Karabiner Mountaineering Club

February 1999 Forthcoming Meets

All note the following small print when taking part in meets :-

Jan 30 - 31^st Working Party Meet Iain McCallum

A small group working party. Tasks - plastering ladies toilet, replace ceiling in hall, paint cubicles in the gents, polish common room floor, cleaning etc. Dave Wylie and Steve Taylor will not be present as they will be away on their annual skiing holiday

Please contact Iain McCallum for further details.

Feb 7^th 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.

Frank Williams.

Feb 13 - 14^th 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^th 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^st Ty Powdyr Duncan Lee.

The usual weather dependent free for all in the hills during the days but Saturday evening will be a social affair with music (all helpers welcome), lots of alcohol and hopefully vast quantities of assorted birthday cakes.

In the meantime a little quiz to ponder over on a long cold winters eve. It’s simple: just match the birthday boys and girls to the correct ages.

1. Sue Brooke (a) 18

2. Cathy Devine (b) 42

3. Dave Dillon (c) 40

4. Katherine Brooke (d) 38

5. A.N.Other (e) 39

Turn up and ask the birthday crew to see if you are correct. Anyone needing help with transport or offering time DJing can contact me on (01663) 734182 or can normally find me propping up the bar on a Thursday evening.

Feb 27 - 28^th 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 6 - 7^th Jock’s Spot, Newtonmore Colin Maddison

I’ve never been to this hut before, so know little about it; however, it sounds good from the bumph and is well situated. There’s easy access to Creag Meagaidh and the Cairngorm Northern Corries for winter climbing and even the Ben is close enough. The scope for winter walking and cross-country skiing is vast. Down hill skiing can be enjoyed a Cairngorm or Aonach Mor .... if you really must!

We have 10 places at £4.00 per person per night, so the first nine individuals to approach me bearing £8.00 in legitimate currency (Euros, Lire and Yen not accepted) secure the remaining places. Payments are non-refundable.

The hut belongs to the JMCS and is situated on the north side of the A86 between Newtonmore and Laggan, 1 mile west of Creag Dubh. Coming from Newtonmore the hut is 50 yards past the only bend signposted on the road. Grid ref. 667947.

Cars should be parked on the south side of the road. Mountain bikes should be parked.... er, at home preferably!

Please note, you will need to bring a KARRIMAT, or similar, as sleeping is on the floor and there are no mattresses - otherwise, there are all mod cons.

March 14^th Peak Walk - Lathkill Dale Iain McCallum

A fine walk over fairly easy ground through the dales of the White Peak incorporating a section of the Limestone Way. Distance about 14 miles. If necessary the walk can easily be shortened three or four miles.

Route: Monyash/ Lathkill Dale - Conksbury Bridge - Mport - Stanton Moor

Map: OS Outdoor - Leisure Sheet 24 - White Peak.

Meet at 9.30am for a 9.45am start at OR. 157665 - Where Lathkill Dale meets B5055 Monyash - Bakewell road - Park at the side of the road.

March 20th - 21^st 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.

March 28^th Pennines - Walk/Climb Alan Wylie

Yorkshire Walk and Boulder - Hebden Dale and Widdop and Gorple Reservoirs

Car parking to be scouted out for the next newsletter, but will be on the minor road running NW from Hebden Bridge past Widdop resevoir.

Meet at 9:30 for a 9:45 departure. Approx 15km

Volunteers to lead "Reservoir Dogs" greatly appreciated.

April 2-5^th Easter BH: Wye Valley, Forest of Dean. Dave Bone

At this time of year it has to be either "Winter" routes in Scotland or rock climbing in a winter sun venue. As a past frequent visitor to the area, I'd recommend it as the latter. Quick drying, west facing sheltered Limestone. Good array of routes from *** VD up, loads of VS's. Try the cliffs of Wintours Leap with multi pitch routes (Zelda ***HS, Central route X ***VD-VS, KingKong ***HVS), Wyndcliffe and the single pitch with abseil descent Shorncliffe with some *** slab routes (Laughing Cavaliers ***HVS), or Ban-y-gor with bolts. If that doesn't prove enough, trundle along to the Gower, or cross the water and evade the Travellers at Avon gorge to test your nerve, or read your Tolkein at Goblin Coombe (excellent sheltered venue). There's even the Bristol Climbing Wall if the good weather bribe doesn't appease the gods. We'll be camping at the Beeches (OS162 GR549006), a basic but large & quiet site high above the Wye. Directions will be supplied (you'll need them)! Unfortunately the nearest Pub is 3.5 mi away - the Rising Sun in Woodcroft (Wintours Leap) which does good food. So wye not come down for some or all of the weekend? It shouldn't take more than 3hr to get there, so see you there!

