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December 2001 Meet Reports
29th April - Hilbre Island Walk - Christine Beeston
Those present: Margaret Baldock, Christine Beeston, Andrew Croughton,
Dave Dillon, Roger Dyke, Jim and Sandy Gregson, Martin Heaton, Alan
(L) Jones, Phil Ramsbottom, Zoë Talks, Brian Taylor, Chris Thickett,
Peter Walker, Frank and Margaret Williams, Dave Wylie.
This is a very late meet report, and I am very sorry - I hope I
haven't missed anyone - thanks to Roger for his great photos, which
allowed me to identify people.
This was supposed to be a climbing meet to Dovestones Edge, but Foot
and Mouth meant I had to cast around for something else to do, so a
walk to Hilbre Island was the alternative. There was a good turnout
despite the short notice, and it was even better when we reached
Hilbre and found Andrew, Dave and Margaret looking out for us from
the watchtower. Restrictions were lifted just in time for us to add
a coastal walk and return through the scenic delights of West Kirby
and the Wirral Way (top tip, when organizing walks through built up
areas, check loos are available to avoid delays) as well as the walk
out to the islands and back. The walk to Hilbre is lovely and well
worth a repeat around February for the birds, so I'm told, and it was
nice to at least be in wide open (if flat) spaces for a change.
Thanks to all for coming along, and special thanks to Alan Jones for
providing such an excellent spread with cakes and endless tea!
22nd / 23rd September - Salving House, Joint Meet with FRCC - B.Anderson
Present: Jim Gregson, Sandy Gregson, Virginia Castick, Chris
Thickett, Bob Anderson plus 18 FRCC members.
Two fine days in the Lakes (three for Bob and Chris who started on
Friday) was the reward for those attending.
FRCC parties were active on Shepherds, Black Crag, High Crag, The
Napes and at Bowderstone but found the Rock greasy and the air cool.
KMC concentrated on walking and scrambling. Virginia knocked off a
few Wainwrights, whatever they are, Jim and Sandy traversed most of
the western Lakes including Base Brown, Green Gable, Great Gable,
Scafell Pike, Allen Crags and Glaramara. Chris and Bob did a
truncated version of the above (no Scafell Pike) allowing plenty of
time for resting and admiring the views. More walking by KMC on
Sunday.
Dry fine days in the Lakes, marvellous, why did you miss it.
29th / 30th September - Ty Powdyr Working Meet - Iain McCallum
Members present : Bob. Anderson, Martin Heaton, lain McCallum, Lester
Payne, Zoë Talks, Steve Taylor, Chris Thickett, Frank Williams,
Margaret Williams, Alan Wylie, Dave Wylie.
Guests present: Martin Wilcock, Emma Richards and William Taylor
(aged 4!)
Another very successful working party. A good start was made on
Friday with the delivery of the timber cladding, door frame, cement,
lime and sand by C. L. Jones(B) Ltd. to lain and Lester at the hut.
The weather, however, did not co-operate entirely and although it was
fine on Saturday, on Sunday the rain fell in sheets and the wind blew
all day.
Tasks accomplished:
Dormitories:
Elidir Fawr - Timber cladding of internal front wall completed,
plywood floor installed and cork flooring partly laid. (Bob, Chris,
lain)
Glyder Fawr - Timber cladding of the ceiling completed ( Steve, Dave
and Alan) Timber coving installed in both dorms ( Steve and Dave) and
all new timber varnished with at least one coat of varnish ( Martin
H. Martin W. and Lester)
Rear wall gutter repaired (by Frank and Alan in the pouring rain!)
Car park perimeter wall - rebuilding and and levelling of the reduced
wall commenced (Lester and Martin W.)
Cleaning:
Washrooms - showers, toilets, wash basins( Iain and Zoë)
Kitchen - fans, cooker, hobs, utensils ( Lester, Martin H. Margaret)
Windows inside and out (Zoë)
Minor tasks - many e.g. repairing fan in gents (Dave) oiling all
latches and hinges (Alan)
Drying Room:
All equipment tested and found to be in good order. Test carried out
on two ropes
A hawser laid nylon rope and a kernmantel rope, both thoroughly
soaked with water. The dehumidifier dried them in five hours - using
2kW of electric heating - temperature 23C. The ropes were spread out
to assist the drying process.
