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February 2001 Other Articles
2001 ANNUAL DINNER SPEECH - Michelle Harvie
I'll begin as Kevin did last year last year with apologies that I'm not
Mary. Yes once again the infamous KMC raconteur Mary Stewart cannot
be with you tonight. She is allegedly attending a 40th birthday
party, but I can't believe Mary has friends that old. When Mary
delegated the honour to me she assured me that Dave would help. This
was reassuring as there are at least 7 Dave's in the club but I
didn't realise she meant Irish Dave; he's certainly the quietest
Irish person I've ever met.
I'm glad you could all get here tonight battling with fuel shortages, and
our shambolic public transport. It's good job there are people like
Kevin toiling away to pioneer sustainable transport systems within
the UK. Kevin is of course known affectionately to his friends as
"Green Kev", as he only drives green cars, particularly
those owned by our erstwhile speaker from the emerald isle.
Now before I go any further may I ask for any mobile phones to be
switched off? Yes, this yuppie accessory has been noticed creeping
into some KMC rucksacks. Mobile phones were of course invented so you
can tell your friends you are sitting on a train. I wonder how many
calls you could make from the Snowdon railway or the Caingorm
funicular? Personally I'm a techno phobe, I can't stand the things;
you wouldn't catch me with one.
So here I am. Having agreed to speak I wondered what was actually
involved. How long was I supposed to speak? I have been reliably
informed that the KMC record is 45 minutes; we'll see how I go. I
went to the world wide web which is of course short for w.w.w and
looked under "after dinner speaking". This was little help
but I was proud to have been asked to speak instead of a prestigious
list of speakers who advertised their services there. We could have
had Bernard Manning; but this may of upset the LLC, Ken Dodd, or even
the ex MP Neil Hamilton or his redoubtable wife Christine. Obviously
the committee were unable to stuff sufficient readies in brown paper
envelopes to persuade them to come.
I wrote to Uncle B- "How was I to overcome my nerves?" He
replied with his usual empathy. "Dear Michelle, don't worry
after dinner speaking is daunting but its just like leading your
first VS in the rain in big boots". Anybody who knows much
about my climbing prowess will realise this was small comfort.
Certain member of the KMC were also keen to give me juicy gossip
about the misadventures of their fellow club members - but more of
this later.
The club has been active this year both at home and abroad. Andy led a
Scottish winter mountaineering trip in February which doubled as a
fitness programme for Jesper. Spring saw the usual exodus to
Salford-on-sea on the Costa Lanca in Spain where hopeful climbers
train so they can look good on the climbing walls over the summer.
Meanwhile our president, Sabs & Mary, Rick and Ruth headed off to
the big walls in Yosemite. The usual suspects headed to the Alps in
the summer including off course Alpine Al. And well done to Neville
for not organising the Dolomites trip; I believe it was a great
success. Sue and her extended family cycled in Holland. I believe
John is writing a book entitled cycling on a budget in Holland. Pete
and Jeremy climbed and paddled in the Ardesh; the river level must
have been low! The KMC crèche went to Fontanbleu and Disney
World. It is rumoured that French rock jocks are now wearing Colin's
flat caps; Mickey Mouse unfortunately could not fit the cap over his
ears. Several teams had a gentle stroll over the GR20 in Corsica with
some serious swimming and wine drinking while Linda Crossley walked
the John Muir trail from San Francisco to LA. Finally our president,
Chris and Rob recently returned from Morocco where Chris obviously
failed to find a barber and Rob head butted Moroccan rock to find it
was not as forgiving as rear windscreens.
Back at home the committee has been working hard organising the hugely
successful Black memorial lecture. There have been some great
performances on rock particularly from the ladies. Sheena has
inspired us all this year by her climbing with great leads such as
great North road on Millstone. VS er has impressed everyone in her
first year of climbing and is now leading needless to say VS, while
Sabina continues to notch up impressive leads.
