Karabiner Mountaineering Club

October 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."

29^th / 30^th September - Ty Powdyr WORKING MEET - I. McCallum

The main tasks are: Complete the installation of the timber cladding in the two lower dormitories and skim the ceilings, lay a plywood underlay and cork flooring in Elidir Fawr, clean the premises, repair road , trim and thin trees, secure guttering and weather permitting - repair and level the car park perimeter wall. Lunch will be provided - soup, rolls, fruit, cheese and biscuits.

These tasks do not require a large scale working party.

7^th October - Laddow - A. Croughton

A traditional crag meet and an annual KMC social gathering.

Meet at the Crowden car park 9.30/10.00am or make your own way across the tops to the crag and meet us in the cave. The usual mix of cups of tea in the cave, birthday cake and climbing in the sun,

I will be leading this meet for the first time this year but hope Ken will turn up to show me how to make tea, as I never drink the stuff. Walkers are welcome to drop in for a brew on their way by in order to get a tick on the meet. All those interested please let me know at the pub on Thursday, or by telephone.

See you in the cave.

13^th / 14^th October - The Fell Race, Irish Row, Coniston - The KMC

The club committee strongly believe that the annual Fell Race should be integral part of the club's outdoor meets list, as it helps both to promote that significant aspect of Mountaineering, and brings together a cross-section of club members who would not normally go on a weekend meet together.

Therefore, this year, after last years disappointing attendance due to date changes, etc, etc, the committee are actively promoting the event. Neville has agreed to set a course and help run the event on the day, but the rest of the committee will be encouraging everyone to join in, even if as walkers, or marshals, or whatever, to prove that this aspect of the club is still alive and well.

The Irish Row hut is perfectly situated for the event - indeed we held the 50th anniversary fell race from there, and I'm sure the Old Man (no, not you Ken, although we know you'll be there) is likely to feature in some guise on the course. Saturday is yours to do as you please - train, check the terrain, climb on Dow, drink beer, all are acceptable, especially the last. As for the event, it is designed for everyone, with staggered start times so those who wish to go at a steadier pace can go off early. The (in)famous handicapping system will again be used to determine who wins the prestigious Trophy, the only sure fire outcome being anyone who can run won't win it! Incidentally, rumours that last years handicap winner has been taking steroids are true, but they are the wrong sort - the ones that knacker you muscles (catabolic, for those in the know).

Hut bookings initially to Mark Garrod or Neville McMillan.

Dig out those fell shoes or lightweight boots and get warming up.

21^st October - Peak District (Trafalgar day) Walk - D. Seddon

ENGLAND EXPECTS. . . nothing less than a great turnout for yet another superlative Peak District Walk. Meet at Hope Car Park (free!) on the A625 about 200 meters from the church, at 9:30am for 9:45 start. Route: cross the road, Fulwood Stile Farm, Hope Cross, Crookstone Barn & Hill, Ringing Roger, The Nab, Nag's Head Edale (lunch), Harden Clough, Windy Knoll, Top of the Winnats (spectacular views!), Castleton, Peakhole water and streamside track to Hope. About 12 miles. Ring me if you need a lift.

28^th October - Yorkshire Walk, try Langdales - G. Harkness

The tourist board tell me that much of Yorkshire is still closed because of the Foot and Mouth restrictions so I propose a change of location. At least we will be fairly sure of a walk.

Meet Sunday, 09:30am, at the Old Dungeon Gill car park at the head of Langdales, as the clocks go back bring a torch (only in case we are delayed).

I plan a bit of a round, Cold Pike, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and if time permits Scafell Pike. Back via Angle Tarn and Rosset Gill.... But there are plenty of options to lengthen or shorten.

I will put any changes or other info on the web site later if need be.

Despite protests Sue and I will be camping on the Old Camp site on Saturday night.

3^rd / 4^th November - Ty Powdyr, Bonfire & Navigation Course - The KMC

This is a meet that runs itself, but be prepared to get your hands dirty building the bonfire and then watch the pyromaniacs in the club struggle to get thing burning. Oh! Don't forget to bring some fireworks remembering that vast quantities of little ones will keep the above same pyromaniacs occupied for hours. Not recommended if you are of a nervous disposition.

