter was good. A wide range of topics was discussed and some were sad enough to be discussing football. After Hellvelyn, the hills were very quiet. Jack and Colin provided another welcome flask of tea at Sticks Pass. I was glad the weather was more kind for Colin this time. Chris kept the pace up and we reached Threlkeld at 18.42. The cloud had cleared again and it was now a beautiful sunny evening. Another food stop of, you guessed it, and I was off again. Why change technique if it is tried and tested and stays down?

I set off up Halls Fell Ridge with Brian Speight, Dave Hodgson and Paul Reynard. It was a wonderful evening and I was glad Brian had a camera to capture it despite our limited time to admire it all. My schedule was quite tight for this leg and although we arrived on Blencathra on time, I lost time after that. Great Calva does not get any better the more you do and I was glad to leave to be climbing Skiddaw with time in hand. I arrived on Skiddaw at 22.12 to meet Ian and Dave Hainsworth. It was virtually dark by now and very cold. A short photo session was called for and we were off again, the last climb over. I found the descent unrelenting and much longer than I had remembered. Relieved the last climb was over and knowing I had plenty time to reach Keswick made me slow down and I could not persuade my body to go any faster. My legs felt they were going fast but my time was slow and it was 23.31 when I touched the Moot Hall again. I'd achieved my ambition in 23 hours and 1 minute.

My thanks go to all those who supported me on both occasions. I was touched by the enthusiasm when I announced a second attempt and surprised so many were willing to help again after the atrocious conditions experienced on the first attempt. I hope everyone involved enjoyed the event as much as I did. It will certainly go down as a day to remember.

And the next challenge, after getting married will be???. renovating the bathroom.

BOB GRAHAM TIMES

01-Aug-98 04-Jul-98 01-Aug-98

Section 1 Section 4

Keswick (depart) 0.30 8.00 Dunmail (depart) 14.18

Robinson 2.11 9.34 Seat Sandal 14.52

Hindscarth 2.38 9.53 Fairfield 15.22

Dale Head 2.58 10.07 Dollywagon Pike 16.01

Honister (arrive) 3.17 10.18 Nethermost Pike 16.17

Helvellyn 16.27

Total elapsed time 2.47 2.18 Helvellyn Low Man 16.37

Whiteside 16.49

Raise 16.59

Section 2 Stybarrow Dodd 17.21

Watson Dodd 17.29

Honister (depart) 3.22 10.23 Great Dodd 17.43

GreyKnotts 3.51 10.48 Clough Head 18.10

Brandreth 4.05 10.56 Threlkeld (arrive) 18.42

Green Gable 4.27 11.13

Great Gable 4.42 11.28 Total elapsed time 18.12

Kirkfell 5.19 12.03

Pillar 6.10 12.50

Steeple 6.36 13.15 Section 5

Red Pike 6.53 13.33

Yewbarrow 7.24 14.03 Threlkeld (depart) 19.00

Wasdale (arrive) 7.46 14.25 Blencathra 19.55

Great Calva 21.00

Total elapsed time 7.16 6.25 Skiddaw 22.12

Keswick (arrive) 23.31

Section 3 Total elapsed time 23.01

Wasdale (depart) 8.05 14.47

Scafell 9.19 16.00 Total running time 21.54

Scafell Pike 9.51 16.35

Broad Crag 10.08 16.47 Rest time 1.07

Iil Crag 10.13 16.56

Great End 10.23 17.09

Esk Pike 10.46 17.30

Bowfell 11.04 17.49

Rosset Pike 11.28 18.10

Pike of Stickle 12.18 19.03

Harrison Stickle 12.32 19.17

Thunacar Knott 12.38 19.25

High Raise 12.54 19.40

Sergeant Man 13.01 19.47

Calf Crag 13.21 20.11

Steel Fell 13.42 20.31

Dunmail (arrive) 13.53 20.48

Total elapsed time 13.23 12.48

September 20: Yorkshire Dales Walk: Iain McCallum

Members present:Margaret Baldock, Linda Crossley, John Dobson, Jim Gregson, Sandy Gregson, Bob. Haynes, Alan (L) Jones, Iain McCallum, Neville McMillan, Tony Marsh, Lorna Marsland, Lester Payne, Alan Peck, Derek Seddon, Brian Taylor, Chris. Thickett, Peter Walker, Frank Willliams, Keith Williams, Alan Wylie, Dave Wylie (22)

