|
April 2001 Forthcoming Meets
All note the following small print when taking part in meets :-
"I accept that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a risk of personal injury or death.
I am aware of and shall accept these risks and wish to participate in these activities voluntarily
and shall be responsible for my own actions and involvement."
Many of this summer's planned outdoor meets have been hit by the restrictions
imposed by the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak in the UK.
As information becomes available, details of re-arranged meets will be
added to this page. If in doubt, contact the appropriate meet leader.
April 8th - The President's Hotpot - 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:
- Mountain Landscape
- Mountain Action
- Climbing Action
- 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.
Easter 2001 - Fontainebleau/South of France - 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 7th to 21st April 2001.
So anyone out there who's interested in coming along on this French
bouldering odyssey, get in touch??..
April 22nd - Ravensdale - Joe Flynn
This meet is ON!
The crag was opened on 12/4/01. Access is only allowed on the concessionary path - the normal approach.
They would prefer people to abseil off rather than walk down.
Meet at the crag from 11am.
April 29th - Hilbre Island Walk - Christine Beeston
The meet this Sunday has been changed, as Dovestones Edge is still
inaccessible.
Instead I propose a walk to Hilbre Island, incorporating a scenic tour of
West Kirby. Hilbre is a small island off the NW corner of the Wirral
peninsula, which can be walked to at low tide.
Meet at 9am in the carpark by the Thurstaston visitor's centre (Grid ref SJ
237 835, turn left about 1½ km after Heswall on the A540).
We'll be walking along the beach to the Marine Lake, striking out to the
islands and then back for a scenic tour of West Kirby (Views of the Wirral
from Caldy Hill) and returning to the visitor's centre on the Wirral Way.
Total distance around 11 miles, with a good 50m of ascent!
I have a permit for 15 people, which should be fine, and I don't think
they are checked very often, but please let me know if you're planning to
come anyway.
Hope to see you there,
Christine.
May 5th - 7th - BH Peak District Climbing - Duncan Lee
The plan to climb on the Old Man of Stoer had to be abandoned due to uncertainty
about F&M access restrictions.
There is a new plan:
Saturday May 5th Earl Sterndale
Sunday May 6th Stanage (Wall End)
Monday May 7th Ramshaw Rocks
For full details, contact the meet leader. Or, just turn up at the crag!
May 13th - Trowbarrow Climbing - Sheena Hendrie
The planned Working Meet at Ty Powdwr was cancelled, as the hut is still out of bounds.
The decision has been made - the meet on Sunday is a climbing meet at
Trowbarrow. The grid reference for the crag is SD 481758 and parking is
at SD 481755. The map is OS Landranger Sheet 97 Kendal to Morecambe and
the guidebook is the BMC's Lancashire Rock. I'll be there after 1030.
Trowbarrow is a limestone quarry with most routes at VS and above (with a
few at VDiff and Severe). The main wall is impressivley high and although
it looks like it's about to collapse at any moment it gives some memorable
*** star routes up the crack lines. Bear in mind that we need to ab off
from all routes - the top path and normal descent is shut.
It is a good spot for a picnic as well and there is scope for cycling in
the local lanes (which sounds a good excuse for a detour to some of the
local pubs)!
May 20th - Stanage - Sue Brooke
This meet WILL take place!
Meet at the Popular End (i.e. the open part), from around 11am onwards.
The meet leader will be limping up to the crag at some point to say hello,
count heads and perhaps hold ropes.
Attendance of Sue's meet is, of course, mandatory for everybody in the
KMC and all prospective members!
May 26th - 28th - BH Cornwall Camping - John Evans
The meet is on! Enough of the granite is open...O Yes. A recent successful reconnaisance
mission resulted in excellent climbing in the sunshine at Sennen, Land's End and the
magnificent Chair Ladder. So dig out the tent etc... and join us (well, me at least)
for some classic routes! Unfortunately due to the ongoing f & m disaster the walking
possibilities are limited, but surfing/lying on a beach/looking through telescopes (20p)
at distant tankers are among the other possibilities...I will also be baking a number
of scones as part of an attempt at a cream tea.
The campsite is the Sea View (Grid Reference: 357252 on OS Landranger Sheet 203, but even
I found it instantly at midnight so it's easy to spot). Basically drive a very long way
down the M6, M5 & A30 to near enough the end of the land; after bypassing Penzance,
continue towards Land's End - ultimately you will pass the black & white 'First and Last Inn',
the campsite is about 300 yards on the left. The facilities are pretty good with shops & pubs nearby.
Some routes to consider would be:
- Sennen - obviously the classic Demo Route HS 4b*** is worth a go; our experiments were
on Banana Flake VDiff*, Africa Route VS 5a*, and Double Overhang HS 4b** - also lined up a good few
other routes, both easier and harder.
- Land's End - more broken up than Sennen but some good climbing to be found through the
grades by all accounts. Land's End Long Climb VDiff* is cetainly worth a go.
- Chair Ladder is a brilliant crag, some superb multi-pitch stuff to go at there, from
Classic Rock's Terrier's Tooth VDiff***, through routes like South Face Direct VS 4c*** to various
tougher lines like Bishop's Rib** and Excelsior** at E1 5b, or The Spire E3 5c** (dream on son!).
The atmosphere, views and quality of the climbing will make the trip well worth while - even if the
scones may not...we shall see. See you there, or in the pub for a chat beforehand. I will either be
found in a small green Vau De tent or (fingers crossed) a very large blue and yellow structure.
June 3rd - Millstone - Roger Mapleson
Millstone is open.
This, as most of you will know, is a classic venue with
grades to suit most abilities and some of the longest routes on grit. Routes
include, Great Slab (S), The Mall (VS), Great North Road (HVS) and many
more. This is an excellent place to hone your jamming skills and, if you are
so inclined, to practice your aid climbing. Millstone is all of three
minutes walk from Surprise View car park near Hathersage. Check the latest
on the BMC site for parking restrictions and, indeed any change in the
access situation.
Usual meeting place/gear dumping ground will be used
around embankment wall. The KMC creche will also be in full swing in this
spot. Kevin Anderson has nobley volunteered to take on the responsibilty of
Meet Nursery Assistant and all small persons (this does NOT include Sabina,
Bridget or Barking) may be deposited for safe(?) keeping with Kevin for the
day. Kevin will be organising "fun" events for the little ones such as
shouting very loudly at the bottom of routes where nervous leaders have just
embarked upon the crux moves. You can retreive yours at the end of the day
where they will found suspended from the crag at a convenient point. Look
forward to seeing you from 10ish onwards.
June 10th - Horseshoe Pass Walk - Peter Walker
This will be a combined walking/climbing meet. Full details to follow.
April Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2001 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
|