April 11^th Presidents Hotpot Rick Kruze

The Annual Fell Race and Presidents Hotpot

The Fell Race is being organised again by Kevin Anderson. See below.

The Hot Pot and Slide show is at the Swan Hotel on Buxton Road (A6), New Mills. The doors are open at 6pm and we will be sitting down to eat at 7pm. The cost is £5 for the meal and I need to know numbers at least a week before. Also when booking could you indicate if you want a vegetarian meal.

The Slide Show will follow so please get your slides in early (if possible). The categories are;

Mountain Landscape,

Rock Climbing Action,

Human Interest and

Mountaineering Action.

The slides should have been taken during the last year with people submitting a maximum of 3 slides in each category. Please mark all you slides with your name and the category in which you are entering.

This year, after the official slide show we'll be having an informal showine. There'll be a maximum of 15 slides per person or 15 minutes to display them, whichever is the shorter. So bring along some holiday snaps and we'll make our own entertainment.

Booking for the Hot Pot to me at the pub or at my address in the handbook.

Rick

P.S. Will all trophy holders please bring along their silverware so that we can present it to the new winners.

April 11^th Annual Fell Race, Glossop Kevin Anderson

Kevin assured me he would gladly organise this year’s race again, after his return from his post PhD chill-out in Oz. This meet preview is therefore by proxy; confirm details nearer the time with the man himself.

Start location is again the Wheatsheaf Pub car park, Old Glossop, scene of last year’s notorious "Anderson AndyCapping". 1pm prompt is the latest time to gather, as Kevin thought a one-way run was a good idea. Fortunately for us, he is proposing to ferry everyone to a "distant" start and get us to find our way back, rather than despatch us from Glossop to the depths of Bleaklow, never return. However, I have a suspicion we wont be dropped quite at the top of the hills.

Entry requirements: At least 1 working leg, an ability to find checkpointers dressed in bright red cagoules in open country, and a bit of adventurous spirit to GIVE IT A GO - it is a good laugh. Walking is quite acceptable, and probably faster than most runners running. Kevin should be organising showers at Glossop sports centre, so that you are ready for the evening Hot Pot without those trendy PeatBog leggings.

Volunteers to man the checkpoints, or validate the weigh-in at the start, would be most welcome.

Late news: Rumours suggest 2 of last year’s cup winners may still be chasing Orang-Utangs as training when the day comes, so pot hunters - clear that space on your mantelpiece!

April 17-18^th Rawhead, Langdale FRCC Joint Meet Bob Anderson

A chance to luxuriate in a fine hut in Langdale. For those who don’t know it is next door to the Achille Ratti hut. The hut holds 33 and I have reserved half of it for the KMC, that is 10 places for men & 6 for women, although there may be more available if not all the FRCC member places are taken up.

Langdale must be one of the best valleys for climbing with loads of crags both high & low level with routes to suit capabilities. Ring me to reserve a place or just turn up & hope for the best, you know you will enjoy it.

April 24th - 25^th Ty Powdyr - Joint Meet Salford Univ. John Dobson

Background One look round the room at the last AGM revealed the KMC had a problem - talk about ‘last of the summer wine’(with the exception of the present reader of course!). What we needed was new members, but not any new members; we needed lots of young girls for the old men and lots of young men for the old women. Where to find them, that was the question. There was some discussion about turning the KMC into the KWC (K.Wall Club) but we liked our mountains and were not going to give them up. So the Committee were given the job of finding lots of young people (or at least not quite so old anyway). The Committee decided that all we had to do was to flaunt our assets. We just had to find groups of young things who like to go to the mountains but haven’t got anyway to stay and then seduce them with our hut. No problem, our wise and wonderful committee instantly found a solution - joint meets with the local university clubs. So our Meets secretary was given the job and the job was duly delegated. Two meets with University Mountaineering Clubs have been included in this years programme, and this is the first.

A joint KMC/Salford University Mountaineering Club meet. The SUMC will turn up with a minibus full of young things. So please put this date in your diary, turn up, be nice to them and show them that ‘just because you are old, doesn’t mean your past it’.

Copyright © 1999 Karabiner Mountaineering Club