Guests present : Christine Beeston, Mike Graves, Sylvia Haynes, Dudley Moore (4)

A glorious sunny day. A great crowd keen to get onto the hill but where was Dudley Moore? After some delay we all set off down Twistleton Lane before ascending the end of the ridge at Scar End. The going underfoot was very good and soon we were bounding along the ridge leading to Whernside. Around 11am. we stopped to refuel and to admire the fine views over the hills. Continuing along the ridge we reached the summit of Whernside (736m) where we stopped for lunch. The views from the top were superb - Pen y Ghent, Ingleborough, Aye Gill Pike and the Howgills. The descent down to the road at the head of Kingsdale was swift. Neville passed us on the way up! He had arrived late and drove up Kingsdale to catch up with the meet. The track from the Dentdale road proved extremely wet but it was a lot better than the fell - the aptly named Foul Moss. From the track a fairly steep climb up the fell side brought us to the top of Greenhill (626m). A stop for a breather allowed everyone to catch up. By this time many members were feeling very thirsty but nobody attempted to slake their thirst in the many pools of rather stagnant water scattered along the ridge leading up to Gragareth (627m). Neville caught us up at the summit.

At Jim's suggestion we descended into Kingsdale to visit Yordas Cave instead of continuing along the ridge as planned. The many springs on the way down allowed everyone to quench their thirst. Yordas cave has a very large chamber (55m long, 1 5m wide and 20m high). Inside a waterfall could be heard in a nearby chamber. From here we made our way back up the hillside to join the Turbary Road - an old medieval track running along Kingsdale. The Dale is riddled with pot holes. There were many close to the Road. The shaft at the western end of Rowton Pot drops 200 feet - there are no safety rails and yet it is only a few yards from the Road! Would the landowner be liable for any injury to a visitor/trespasser?

Towards the end of the Road we met Bob and Sylvia Haynes who had followed the original route down from Gargareth. Dudley joined us at the cars. He had arrived late and had followed us round the circuit. A visit to the pub in Thornton with its fine selection of special beers and many malt whiskies completed the day. (Distance 13/14 miles)

Thanks for your support.

September 26-27: Working Meet:Dave Wylie

Members : Steve Taylor, Bob Anderson, Iain McCallum, Phil Ramsbottom, Chris Thickett, Brian Taylor, Lester Payne, Frank Williams, Margaret Williams, Mark Garrod, Jim Gregson, Sandy Gregson, Alan Wylie, Dave Wylie.

Guests : Christine Beeston, Liz Taylor, Emma Richards, William Taylor.

The main tasks this weekend were finishing off the kitchen project and getting started on the upgrade of the Ladies washroom, ready for the installation of the second toilet.

Kitchen : Lots of finishing off here, plus some final touches, to see the project pretty much complete. It's taken over 18 months hard labour, and all of the £5000 that we were given by Mr and Mrs Marsh, to do a total refurbishment of the room.

Chris and Phil put up the new notice board in the "Snug" corner, while Dave marked up the position for the new gas fire ready for its subsequent installation by our tame Gas-Man. Lester provided and fitted the new steel splash-back behind the kitchen sinks and Mark sanded down the new food storage boxes before applying a second coat of varnish. Christine, on her first visit to the hut, cleaned and serviced the kitchen extract fans before joining Brian in putting the final coat of paint on the walls.

Ladies Washroom : A new doorway into the Ladies loo was needed in order to create space for a new toilet cubicle. Steve and Bob did the hard work here, using a tungsten carbide toothed block-saw to cut the new entrance. The existing door and frame were then removed from the old entrance and re-fitted in the new position.

Alan went caving under the floor to survey the pipe-work so that we could start to work out exactly how we are going to connect up the new toilet. Dave fiddled with the electric wiring to move the light switch for the Ladies to be next to the new doorway. The extract fan is now on the same switch, so it shouldn't get forgotten about.