Neville and Pete are stepping down as vice presidents mainly as they failed
to bring any vice into the club; lets hope Dave and Midge do a bit
better. Dave (Wylie) has of course been a star (or should I say
fusion of hydrogen and helium gas) by keeping the difficult, nigh
impossible task of managing the hut and the hut committee. I'm sure
we are all grateful for his efforts over the last few years. The next
AGM could be interesting, it is rumoured Elton John will be standing
as treasurer, and Al Gore and George Bush have agreed to act a
tellers to count our votes. We reassured George Bush he would not
have to count beyond his fingers and toes.
As well as the memorial lecture Bowden was remembered at the summer Cader
Idris meet where Bowdens grandson joined the club to drink red wine
and climb some of his granddads classic routes such as obsession. I'm
sure Bowden would have approved of the wine.
Brian Taylor completed his last Munroe this year. For those who don't know
this means he has conquered some 284 peaks in Scottish weather and
stuck 284 pins in a map of Scotland-(this is a common navigation
technique employed by certain members of the KMC). Liverpool Jones
continues to impress us with his skiing; winning his age category in
the British roller skiing (not skating) championship, and competing
in the world cross country in Norway earlier this year. As if this
wasn't enough those in the club who are follicularly challenged can
only be impressed that Alan can still sustain his Mohican hairstyle.
I think you would agree there are some impressive achievement within
the club so there is no basis for saying the KMC is going soft, after
all we still have gnarly climbers like Jim around. Al phoned Jim up
one blustery Friday night to invite him to join an expedition to ice
climb in Dover (on the weekend of the gales) and may have been a
little taken aback to be told that "Jim would love to go but
couldn't make it as he was already going to the ballet that night"
KMC members have also excelled themselves in other sports. Pete Walker
completed another Manchester marathon. Al has been bunji jumping
using a rope not UIAA approved for this purpose. Jim Gregson has been
seen fox hunting on the M55
And it is rumoured that Rob Allen has taken up hair coursing, but I can't
understand the link myself. There is also the KMC baby-rolling
competition-Roger was seen rolling Cerys down a slope at Birchens but
the prize has to go to Cathy for rolling her car, giggling baby Emma
and herself in Buxton. Expect stiff competition next year however as
baby Johnson enters the league, and a coup for Roger and Bridget -
the birth of their 2nd child is expected to pioneer baby juggling. It
is also rumoured that Brian and Michelle's baby Samantha is now big
enough to roll her dad around.
This brings us to the KMC navigation award where we recognise the most
navigationally challenged person. There are usually some notable
contenders, and I'm usually one of them. This year however the
contenders are:
-
The entire KMC for not finding the start of the fell race; there were
only 3 entrants.
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Kevin Anderson for ending up in North Wales rather than Torridon on
his bank holiday meet.
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Finally Mary who never seems to find her way to the annual dinner
especially when she has been asked to give the after dinner speech.
The winner is Kevin. I would ask you to come and get your prize but you
would get lost end up in the kitchen or Linda Crossleys bedroom or
something.
(Irritating mobile phone ringing the audience) Roisin Maddison: "it's for you
Michelle"
"Hello Mary yes I'm still speaking, no I haven't given him a hard time
infact I haven't mentioned him at all yet"
Mountaineers may seek solitude or empty spaces or equally crave companionship, and
as Kevin said in his speech last year comradeship is one of the great
aspects of the KMC which is illustrated by this tale from the
Dolomites this summer. Phil and A Nother (name and address supplied)
nearly got benighted on the Sella tower in the Dolomites. It was the
usual case of a late departure and getting lost on the route. As
night fell Neville, Sheena, Tony and Dave looked anxiously at the
two spare seats and hungrily at the meal they had prepared. Meanwhile
our 2 adventurers abseiled down with trepidation in the dark but I am
sure would have been heartened by Sheenas concern as she announced
the plan." I know" she said "we'll finish our meals
and get pissed before looking for them with our head torches."