Lunch was provided by Iain.
Thanks to everybody who supported the meet for all their hard work.
21st October - Peak District Walk - Derek Seddon
MEMBERS: Bob Anderson, Alan Barber, Sabina Cosulich, Linda Crossley,
Jim & Sandy Gregson, Sheena Hendrie, Duncan Lee, Iain McCallum, Lorna
Marsland, Lester Payne, Alan Peck, Pete Schofield, Derek Seddon, Jim
Taylor, Peter Walker, Frank & Margaret Williams, Zoë Talks, Martin
Heaton.
GUESTS: Janice Barber, Steve Chandler, Catherine Liddell, Anthony
Mannion.
Was it the promise of a free car park which brought so many to Hope
on a dull day? Whatever, it was gratifying to see 20 odd people,
including welcome guests and Alan Barber wearing two pairs of shorts,
ready for some serious walking. Before we had progressed very far the
rain came to join us and stayed with us most of the day, so that by
the time we reached the Nag's Head at Edale, where the President and
Sheena were glimpsed dimly through the fug, we were feeling dampish.
A breakaway lunch group dined under the church lych gate (draughty)
after which the party began to get strung out, McCallum striding off
in the lead, without a thought for Peter Walker's bad leg. In the
ensuing gallop across the fields to Castleton it may be that some
members rushed past the spectacular views from the top of the Winnats
without noticing them, but all made it down to follow the muddy
riverside track back to Hope. On such a fairly miserable day, it's
great to be a part of a lively, cheerful lot like this. Thanks to all.
28th October - Yorkshire Walk, try Langdales - G. Harkness
Members: Lester Payne, Virginia Castick, Mark Garrod, Michelle
Harvie, Sandy Gregson, Jim Gregson, Susan Harkness, Graham Harkness,
Kevin Anderson, Al Metelko
Guest: Dave Hall
There was an apparent need to focus more on the social organisation
for Saturday night. We managed to distribute Sue, Graham, Michelle
and Mark to the New DG, Dave Hall to the Stickle Barn, Al and Kevin
to the Old DG and the Gregson's to the hut.
New rule no fraternising before a meet!! Except for Michelle who kept
getting chatted up and offered intoxicants by crowds of younger men
in the Stickle Barn, whom she left - rejected - at her feet.
None the less 09:30 (ish) the company turned out at the appointed
place, weather beautiful. Al and Kevin headed straight for Gimmer to
seize the autumn opportunity.
The rest of us set off up the valley. Around the back of Pike O
Blisco, up Browney Gill to Red Tarn and then on to Cold Pike, where I
had not walked before. From the top could be seen a good portion of
the fell race course from a couple of weeks before (nice to see it
this time), beyond to the sea and just about every peak in the lake
district plus several beyond.
We then took the ridge north east to the Crinkles. Some dark clouds
covered part of the sky and with the sun shining below the clouds the
lakes and rivers below the cloud turned to beautiful shining silver,
cameras out time.
We stopped for lunch before the windy bit at three tarns and found
the most delightful little hollow, out of the by now chilly wind,
looking straight down Langdale.
After lunch we continued towards Bowfell pausing only for a little
huff and puff up the famous bad step.
We could not stop any more. By now Midge as like the dormouse falling
asleep in her tea cup and muttering about wanting to take her clothes
off? Oh!! I observed. (Midge actually gets a tick and a merit mark
for coming straight to the meet from an overnight hike with the
rangers.)
It was a bit late to head for the Pike and by now it was in cloud so
we dropped to Ore gap and then Angle tarn Dave headed straight down
Rossett Gill to chase his lift home. The rest of us continued further
round and descended via Stake pass and back along Mickleden. A superb
day after a very constrained summer.
Back at the pub, where we stopped briefly, Kevin and Al reported two
E1's on Gimmer: "Crystal" and "Poacher" but the wind had been bitter
on the crag, despite the sun and they had to queue for the plum
routes.