On the Sunday, Iain filled in the old entrance: his insistence that we shouldn't put up a stud-partition made him the obvious volunteer to lay the concrete blocks and make a "proper job" of it. Steve constructed a "modesty screen" in the ladies, to block any direct sight line into the washroom when the new door is open.

Elsewhere : Phil chopped up the remains of the old water tank, and cleared the wreckage from the loft. The remains were stacked up outside the hut, and will be removed next time we have suitable transport available. Anybody who wants a souvenir piece of the old tank is welcome to take it!

Frank and Margaret replaced the broken bracket on the guttering at the front of the hut. Frank also attended to various latches and door closers, which need regular maintenance and periodic replacement due to the various forms of abuse that they suffer.

Alan bolted the safe down to the hall floor (this involved more caving). The safe had been unbolted when the new flooring was installed, and we'd not got round to fixing it down again.

Iain re-tiled under the urinals in the Gent's toilet, which means that the work in there is finally finished. He also finished off the trim to the new cork flooring in the Upper Left dorm.

Dave checked out the trace heating that stops the water pipes from freezing up: one fuse was found to have blown and it was replaced.

Outside, Jim and Sandy cleaned and serviced the filter beds for the sewage system. They also excavated the "Machu-Pichu-like" Septic Tank area from jungle. Some of the bracken in the field was trampled back by Emma (with some help from various others who have larger feet!). We'll have to keep an eye on this, as bracken spreads rapidly and has rather nasty spores.

On top of all of this, various general maintenance was carried out: replacing blown light bulbs, putting the kitchen fire extinguisher back onto the wall, etc.

It was a splendid working meet and we got a lot done. Thanks to everybody who came along, particularly if you did a job that didn't get mentioned!

October 4: LADDOW ROCKS: Ken Beetham

By popular request a list of those present at the crag were:

Dave Dillon, Joe Flynn, Sabrina Cosulich, Sue Brooke, Lester Payne, Tony Gask, Duncan Lee, Dave Wylie, Dave Whittingham, Al Metalko, Bob Anderson, Chris Williamson, Phil Ramsbottom, Jim Symon, Roger Dyke, Roger and Bridget Mapleson, Mark Garrod, Michelle Harvie, Dave Bone, Cath Devine, Andy Croughton, Craig Marsden and Ken Beetham. Also deserving of a mention for child porterage to camps 2 and 3 were Vin and Joanne Goodwin plus Colin and Norah Madison suitably loaded for the south summit. Regretfully not to be. (28 members) and a Guest list of Heather Brook, Adam Bradley, Daniel Thomas-Whittingham, Elaine Beaulieu, Mark Oliver and Christine Beeston. (6) There may have been others, if so apologies.

Once again the weather kicks us in the appropriates. The crag was a little juicy but the company was good. Phil and Bob left early to salvage a walk and as they disappeared towards Black Hill the rains blessed their hallowed turf. Tower Face and Long Climb were ascended by some but the meet was saved by the celebratory chamfers and birthday cake for Andy who brought along his best hat for the occasion. (He goes back inside next week) 22 tea bags were accounted for, about 10 litres of tea drunk requiring some 1½ litres of UHT milk, supported by 1 pint of primus parafino. These vital statistics are recorded in case I don't make it next year for the obvious reasons. It really was good of all those who made the effort and lastly thanks to Dave Bone for returning my water tank after it had careered happily down to Crowden Brook. Finally a quote from Gask or was it Roger? "It really gives one confidence when all you can see of your leader is a pair of feet thrashing about horizontally above" I didn't think Fred Clapp was still climbing.

P. S. Phil Ramsbottom has kindly agreed to lead the outer circuit on the Kettleshulme Meet in December, 9-30 start pronto. i.e. booted and ready.

October 11: Llangollen: Chris Thickett

Present but never correct : Sheena Hendrie, Neville McMillan, Jim & Sandy Gregson, Linda Crossley, Iain McCallum, Keith Williams, Phil Ramsbottom, Derek Seddon, Margaret Williams, John & Virginia Castick, Chris Thickett.

