Karabiner Mountaineering Club

August 1999 Forthcoming Meets

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

July 24^th-25^th Ty Powdyr Bob Anderson & Iain McCallum

Saturday - Walk" The Glyders"

A classic ridge walk starting at Capel Curig and finishing at Ty Powdwr. Distance about 12 miles. Route:

• Capel Curig - Cefn y Capel - Glyder Fach - Glyder Fawr - Y Garn - Foel Goch -Myndd Perfedd - Elidir Fawr - Ty Powdwr.

Meet at 9.45am. for a 10am. start in the car park at Capel Curig.(behind Joe Brown's Shop GR721 582 - near the junction of A5 and A4086). Some help with transport to and from Capel Curig will be needed.

Evening - Birthday celebration with beer and wine. A hotpot supper will be provided. An alternative meal for "Veggies" will be available. In view of the catering arrangements it would be helpful if you could let us know beforehand whether you intend coming on this meet and whether you will require a "Hotpot supper" or a "Veggie supper".

Sunday - Climbing and walking.

Best maps OS Outdoor Leisure 16 & 17.

August 1^st Kinder Climbing and Walk-in(g) Vinny Goodwin

Meet at the Bowden Bridge car park (GR 049 869) near Heyfield at 9:30am for a guided walk to the Downfall ravine. Climbing for those making their own way will be in the Downfall area.

August 7^th-8^th Wasdale Camping Phil Ramsbottom

I will be camping will be at the excellent site at Strands (or is it Nether Wasdale) anyway the map ref. is 126042.

There are two good pubs serving both good food and beer so you don't even need to cook!!

Climbing is fantastic in one of the best parts of the Lakes, if you cannot manage the walk to Scafell, Pillar or Great Gable, try some of the new stuff on Buckbarrow – a very pleasant mile from the camp site and 'almost always' below the clag. Walking is as tough as you choose to make it - what about the challenge of the Ennerdale horshoe or at the other end of the scale the lovely path over the Screes.

So there is something for everyone - all you have to do is turn up.

August 15^th Stanage Susan Brooke

A local meet for those not fortunate enough to have escaped to sunnier climes, which is close enough to beat a hasty retreat home given the vagaries of the British weather in summer time.

From memory Stanage offers about 5 miles of superb grit stone outcrop, so my intentions are to meet initially at the popular south end of the crag. People are however free to move on once they’ve identified themselves to the meet leader, if they wish to escape the queues. I plan to be at the crag from about 10.30am, so for the early birds don't move on until I've arrived or be sure to report back before the end of the day to get your tick.

Roadside parking can be found at O.S. ref SK 244829 which gives a 10 minute walk to the crag.

August 22^nd West Yorks Lime and Grit The Symons

Malham, meet starts at 10:30, could be leaderless, so check with various members of the committee.

August 28^th-29^th BH Arran, prob hut/bunkhouse Keith Williams

Recent reports from last year's Arran meet have focussed on the state of the bunkhouse at Corrie which was used as the venue. These suggested that it was less than salubrious, if not downright scummy. Notwithstanding that, I tentatively made enquiries of the owners - posing as a member of the Rucksack Club - and was assured that it was in splendid condition. Such rumours were obviously being spread by that other bunch of thieving climbers from Manchester who didn't even pay for the privilege of using this excellently appointed hostelry. I agreed heartily with the lady from Arran Estates noting that they wouldn't get much of a welcome.

So there it is, the choice is - camping:-

• On a blasted heath ("award pending", presumably for the toilet block/cold water facilities) at Glen Rosa - £4 per tent pn.
• Behind the beach at Lochranza - more facilities, caravans, etc. so £8 per tent pn but special rates for groups possible.
• In the wild up the side of the burn at North Glen Sannox used to be a good place for free but have no recent info on this.
• Hotels, guest houses, etc.: contact me for further details.

I suggest that the Glen Rosa campsite should be the base since it represents the best compromise re price/facilities, is handy for at least some of the hills and is only 2 miles from the ferry for foot passengers.

The hills need no sales pitch. This is simply a magnificent pocket of the Highlands offering outings for all except of the overhanging limestone variety - there's even a nudist beach if that's what you need.