All told a very enjoyable meet thanks to all.
3rd / 4th November - Ty Powdyr Bonfire & Navigation Course - Duncan Lee
Members present: Jim Gregson, Sandy Gregson, Robert Clark, Al
Metelko, Dave Wylie, Alan Wylie, Sheena Hendrie*, John Castick,
Virginia Castick, Joanne Castick*, Michelle Harvie*, Mark Garrod, Lee
Wood, Sue Brooke, John Dobson*, Dave Shotton*, Chris Williamson, Mark
Ashley*, Andrew Croughton*, Dave Lygate*, Joe Flynn, Anthony Mannion
*, Lester Payne, Craig Marsden, Sue Marsden, Zoe Talks*, Martin
Heaton, Roger Dyke*, Kevin Anderson, Colin Maddison and Duncan Lee
(31).
Guests Present: Fay Castick, Ian Dobson*, Rosemary Gibson, Martin
Willcox, M.Green, Kate Sparks, Phoebe Marsden, Thomas Marsden,
Alexis*, Tony*, Steve Chandler*, James Richardson*, Roisin Maddison
and Dave Kenyon* (14).
(*Denotes those who braved the navigation course.)
A meet that must have warmed the cockles of The Hut Treasurers heart
saw the hut busy on both nights. Saturday saw 8 hardy souls heading
out to The Moelwyns with Dave Kenyon for the Navigation Course and
amazingly enough he even brought 8 people back who all seemed to have
enjoyed themselves. Luckily for Dave, Michelle had already been for a
run in the quarries prior to the course, so she could not run off as
quickly as usual in the opposite direction. It should be noted
however that Hurricane Michelle did cause havoc in Cuba the following
day. She was supposed to have been going back to the Moelwyns with
Mark G.
Team Wylie with a variety of helpers busied themselves during the day
preparing the Bonfire whilst the less public spirited amongst us
snuck off into the hills to walk or climb whilst sampling some of
Snowdonia's finest traditional weather. Horizontal heavy drizzle,
that provided ideal conditions for a bracing walk, or a
mountaineering day in big boots. One group of walkers, who will
remain nameless, demonstrated that they should have been on the Nav.
Course rather than on The Glyders by following a County boundary
rather than a footpath for a mile. JOE, remind Martin next time to a)
not follow you and b) to put his camera inside a plastic bag in
future.
The rufty tufty mountaineers headed off to the mighty precipices of
Tryfan to thrash, grovel, slip, slide, swim and squirm their way up a
couple of classics. Direct Route on Milestone Buttress followed by
Gashed Crag on the East Face which provided great amusement where
"the roof of the Gash halts progress on the ridge but out of sight,
round to the right, is a chimney. This is so smooth and tight that it
can easily become a very personal struggle." Al and I, who had the
pleasure of leading that pitch, can testify to the accuracy of that
particular gem of wisdom gleaned from the pages of the guidebook
after the event.
The evening saw all and sundry trying to warm and dry themselves
around the bonfire whilst the Wylie firework display was as
entertaining as ever.
Sunday saw another intrepid bunch; nursing hangovers, disappear off
into the mist in The Moelwyns with Dave whilst others just
disappeared home. Jim and Sandy tested the strength of the wind on
Carnedd Daffyd whilst the Wylie brothers explored out of the wind in
some strange old ammunition stores near the DMM factory. A group of
walkers headed to the Moelwyns to sabotage the nav. Course whilst
Kevin, Al, Lee and Robert ventured up The Pass to Clogwyn Y Grochan
where they ascended Karwendel and Kaisergebirge Walls during a break
in the monsoon. Colin and I made use of the same weather window by
climbing Direct Route on Dinas Mot. The rain set in in earnest in the
afternoon providing Dave K with perfect conditions for navigation and
a damn good excuse to go home for the rest of us. Thanks to everyone
who turned up and helped ensure that the bonfire and navigation
courses were both enjoyable.
A select team even stayed on for the Monday. Rumour has it that
Hurricane Michelle and Mark squeezed in a quick ascent of Flying
Buttress on the Cromlech before rain stopped play.
December Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2001 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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