Karabiner Mountaineering Club

February 2001 Forthcoming Meets

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

January 27^th - 28^th - Ty Powdyr WORKING MEET - Iain McCallum, Hut Manager

There is plenty of work to be done. The main tasks are:

Dormitories:

• Lower RHS - Internal front wall - install paneling and wall insulation, install trim around the paneling, varnish all the new woodwork and paint ceiling.

• Lower LHS - Install a ceiling with insulation.

Dormitories, common room and washrooms etc. - general cleaning.

Road to hut - repair by filling in pot holes.

Lunch will be provided for members of the working party.

Please let me know if you are thinking of supporting this meet as it helps with the planning of the work and the catering arrangements. You can phone me at home and if I am not available you can leave a message on my answer phone.

Many thanks.

February 4^th Arnside & Silverdale Walk - Brian Taylor

Meet at 9.30 am for a 9.45 am start at the car park below Warton Crag (Grid ref 492723 0S map 97).Although this area might seem a bit tame for a mountaineering club hopefully the compensation will be a varied walk of approximately 10 miles over crags, through woodland, nature reserves and along the coast. The proposed route takes us over Warton crag, down to Crag Foot, along the coast to Silverdale, up over Arnside Knot at the dizzy height of 159 metres! (apparently this is a glorious viewpoint), back past Hawes Water and Leigton Moss and then back to the car.

Contact me for further information.

February 10^th - 11^th Glencoe, SMC Alex MacIntyre Memorial Hut - David K. Lygate

The KMC's Winter Glencoe meet is the club's once in a season opportunity to visit a most incredible & magical area in winter for walking, climbing & skiing. However, such wonders come at a cost, there are only sixteen places available. So with the level of interest that has already been shown (pre-publication), we need the full cost of £7 (cheques payable to the KMC) forwarded to the meet leader as early as possible to secure your place, or you may be camping on the lochside with Al.

Scotland in February, will there be snow?

Possible scenarios:

1. Plenty of snow & ice - well excellent it's exactly what we are going for.
2. Too much snow - (i.e. very high avalanche warning - see SAIS) Go skiing instead, sounds like perfect conditions for the White Corries or Aonach Mor.
3. No snow - Treat this as a summer meet but without the fearsome Scottish Midgy.
4. The east coast has better conditions - We are only 1½ hour's drive from the Cairngorms, if that.
5. Totally unbearable conditions all weekend - Go to the Clachaig, the folk singer should be there on the Saturday night, along with a real fire, fantastic beers & a good hundred bottles of whisky to choose from. Or if this does not appeal, then there is always a trip to the Aluminium Smelter in Kinlochleven to fall back on.

Now that all fears have been banished, back to scenario 1. Glencoe is a magnificent place in the winter or the summer, but especially in winter, be it for walking, skiing or climbing. So here are a few of the local areas of interest.

• The Aonach Eagach
• Stob Coirenan Lochan
• The lost valley
• The Buachaille
• Ben Nevis
• Plus many, many more including the suggestions above & everything else on the road down south to Glasgow.

I think that all of these areas speak for themselves. So if you are interested plus have appropriate experience & equipment, then see me in the pub on any Thursday night, (places are on a first come first served basis.)

The Alex Mac. Hut is adjacent to the Creag Mhor Hotel in Onich & accessed from the A82 (Grid ref. 046612, OS sheet 41 - Ben Nevis). SMC hut guide - "The hut has 16 places, mains electricity & water, electric & calor gas cookers & heaters; all utensils; hot water & showers; drying room, with car park at the rear of the building."

February 11^th - 16^th Midweek Glencoe Hut Meet - Duncan Lee

Scottish Mid week meet; Alex MacIntyre Memorial Hut.

For those desperate to stay north of the border after Dave's weekend meet (or still needing to Sober up after Dave's whisky) a few places have been booked for the rest of the week. The hut costs £3.50 per night so a cheque to me (payable to the KMC) for £17.50p guarantees you a bed. Unfortunately it does not guarantee you a sound proof bunk far from the Whitterringman. Any one interested should let me know ASAP. Either phone me, email me or talk to me at the pub on Thursdays.

February 18^th Yorkshire Dales Walk - Frank Williams

Meet at 9:15 for a 9:30 start, at the car park' adjacent to the bridge over the Wharfe at Burnsall. Grid ref :032612 Outdoor Leisure Sheet 2, Yorkshire Dales, South Sheet.

About 10 to 12 miles taking in Trollers Ghyll, Grimwith Reservoir, Stump Cross Cavern, Simon's Seat and the Dales Way.

All conveniences at the car park including toilets and teabar, beautiful pubs in Burnsall for post walk pints, beautiful pubs in Appletreewick, and picnic tables and further conveniences at Grimwith reservoir. Perfect weather ordered, crisp frosty morning, sunny all day and a delightful return into the sunset along the Wharfe. Absolutely delightful scenery, from green drumlin fields to rocky edged moorland and limestone caverns.