The main ferry is operated by Cal Mac between Ardrossan and Brodick, takes an hour and departs. Ardrossan at 9.45, 1230, 1515, 1800 every day with some variations. Single journeys for cars up to 4m - £23-15; up to 4.5m - £33-00 etc. + £4-10 for driver/passengers. A cheaper 5 day return is possible. Full details from CalMac on 01475 650100 or www.calmac.co.uk

September 4^th-5^th Crafnant Climbing Sabina Cosulich

Cwm Crafnant is a beautiful secluded valley situated on the Southern edge of the Carneddau. It offers great variety of climbing (classic routes include Route I** 3 pitch S, Blue Lights Wall** 2 pitch VS 4c, Rainbow** HVS 5a, Phoenix*** E2 5c) as well as great possibilities for walking.

We will be staying at Blaen-y-Nant, the Mynydd Climbing Club Hut (OS 738603, sheet 107 -£4/night).

The guidebook describes the ambience of the place as more conducive to gentle strolling and tea drinking than hard rock climbing…………… should suit the KMC down to the ground.

September 11^th-12^th Dunmail Raise, Achille Ratti Hut Joe Flynn

The hut is at the top of Dunmail Raise near Grasmere beside the old AA phone box. (GR 625 659) Full facilities.

Superb location for climbing on Castle Rock, Raven Thirlmere for the toughies and Borrowdale for the softies. There is also some walking in that part of the world. Make a note in your diaries, 14 places booked, £4 deposit per night to meet leader to secure a place.

September 19^th Laddow Ken Beetham

This is a traditional crag right from the earliest gritstone days. In fact, to visit it in the last death thros of the millenium seems apt. The KMC seem to enjoy going and I hope to see many at the cave tea rooms where drinks will be available from around 11am. onwards. The Primus like its owner probably can get there on one engine. The weather will be good.

CRAG Map Ref is Dark Peak 057015.

Volunteers to help carry up the water and bits would be appreciated.

For the uninitiated there are climbs of all grades up to hard VS, but also there were quite a lot of superb V. Diffs. and Severes which need a little gardening since walls and downhill crags became the vogue. So take the Woodhead Road as far as Crowden YH. Car Park M.R. 073 994. The crag is in Left-Hand corner towards Holme Moss. Another approach is from the Chew Valley car park M.R. 013035 and up the road. Either way you have about 3/4 of an hours pleasant up, with virtually a guarantee of no queues. I hope to see some old mates during the day and hope any newcomers who don’t know me will make themselves known.

September 25^th-26^th Working Party Meet Dave Wylie

Roll Up! Roll Up! Plenty of things to do, Lots of fun(*) to be had.

The first part of the plan is to get the Ladies Washroom and the Hall decorated, now that the new ceilings are in place. When this is done, then the development and refurbishment of the Lounge, Washrooms, Hall, Drying Room and Kitchen will all be complete.

Part two of the plan is to get started on improving the downstairs dormitories. We intend to get insulation under the floors, ventilate the subterranean voids and get some sort of moisture barrier down to keep reduce the amount of damp.

And, of course, there are many smaller jobs to keep everybody busy: cleaning; putting up a slate "blackboard" in the front porch; cleaning; displaying the donated "historic" ice-axe and hemp rope in the Lounge; cleaning; tidying the store room; cleaning; cleaning; etc.

All welcome, but if you are planning on coming along, please let me know in advance.

Thanks,

Dave Wylie, Hut Manager.

(*) This is the special Hut Working Party definition of the word "Fun".

October 3^rd Yorkshire Dales Walk Iain McCallum

I hope you will join me on this fine walk through the Dales. It has plenty of variety and there are many points of interest. It also incorporates a section of the Pennine Way. Distance about 15 miles.

Route:

Meet at 9.30 for a 9.45am. start - in the car park near to where the stream from Malham Tarn crosses the road (GR 894 658).

Best maps OS Outdoor - Leisure Sheets 10 & 30.

Refreshments are available from pubs in both Litton and Anicliffe.

October 9^th-10^th Ty Powdyr-Joint Meet Metrop. Univ (prov) Brian Street

October 16^th-17^th "Ice" Climbing at Dover Al Metelko

This is a meet for beginners as well as expert to practise ‘Ice Climbing’ in relative comfort, short walk-ins and well last year it was sunny and we where climbing in T-shirts.

I don’t recommend you using your brand new Charlet Moser technical axes but do bring your old ones, crampons with mono points are best. Basically bring whatever you use to climb winter routes and the only essential equipment are helmet, plastic or stiff leather boots and harness. I will be bringing a couple of pairs of axes and set of crampons for general use.

I expect to only top rope routes, get the feel of the place, on the Saturday and those wishing to lead a route later in the weekend do so at their own risk. Chances are we will be top roping all weekend and it does give you a chance to do those overhangs you never dared do on the Ben.

