Karabiner Mountaineering Club

February 1999 Meet Reports

Nov 28 - 29^th Working Meet Dave Wylie

Present: Steve Taylor, Iain McCallum, Alan Wylie, Dave Wylie, Lester Payne,

The main business of this weekend was the installation of the new loo in the ladies washroom. First we had to drill a hole in the floor for the waste pipe - a rather slow, boring job. A caving expedition was then required to install the new under-floor pipe-work and splice it into the existing plumbing. Fitting the toilet bowl itself was then pretty straightforward, and a bucketful of water was immediately poured into it to stop the escaping aroma (and to test for leaks).

On Sunday the cistern was installed, with appropriate woodwork to support it, and the water feed and overflow pipes were plumbed in. The door and frame were then fitted to the cubicle, by necessity at a slight angle to allow the door to open without hitting the toilet bowl (which was as far back it could go, so please don't pan us for doing this). Emma (still in the first flush of youth) then performed the official opening of the new facility.

There's still more work to be done in this washroom, mainly the installation of a new ceiling, plastering and re-decorating. We'll also improve the lighting so that the ladies can actually see what they're doing.

Apart from the work inside the Ladies, several other jobs were done. The hallway walls were re-painted so that the position of the old blocked up doorway into the Ladies is now not so obvious. Potholes in the track were filled in, the curtains were put back up in the kitchen, and some cleaning and general maintenance was done in the dormitories.

Katy and Emma performed a public relations exercise by chatting to Mrs Brown and feeding her horses, keeping up the good relationship with our neighbour. We also discovered that the new water meter, that should have been installed for the hut, had been put into the pipe feeding Mrs Brown's farm by mistake. The water company had to come back, remove it and re-fit it in our pipe.

As has become a standard and most welcome part of a working party, Iain provided us all with his excellent soup for lunch.

Another highly successful working party, so thanks are due to everybody who helped.

December 12 - 13^th Xmas party odds and ends Bridget and Roger Mapleson

Thank you to all cooks and kitchen hands who made the party run so smoothly and for the absolutely spiffing entertainment provided by the Games Mistress and her assistant. Special thanks to Dave Shotton for providing puddings above and beyond call of duty.

Will all cooks please contact Roger and Bridget and we will refund your expenses. Any profits will be donated to the Mountain Rescue. For those who have not paid the £6 could you also contact the above number. Thanks to all for making the party an excellent night.

9/10 January 9 - 10^th Ty Powdyr Chris Thickett

Members: Joe Flynn, Jim & Sandy Gregson, Iain McCallum, Keith Williams

‘Nothing ventured - nothing gained!’ so they say. Well! After a spell of poor weather, we could not believe their luck as we assembled in the winter sunshine on Rhyd-Ddu car park.

The ‘official’ activity of the weekend was to be a east to west traverse of the Nantlle Ridge on the Saturday. After a session of early morning vehicle shuttling, we climbed up the uncompromisingly steep eastern end of the ridge and onto Y Garn. Any tired limbs were soon forgotten as we admired the spectacular views, the features of the mountains being exaggerated by a thin mantle of snow. However, the summit of Snowdon itself was hidden in low cloud. Along the rocky ridge over Mynydd Drws-y-coed to Trum y Ddysgl we required a little concentration especially where it was icy, but in a short time we were walking down the narrow grassy ridge towards Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd. We took a break under the obelisk before the steep drop to the next bwlch. The weather closed in during the scramble up Craig Cwm Silyn but began to break up again by the time we reached Graig Goch. We took another break on the rocky top of Mynydd Graig Goch, although the effects of the sun were now beginning to diminish. If I had taken the advice to leave cars by the post office in Nebo, then we would have been left with a short and simple walk to finish. However, we had a longer and more complicated section to navigate back to the council houses near Talysarn where we arrived in the last of the daylight to find the awaiting cars already frosted up. Everyone appeared well satisfied with the day - and so they should!

In the pub at Rhyd-Ddu, we learnt that the ‘thieves of Cwm Silyn’ were spending a prolonged holiday at Her Majesty’s pleasure - but who’s going to be first to leave his car at the top of that track?

Sunday was a splendid day of crisp sunshine and clear skies. Iain and Lester walked over the Moel Eilio hills. Jim, Sandy, Bob and Chris climbed Pen Llithrig y Wrach and Pen yr Helgl Du north of Capel Curig. Joe and his friend Mike climbed Y Garn and Elidir Fawr from Nant Peris. Everyone raved about the weather that day - and so they should!

Copyright © 1999 Karabiner Mountaineering Club