February 24^th - 25^th Dry Rock Weekend! - Al Metelko

Dry rock venues are Beeston Tor on Saturday and Lawrencefield on Sunday, the meet leader should be there 11 o'clock onwards.

Yes! It's a climbing weekend in the middle of winter. On the Thursday before the meet, I worked out that the above crags should be in the driest part of the country. It's not too far to travel after all if you want a tick, so come along and get some early season cragging.

March 3^rd - 4^th RAEBURN HUT (12) - Mark Garrod

This meet has been cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth Disease Crisis

The second of this year's Scottish Weekend Meets series! The Raeburn Hut is owned by the SMC, and is very well appointed; hot shower, heaters, drying room, all cooking facilities, alpine bunks with mattresses for max 12 people, at a mere £5 per night.

The hut is on the Dalwhinnie (5 miles) to Laggan (3 miles) road, grid ref: 636909. Safest parking is in a lay-by 100yds N of the hut. Very well situated for easy drives to Craig Mheaghaidh, the Cairngorms, Glen Feshie, or the Monadhliaths, for skiing (down or over), climbing, excellent walking, etc. Need I say more?

The first 12 to send me £10 get their places. Cheques by hand at the pub, or post after confirming place by phone.

March 11^th Peak District Walk - Iain McCallum

This meet has been cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth Disease Crisis

Route: Meerbrook (Car park) - Gun Hill - Gun End - Hollinhall - Danebridge - Roach End - Roaches - Meerbrook

Map: OS Outdoor Leisure Sheet 24

Meet at 9:3Oam for 9:45am start at Meerbrook ( Tittesworth Reservoir Car park) GR 994604 - May be approached from either A523 Macclesfield to Leek road - turn off near Rushton Spencer or from A53 Buxton to Leek road - turn off at Blackshaw Moor.

Refreshments are available at the "Ship Inn" at Wincle and at Lazy Trout Inn at Meerbrook.

A fine walk around the hills at the southern end of the White Peak albeit in Staffordshire. Distance about 12/13 miles on good paths and tracks. The walk can be easily modified to suit the conditions. ETA at the Ship Inn between 1pm and 1:30pm.

March 17^th - 18^th Roybridge - Allt Cruinichicdh (12) - C.Williamson

This meet has been cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth Disease Crisis

Another year comes round and so, too, does the bumper fun Scottish winter weekend with something for everyone:

Climbing, beer, snow, hot showers, ice, bunks with duvets, skiing (all flavours catered for), crowded kitchens, howling gales, food, walking, singing?, horizontal rain, good company, fantastic scenery (where visible), benightment, somewhere to plug your hair dryer in, spindrift, drying room, whisky, sunshine (on payment of considerable supplement!) and a long drive home.

With the exception of the date and the venue, all of the above are subject to availability. The meet leader takes no responsibility of any sort what so ever. It's Scotland - you were warned! Add your name to the list by providing me with the money. Yet to be confirmed, it looks like being fifteen pounds.

Location: Aite Cruinnichidh Self-catering Lodge is at GR300810 on OS 1:50000 sheet 41, Ben Nevis & Fort William.

March 25^th Southport Foreshore Walk - Keith Williams

This meet has been re-arranged due to the Foot and Mouth Disease Crisis

One of the few remaining places to walk appears to be the foreshore so as an alternative to the original plan I'm suggesting that we gather in Southport and walk down the beach to Alt Mouth/Formby Point. Its not possible to do it the other way round because access to the beach in the South in prohibited through the dunes.

Meet at 11.00am on the beach at the landward end of the pier. You used to be able to park on the beach there, but in any case there are car parks nearby in town.

This could be a fairly bracing excursion with quite difficult walking on dry sand. However, high tide is about midday - something to go to S'port for in any case - and this will firm things up for a while under foot.

Anyone who would care to spend the evening at Bank Cottage en route home will be fed and 'watered' and some members are bringing slides to make it an even more interesting slot. If you plan to join us, esp. for the evening, would you let me know by March 22nd at the latest please.

March 25^th Mallerstang Walk - Keith Williams

Meet at 09:30 Sunday morning at Aisgill Moor Cottages (GR963777). Modest parking on the side of the main road and possibly along the track to Hell Gill. The route from there will be NW on to the Swarth Fell - Wild Boar Fell ridge; N over Little Fell and down to Pendragon Castle via High Intack Gill. Lunch at the castle. Up Gale Sike to the north end of Mallerstang Edge thence on to High Seat at 801013. From there the national park boundary is followed over Hugh Seat  down to Hell Gill  and the road. A bad weather alternative swaps one of the ridges for a return along the River Eden. Total distance: ca 15mls. Map: OS Outdoor Leisure 19 Howgill Fells.

March 31^st - April 1^st Ty Powdyr - Navigation Weekend - D.Lee & D.Kenyon

This meet has been postponed due to the Foot and Mouth Disease Crisis

Hopefully it will take place later in the year

The course will be a full day and costs £10 per person with a maximum of ten people per day. If demand is high enough Dave will run the course on both days of the weekend starting around 9:30am from the hut. If you are interested contact Duncan by phone or down the pub on a Thursday.