I would like to make a request to club members (whether they are coming or not) to lend the meet Warthogs or similar drive in gear. This gear should be clearly marked so that it can be returned.

Numbers will determine whether a caravan should be hired for the weekend. Contact me in the pub and remember: no interest no meet.

October 17^th (Alt) Kentmere Walk Linda Batey

Map: The English Lakes SE Area, Outdoor Leisure 7.

Meet at Kentmere Church SD 457 041. Start time 10:00am

Kentmere is one of the quieter Lakeland valleys and is the starting point of one of Lakelands classic walks, the Kentmere horseshoe. The walk that we will do will be weather and enthusiasm dependent. It will be either the classic Kentmere horseshoe from Kentmere taking in Ill Bell, High Street, Mardale Ill Bell, Harter fell, Kentmere Pike and back to Kentmere, or a curcuit from Kentmere taking in Kentmere Pike, Harter fell, Longsleddale and back to Kentmere. There is an extensive network of bridlepaths in the area, some of which have interesting ascents/descents. So there is lots of potential for an alternative mountain biking circuit. Mountain bikes can be hired in Staveley village. I will provide details nearer the time to anyone who is interested.

October 23^rd-24^th The Annual Dinner - Shap Wells Hotel The Committee

The annual dinner is being held at the Shap Wells hotel this year, on Saturday October 23^rd. The hotel is, strangely enough, just off the A6 about 3-4 miles from Shap. We haven’t used this hotel for a while for our dinner, but the Fell and Rock do use it regularly, and there is plenty of room both for our dinner / disco, and also in terms of rooms. Dinner price has yet to be agreed, but will hopefully be in the normal region.

Details of menus, speakers, discos, etc are still to be finalised, and will be publicised in the next newsletter, and by myself and others who will be after your cheques and menu choices nearer the time.

This advanced note is to give you details of the accommodation options, prices and contact nos, and to remind everyone that accommodation booking is your responsibility. Obviously, if you have any problems, get in touch.

1. SHAP WELLS HOTEL (TEL 01931-716628, FAX 716377), SHAP, PENRITH, CUMBRIA, CA10 3QU.

All hotel rooms have en-suite facilities, television, baby listening, and tea & coffee facilities. Single rooms are more expensive at £36 for B&B, so best to team up with your best buddy and pay £28 per person for double / twin. Children under 13 sharing with adults pay £7 - or get their folks to stump up.

When ordering, please mention you are with the KMC, otherwise you may get charged full rate. The rates given can be applied to nights either side of the weekend to extend it if you wish. Given the number of rooms available, I haven’t block reserved any for the KMC.

Copies of hotel bumph from me on request, or from them, of course.

LOCAL B&B, BUNKHOUSE AND CAMPING

This is available in Shap village, 3-4 miles from the hotel. The Crown Inn does all 3, with B&B at £18.50 per person, bunkhouse at £5.50 (10 people), and camping at £3.50. Campers get hot showers, bunkhouse users get hot showers, need to take their own sleeping bag for beds, and no cooking facilities provided apart from a socket (take a kettle?). Both campers and bunkers can pre-order breakfast in the Inn if wanted.

If interested, contact Pam or Brian on 01931-716229, who are aware they are being "advertised".

Of course a gentle jog back to Shap at 3am is not everyone’s idea of pleasure, so I have a contact number and names for the local taxi firm, who tell me they might be able to do late night / early morning trips from hotel to Shap using anything up to their 14 seater minibus. Prices will have to be sorted with them - suggest you leave it till you / we know how many people might be interested, and go for 1 big deal.

Taxi firm is in Crosby Ravensworth, tel 01931-716212, talk to Helen or Keith, who again know they may be getting strange phone calls.

CAMPING IN THE HOTEL GROUNDS

The hotel dont mind dinner attendees camping in a field near the hotel, but stress there are no facilities at all, and that it is used for clay-pigeon shooting on Sunday morning - you have been warned. I’m not sure exactly where the field is, nor it’s condition, but would ask that if you use this option, negotiate access to someone’s room for ablutions, rather than use the croquet lawn. I’m told there is one loo and basin for general use somewhere in the hotel.

Hopefully that should meet most peoples’ needs.

If you want to book your place, please get in touch with me - I should have menu choices and prices fairly soon.

Mark Garrod

Copyright © 1999 Karabiner Mountaineering Club