Where there is companionship there is often romance and some touching
romances that have blossomed this year. Neville was seen holding
hands with a friendly German chap on a glacier in the Brenta. Tony
Gask has shall we say gone into "hiding" with his bird
watching partner. Linda C walked the John Muir trail with someone
else's fiancé, this was his practice honeymoon. When asked
about the trip Linda said "it had gone well but she felt that
she had had a bare behind for much of the trip" I' m sorry a
bear behind her. Our own Ann Woolley is to wed next year depending on
her remembering the partner, date, time and place. I have been
reliably informed that there are no other romances to mention however
do not despair ladies there are a few unaccompanied married men out
tonight but sadly no Ken.
As a dietician I am always interested in digestive matters and as you
relax after your meal ponder on the amazing fact that we produce on
average 1000ml of digestive gas a day. Now I'm not very good at maths
but over the course of my speech I estimate we should produce some 14
litres of air in this room. It just as well I'm not going for the KMC
record of 45 minutes!
On a culinary not you may be interested in a recent publication by the
KMC press, CMC - Cooking Mad Climbers , where some of our favourite
members share their favourite recipes. I would like to read you a
selection.
Enough of the KMC it is a great pleasure to welcome our honoured guests. I
should have been introducing Jill Alldersley former president of the
FRCC who is unfortunately unwell .Jill is a renowned Lakeland
landscape artist it's a pity she doesn't do still life or she could
paint Chris climbing. She may have decided not to come after the poor
welcome she received on her first trip to Ty Powdr on a joint FRCC
meet. She arrived late on Friday to find that someone had locked the
door, so settled down for a cold uncomfortable night in the porch. As
if this wasn't bad enough she was abruptly woken the next morning by
an early riser inadvertently opening the metal door on her head- I'm
ashamed to say that the early riser was me. We also have Cess Rhodes
the current president of the rucksack club who has done lots of stuff
on ice and rock in the Himalayas, States, Alps, and the North face of
the Eiger. This is obviously not a big deal in the Rucksack club as
when we asked his climbing partner if he really had climbed the North
face he replied nonchalantly - "oh yeah". Last but not
least I would like to introduce our guest speaker Sid Siddique who
has allegedly climbed with Kevin; that's notoriety for you. Described
by the BMC as a good bloke. He was born in Karachi and not in Bolt-on
which is a belief of certain members of the Climbers Club. Please
will you be upstanding for our honoured guests?????
A Walk in the High Sierra with a Fiancée (but not mine) - Linda
Crossley
"Huh, it makes you feel old when your first passport's about to expire"
said A as we were waiting to go through passport control. "Wait
until your second's nearly expired" I replied, head held high.
A's jaw dropped and eyes popped "HOW old are you?"
Poor A sits on the plane, fiancéeless thinking "What
have I let myself in for - 3 weeks back-packing with my Granny".
We moved from plane to bus to train (2 hours delay), to motel
(temperature well into the 30's, humid, no air-con) where we soaked
towels in cold water to cover us as we caught 4 hours sleep before
the next bus to Yosemite.
El Cap and Half Dome soared above us whilst we dazedly wandered about
Yosemite valley buying whistles (extra bear armoury) and drinking
final beers.
Next evening as darkness fell on our first day's walk, we had a
discussion. A had to shed some pack-weight but what could be left
in the wilderness leaving minimum impact? (We took our wilderness
responsibilities seriously - carrying out all waste, even used
loo-paper?!) Next morning A went off to bury 5kg of nuts and on we
went.
The John Muir Trail, 200 miles through the Sierra Nevada Mountains from
Yosemite to Mount Whitney is quite simply the best walk I have ever
done.
The trail follows river valleys, goes through woods, over high mountain
passes, crosses meadows covered with alpine flowers - amazing
purples, reds and yellows. There are deep blue lakes, snow-capped
peaks and gurgling streams. Granite boulder-strewn wastes, burnt,
twisted tree stumps following forest fires and steep hair-pinned
paths.
We soon fell into a comfortable rhythm. The days were warm and sunny,
the nights cold and the skies so full of stars. We camped wild. By
beautiful Lake Virginia the lake turned from blue to liquid gold to
iridescent pewter to pink as the sun set. In the north sky, we saw
our first shooting stars.
We cooked over fires (below the tree line) and swam daily in lakes so
cold it took your breath away. We sat watching oh-so-cute marmots,
ground squirrels and chipmunks. We dined on beanfeast and cous cous,
nuts and muesli bars, hot chocolate and whisky.