After a hopefully brief introduction to basic navigation, making sure that everyone is familiar with the basics (Map scales, Distances, Symbols, Features, Contours etc), the day will be spent on the hill. We'll be looking at some of the features on the map and seeing how they relate to what's happening on the ground, as well as more advanced techniques such as Timing, Pacing, Handrails, Attack points, Aiming off, Aspect of slope, etc, etc. The location will depend on the weather and what people would most like to look at.

You will need to come well prepared, as we'll be standing around (discussing/arguing!) quite a bit and not walking huge distances. We'll go out no matter what the weather, the worse the better as far nav goes, you'll need:

Essentials

• Rucksack
• Waterproof Jacket & Trousers
• Good boots (Gaiters)
• Hat & Gloves
• Spare warm clothing
• Flask & Food
• Spare Emergency food (Date bars, Kendal Mint cake, Mars bars etc)
• Small personal First Aid Kit
• Marker Pen - Fine Map marker or OHP pen
• Head Torch with a new or spare battery

If Compasses, Maps or any other gear is a problem for anyone they can hired them from the Brenin. It is recommended to read up on navigation from the book list before the course, there are some notes available on request. Contact Duncan before the weekend.

April 8^th The President's Hotpot - Leader: Duncan Lee

The meal this year will be at The Navigation Inn in Buxworth (near Chinley) and will cost £6 for Hotpot and a dessert. For those only going for the meal the pub is open all day with the meal being planned for 7.30pm. Contact me by phone, email or in person to book a place.

The daytime activities are being re-arranged due to the Foot and Mouth Disease problems

Climbing will be at New Mills Tor, which (being in the middle of the town) shouldn't have any restrictions. Hopefully there will also be a walk, but if there is it will have to be along roads.

The nighttime activities also include the slideshow so it is time to put these long winter evenings to good use and pick out some pictures from the past year for everyone's entertainment. The categories are:

1. Mountain Landscape
2. Mountain Action
3. Climbing Action
4. Human Interest.

Please remember that only 3 slides per category can be included in the competion. We will be having a general session following the competition for people to show other slides.

The daylight activity options on offer are a walk (details below) being led by Ian McCallum or climbing at Burbage North where you will have to put up with yours truly. Meet at the Long Tall Sally area from 10am onwards. Hopefully both groups will manage to meet up for a sociable lunch in glorious sunshine.

Edges Walk

A good tramp around the eastern edges of the Peak District on good paths and tracks. Distance about 12 miles. The walk can be easily modified to suit the conditions.

EXTRA TRIPS OPEN TO READERS

February: Knoydart Backpacking - Graham Harkness

As an added attraction to the meets program for February I am planning a long weekend camping in Knoydart, if you want to put it in the newsletter.

My initial plan is to travel to Scotland on Wednesday evening after work meet up early on the morning of Thursday 22^nd Feb and return to the cars Sunday 25^th Feb.

The MAPS are Landranger sheets 33 and 40.

The meeting place I have in mind is Strathan NGR 980915. Walk in up Glen Dessarry to around Carnoch 868968 and camp.

Spend Friday and Saturday in the hills and then out on Sunday. There are plenty of interesting looking hills around.

Virginia Castick and maybe Keith Williams and some others may be interested.

Obviously the weather will be a bit of a consideration?

It is a remote area and it will need decent winter camping gear. If we got really lucky we might even be able to go in on ski's but rain is more likely.

Any one interested give me a call

Easter: Bouldering in the Forest - Rick Davies

Fontainebleau:-

Imagine the scene - clear skies, quality rock, and fuss free climbing - all with the added bonus of cheap, but quality French wines and foods freely available. This was the scene which I encountered last year at Fontainebleau, a climbing experience so relaxing yet also so motivating that I cannot speak highly enough of it.

This coming year I plan to revisit Fontainebleau during the fortnight surrounding Easter, for my third bouldering session at this French Mecca. If you're climbing at around 5a or above, this is the ideal venue for you to fine-tune those rock techniques ready for the forthcoming season. Not only does bouldering offer a fuss free way of climbing, but also it also offers the chance to develop new techniques in relatively safe environments, and also helps to develop a good level of stamina. Do you fancy coming along to try it for yourself?

This trip is not being organised as an official meet, however, if you fancy coming along let me know, and hopefully we can get things arranged to minimise costs and maximise the 'social' aspects to the trip.

So far I have nothing booked, although I do have information on Gites in the area, which would work out at about £35 per, person per week with four sharing, the more people who go, the more the price can be reduced. For those who feel that a Gite would be a bit namby-pamby I have also got information on camping in the area, which would cost around £4 per person per day. Also at present Sea France are doing return ferry deals for £120, or if you just fancied a taster trip you could get a five-day return for about £70. Expected dates are 7^th to 21^st April 2001.

So anyone out there who's interested in coming along on this French bouldering odyssey, get in touch??..

February Newsletter Index.

Copyright © 2001 Karabiner Mountaineering Club