Navigation

The course will be a full day starting at 9:30am from the hut and cost £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. Anyone interested should contact Duncan by phone or email, or come down to the pub.

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 navigation goes, you'll need:

• 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

Compass
Preferably a Sylva type 4 or Sunto do a very similar one. Key features are:

• It needs to be a reasonable size about 120mm/5 inches
• An easily readable compass housing or dial (preferably in Degrees not Mills)
• Magnifying Glass
• Direction Arrow
• Romer Scales (1:50,000 & 1:25,000)
• Ruler in mms
• Orienteering Lines inside the Compass Housing

Maps

• 1:50,000 Snowdon and surrounding area (Sheet No 115)
• 1:25,000 Snowdonia Snowdon and Conwy Valley areas (Sheet No 17)

Useful Books

• Mountain Navigation by Peter Cliff
• Mountain Navigation Techniques by Kevin Walker
• Mountaincraft and Leadership by Eric Langmuir
• Ordnance Survey Map Skills by C Warn

Maps and compasses and any other gear can be hired from the Brenin in advance. It is recommended to read up as much as possible before the course.

11^th November - Mountain Biking Meet - Margret Baldock

Meet in the carpark at Derwent Reservoir Visitors' Centre, Grid Ref approx 171893 Outdoor Leisure Map 1 to set off at 9.30am.

Mountain bikes can be hired from Derwent Reservoir Cycle Hire, at above location, 01433 651261. Opens at 9am. £10 for the day. No need to book in advance.

Details of the route will be available at the pub the Thursday before. A not too difficult, not too easy, not too long, not too short kind of a route with varied scenery and terrain, and enough ups and downs to keep us all awake.

November 17^th - 18^th - Annual Dinner, Royal Vic, Llanberis - M. Garrod

THE ANNUAL DINNER - NOVEMBER 17TH, ROYAL VICTORIA HOTEL

Advance warning - the Social Event of the Year. Your chance to eat, drink and be Mary.

The annual dinner is being held at the Vic in Llanberis again this year, on Saturday November 17th. For those of you who haven't been to the Vic before, it's our "local" location for dinners as far as the club home (hut) is concerned. This brings with it the bonus, for those who cant afford the Vic's very reasonable rates, of staying at the hut; the bonus being financial rather than physical.

We have already found and lost famous names for the guest speaker, so speakers have yet to be chosen. Full details of this, plus menus, etc, will be in November's newsletter. Costs is £16 for the dinner.

Menu Choice

• Cream of carrot and coriander soup with crisp croutons
• Mushrooms marinated in garlic and cream, served in a pastry case
• Thinly sliced smoked duck platter with a Dijon mustard and dill dressing

Main courses

• Roast sirloin of beef with yorkshire pudding
• Grilled salmon steak served with a light creamy watercress sauce
• (VEG) Ricotta, spinach and nutmeg tortellini Verdi with a tomato and herb sauce

Desserts
To be booked on the night, but hopefully from -

• Raspberry syllabub
• Meringue filled with fresh fruit salad and cream
• Chocolate something (special request), or brandy snap basket with pineapple, and coconut ice-cream

Booking for the Dinner

Accommodation

THE ROYAL VICTORIA HOTEL, LLANBERIS

Tel: 0870 832 9903
Fax: 0870 832 9904
E-Mail: res-royalvictoria@legacy-hotels.co.uk
Address: Llanberis, Gwynedd, LL55 4TY.

The hotel has a large number of rooms, but there will be at least one other function on that weekend, so I suggest you ensure you get yourselves booked in as soon as you can. Hotel costs are £27.50 per night B&B BUT you must mention you are with the KMC function when booking to ensure you get this rate. Bookings are to be made by individuals; the club do not reserve any, nor do it for you.

THE HUT

is the only alternative accommodation I will suggest, apart from...

CAMPING

Adjacent to the hut, but pay your hut fees anyway.

Mark Garrod

October Newsletter Index.

Copyright © 2001 Karabiner Mountaineering Club