Apart from the beginning and end of the walk, we saw very few people,
perhaps 6 to 10 a day. Most were Americans who have fascinating
packs. They are mostly external frames and they seem to carry
everything on the outside - trainers, huge water containers, mugs,
and clothing, sleeping mats? We wondered what was inside. There
were some Brits. We met "Burnley Man" who asked A if he'd
had any problems with "Burs". A, a bit puzzled replied
"No" and thought "I've not noticed any such plant and
can't really think burrs would be such a problem anyway." (A
lives in Hampshire). We did see a bear one night. It walked into a
clearing about 30 feet from the tent. Much bashing of cooking pans
scared it off.
As we headed south, the landscape became more barren. Where springs
erupted or rivers ran, there were amazing splashes of livid green
amongst the rocks and sand. The trail was easy to follow, wooden
signs indicating our way. At Rae Lakes, the summer warden displayed
notices recounting ever increasingly ingenious bear tactics to obtain
backpackers' food and quotes from the writings of John Muir.
Our final camp by Guitar Lake was down below Mount Whitney. Next morning
we set off early to climb to the summit before the sun hit. From the
final pass, the 2-mile ridge walk to the summit was along a superbly
constructed path with stunning views down both sides to the valley
bottoms. We were both very quiet as we reached the top. It was a
fitting end to a wonderful walk but I felt no real sense of elation.
A summed it up when he said "I don't want this to end, I just
want to keep walking on and on and on..."
I'd definitely recommend this walk to anyone whom likes backpacking with
2 main tips: apply for your wilderness permits early - February for
August walking and keep your pack weight down. Many thanks to Ian
Pomfret for his excellent hints on this and advice about the whole
walk.
HALLINGSKARVET Skiing Wild Norway - Jim Gregson 1999
The cold hand of the bitter winter night had squeezed the land hard and
the stillness of the early day was broken only by the squeak and
swish of our skis through the sharp snow crystals cloaking the
glacier tongue.
In glinting sunshine my wife and I, relying on well-waxed skis, were
gaining height on the Middalsbreen glacier en route for the summit of
sfr Kongsnuten, one of the mountains at the perimeter of the
Hardangerfkulen ice-cap. Although Norway can justifiably claim to be
the birthplace of ski travel -- Stone Age rock carvings in the North
show elk hunters on skis, and Bronze Age skis have been found
preserved in fenland in the South of the country -- only a minority
of Norwegian ski-tourers make their way to and from the mountain
summits. Most content themselves with lower routes on hut-to-hut
tours, so no-one else was in sight.
For the skier who perseveres to develop the greater levels of skill and
technique which allow the use of Nordic style and equipment on
steeper mountains, Norway offers a cornucopia of opportunity for
adventure. There is a great range of mountain districts to choose
from, where the effort of skiing uphill to the tops is more than
amply rewarded by superb down-hill running in untracked, off-piste
snow.
We were in the early days of a ski-mountaineering tour starting from the
splendidly appointed Finsehytta, a lodge owned and run by the DNT,
the Norwegian Mountain Touring association, standing close to the
high-point of the Oslo-Bergen railway line. After a few days here we
intended to ski off through the wilder Hallingskarvet range to the
North-east, using some of the other huts to gain access to a number
of interesting summits before a return to Finse to complete our
circuit. Finse and the Hallingskarvet range lie in the track of
weather systems sweeping across the North Sea then being forced into
and funneled along the Hardanger and Eidfjord sea trenches carved
into the Norwegian coast. These weather systems are then abruptly
thrust upwards by the 1800 metres high ice-cap, causing frequent
heavy snowfalls accompanied by very fierce winds, so a tolerance
towards some degree of discomfort is a useful asset to the skier
venturing into this region.
We had to complete the ascent of sfr Kongsnuten on foot, by scrambling
up the rimed and icy blocks forming the top, then pushed and buffeted
by strong gusts of wind we skied South along the ice-cap edge to make
an interesting descent on the steeper slopes of the Torsteinsfonni
glacier.