(Sort of also there but almost unseen : Mary Stewart, Chris Ivory, Kate and Mat)

The man on the telly said it would rain. Consequently, we stood in the car park nervously watching the skies trying to remember where the waterproofs were packed and waiting for the big hand to reach half-past. After an energetic start, we jostled with the ruins of the Castell Dinas Bran on top of its hill. The sun shone and the wind blew. Then we climbed up past Trevor Rocks onto the escarpment of WYSIWYG Mountain which we traversed until we found a suitable place for elevenses. The sun shone but we were sheltered from the wind although not from Gregson's acid tongue.

Next, we descended a pleasant gorge containing an unpleasant shower from a waterfall until the party's interest fell upon a uncommonly large puff-ball. Well! It would, wouldn't it? From Plas Yn Eglwyseg, we walked northish then westish, up and along good tracks until we reached the 'Ponderosa' café at the top of the Horseshoe Pass. As we drank tea and eat dinner, the sun shone and the wind blew - hard, gusting and swirling, but not cold. Members got blown into every nook and cranny of the buildings and it was sometime before all were gathered together again.

Over Moel y Faen to Moel y Gamelin, the sun shone and the wind blew very hard. However, striking east from the top we found a reasonably sheltered stop in some comfortable heather before following good tracks down the ridge above and east of Llandynan. History then took over. First, with the Pillar of Eliseg and secondly with the Valle Crucis Abbey. The swats lingered over the monks' fish pond whilst the rest of us went to find the canal towpath back to Llangollen. A final brew in the sunshine and in the shelter of an Olde Welshe Café on the main street of Llangollen completed a satisfying day.

In the meantime, the original meet leader, Peter Walker, completed the Manchester Marathon with a gammy leg, finishing 770 out of 2,500. You missed a good walk, Pete!

October 25: The Northern Howgills: Keith Williams

Present: Tony Gask, Alan (Liverpool) Jones, Iain McCallum, Peter Walker, Keith Williams (meet leader standing in for Frank Williams).

Several factors combined to ensure that this was probably never ever going to be the most popular meet of the year. Sufficient that five members believed the weather forecast and enjoyed an invigorating walk onto The Calf in (by and large) glorious sunshine. True, it was a bit wet underfoot after the previous day's deluge but not half as bad as it is in Derbyshire or the Yorkshire Dales after a drought. And it was a bit windy at times. But splendid skyscapes were the order of most of the day - some fantastic rainbows - and lunch was taken in balmy sunshine on the col at the head of Bowderdale. Only in the last half hour did we get caught by a burst of stinging sleet as a shower slid past on its way to Cross Fell.

Fifteen pleasant miles rendered all the pleasanter for not being run as part of the Karrimor Mountain Marathon which was following the same route in reverse. What a miserable bunch of masochists they looked! But to be fair, they were the survivors of a mass drowning from the day before . . .

October 31 - Nov 1: Michelles Ark in Borrowdale: Michelle Harvie

Meet leader : Michelle Harvie. Present ; Mark Garrod, Chris Williamson, Bob Anderson, Chris Thickett, Tony Gask, Robert Clarke, Linda Batey, Mary Stuart, Dave Dillon, Anne Woolley. Absent: all those who saw the weather forcast and Al who went to Scotland in search of ice.

It was Friday night and after 40 days and nights of rain the ark was near completion. We headed North through floods and tempest to Borrowdale, which was still surprisingly above sea level. There we were greeted by Bob and Chris who managed to leave the raging fire to make their third visit to the pub that evening.

Saturday morning came, the rain had stopped and it was warm enough to climb ( though nobody did). The KMC left the ark two by two to stride over High Spy, Dalehead, Hindscarf, and Robinson. Suncream was definitely required and our Manx member particularly enjoyed views of his homeland. That evening we braved a brief visit to the pub .This visit was shortened by a resident group of noisy young students, and the intolerance of the ever older KMC.

The sun shone again on Sunday there were expeditions over Glaramara, and High Raise, while Chris headed back having acquired enough gossip to compose his annual dinner speech. As we headed South that evening the driving rain returned, the ark may yet be required. Thanks to all who came, and a shame for those who didn't, except for Al who had had a great weekend ice climbing. The moral of this tale is to believe the meet leader not the met office.

December 1998 Newsletter Index.