A day of skiing with heavier rucksacks took us North and North-east to
the Geiterygghytta, our base for the next few days, where the
welcoming guardian keeps a small herd of reindeer. The next day
stormed so we skied a valley route in poor visibility to keep our
muscles supple. Taking advantage of the hut-guardian's local
knowledge, we studied our maps to work out routes to get up high. The
small glaciers on the Vargebreen at over 1700 metres seemed a good
choice and in the following day's sunshine we skied West along an
attractive valley to break off up steepening flanks on the North
side. By making careful traverses back and forth we found a way
across a corniced rim and climbed above craggy ground to a fine
outlook. The elevated top gave us extensive views over the rest of
the Hallingskarvet, and we could see many other possible summits
which canny route-finding would bring within reach.
Our descent gave fine running-- sections where telemarking worked well
interspersed with more intricate passages of traversing to avoid
rocky outcroppings, then long cruising runs back towards the hut, at
one point crossing a wide track of heavily trampled "mashed
potatoes" snow which the guardian told us marked the passage of
a large herd of wild reindeer.
From the Vargebreen we had noticed two very prominent mountain tops lying
some kilometres North-east of the Geiterygghytta. These were the
summits of the Urdvassnutane, buttressed with large cliffs. We were
informed that they probably hadn't been visited this winter so it was
easy to decide to try to reach at least one of them. In the morning
we started along a marked trail for a few kilometres, then swung away
into wilder terrain, picking a line up and across sparkling slopes in
hanging valleys, crossing a large flat area where a frozen tarn lay
beneath a deep blanket of snow. Steeper gradients put us onto a
shoulder of the mountain, heavily carved by the wind into sastrugi
ridges and finally we had no option but to unclip our bindings and
finish our ascent on foot.
Swirling winds gave us an extra complication for the descent once we had
returned to our skis, but there is a great satisfaction to be had
from working out a ski able line on unknown mountain slopes then
using one's ability to adapt through a range of free-heel turns and
technique to arrive safely at the intended place. On the way back to
the hut, we diverted to another neighboring summit which gave a
further extension to the amount of downhill running we had packed
into the day.
We were committed to moving on to another hut the next day, so were a
little disappointed to wake to a gale of wind and low mist tearing
past the windows. The journey Eastwards took several hours to
complete, with little respite from the nerve-wearing roar of the wind
until the last three kilometres down to the lake-side mountain lodge
at Raggsteindalen. Although we were traveling parallel to the main
Hallingskarvet ridge, the clinging wind- driven mist only revealed to
us the bases of dark cliffs as we passed. From Raggsteindalen on the
morrow we skied across the ice on the lake then up long slopes to the
pass of Folarskardet, just below the highest point of the
Hallingskarvet, but the ferocious gale whistling through the pass
drove us quickly back down with little incentive to stop and admire
the massive crags at this wild spot.
There remained for us a final full day of skiing to return to Finse, for
which we were blessed with a day of sunshine and fine visibility.
This allowed us to enjoy the impressive surroundings of the
Hallingskarvet, narrow valleys threading between large crags, with
our route climbing up the defile of Raggsteindalen to cross the high
cols by the Nordbotnane tarns, then traversing below the cliffs of
Ljftebotnberget. A lunch stop above the Kyrkjedfrsvatn lakes gave us
time to admire the appealing glacier and crag slopes falling
Northwards from the summit of Kyrkjedfrsnuten before we skied over
the frozen surfaces and swung round into the jaws of the Kyrkjedfri,
the Church Door pass.
Skiing up through here gives a passage along a narrow cliff-sided fault
leading to fast descents to more frozen lakes, the Flakavatnet.
Beyond them, some further climbing revealed the high-domed
Hardangerjfkulen ice-cap in front of us as tired legs coped with the
rapid swoops down to Finse, where we spent a final night relaxing and
reflecting on our days passed among and on these wild Norwegian
mountains. Although we shared the huts with others, we had enjoyed
our summits as the only pair on the hill, and will certainly go back
to repeat the experience in another winter.
February Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2001 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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