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February 2002 Meet Reports
25th November - Winter Warmer Mk II - Craig Marsden
Kinder Surprise
Runners: Sheena Hendrie, Sabina Cosulich, Brian Street, Chris Williamson, Jim
Symon.
Drinkers!! Duncan Lee, Colin Maddison, Robert Clark, Andy Croughton.
The meet got off a cracking start or so I thought, a startling number of
people turned up at the car park. I thought we were going to have to
start in groups so as not to appear like the Wildebeest migration but
alas it was only to be the six stalwarts above, it was 5 more than I
expected in the weather. Some people went to surprising lengths to
avoid this run, trips to Denver, Dietician conferences (did you
really go Kevin?)
Several surprises this year, the run up Williams Clough, the strength of the
wind and the colour of Sabinas legs (nice shade of puce). It was a
windswept run, up Williams Clough, round to the Down fall, on to
Kinder low and a quick charge off Kinder Low End before dashing onto
the Sportsman for a refreshing drink.
Thanks to all that came to make it a well attended meet in poor weather and
special thanks to the stalwarts who completed the jaunt.
26th / 27th January - Manse Barn, Glencoe - Al Metelko
Present: Dave Whittingham, John Evans, Colin Maddison, Duncan Lee, Andrew
Croughton, Mark Wiltshire, James Richardson, Pete Bannister, Colin
Urmston and myself. (Brief appearance Saturday evening: Dave Kenyon)
It's incredible that I encouraged those coming to this meet to take the
Friday off as Fridays are always the best day of the week. Well on
this particular Friday we had torrential rain from morning till
evening and typically rising temperatures. Needless to say not much
was done on Friday apart from team DWJE who attempted to climb at
Corie nan Lochan but where turned back by the Friday morning
blizzards. With the whole evening in front of us the few intrepid
pioneers discovered the pub on the other side of the car park was
selling beer at £1 a pint and it was amazing how good Tetley's
can be.
Saturday: saw some activity on the Ben, team MWPB did Ledge Route with an
interesting variation up a 30ft chimney, team CUAM failed to complete
Tower Scoop and team CMDL simply turned back after the long slog up
to the CIC hut and did some rock climbing in Glen Nevis, I think in
big boots. The rest of the group attempted to sneak up on to The
Mamores from the south but the streams where anything but a trickle
and calls for a retreat to the Clachaig Inn where made. However not
all was lost the final mission of the day was to finish that barrel
of Tetley's. It happened all too quickly and much to our
surprise down went the Guinness to £1 a pint. Without
mentioning names the number of pints drunk per person that night
varied from 3½ to 13½ .
Sunday: CMDL climbed North Ridge on the Buachaille which had some slush on
the upper section, AC went to Clachaig using up many rolls of film
and the rest of us marched up to Corie nan Lochan where various snow
plods where made to the top of Stob Coire nan Lochan in the only dry
interlude of the weekend. The rain got most of us on the descent.
2nd/3rd February - Ty Powdyr WORKING MEET - Hut Committee
Members present: John Castick, Virginia Castick, Sheena Hendrie, Iain
McCallum, Lester Payne, Phil Ramsbottom, Jim Taylor, Chris Thicket,
Frank Williams, Margaret Wiliams.
Guests present: Pam McCallum.
A very successful working party with many of the planed tasks
accomplished. The weather was terrible. The rain fell in sheets and
the hut was lashed by high winds for most of the weekend. The rain
penetrated the upper right dorm around the end of the purlin and wet
the mattress and bunk. The source cannot be established at present.
On Saturday evening Chris and Phil entertained and enthused
(frightened!) everyone with slides of their last trip to the
Dolomites.
Tasks accomplished:
- Elidir Fawr – Skirting board and shelves installed and safety bar on bunk
fitted (Chris and Phil). – Ceiling joints skimmed and ceiling
painted (Jim and Lester).
- Glyder Fawr – Ceiling joints taped and skimmed and ceiling painted (Jim
and Lester). – Door frame and temporary door installed between
EF and GF (Chris and Phil).
- Crib Goch – Safety bar fitted to bunk (Chris and Phil).
- Snowdon – drying out bunk and mattress (Lester).
- Dormitory hall – Plywood floor laid for cork tiles (Jim and Lester).
- Gents washroom – Cubicles and adjoining wall painted (Iain and
Sheena). – Pipe work dismantled and cleaned (Frank). –
Shower fan cleaned (Virginia). – New shower curtain installed
(Sheena).
- Ladies washroom – Shower drain, fan and washbasins cleaned
(Virginia).
- Lounge – Stove maintained (Frank). – Cleaned (Margaret).
- Common room – General cleaning (Pam and Margaret).
- Storeroom – Cleaned and tided (Margaret).
- Underfloor drainage – Investigated and found to be fine (Iain).
- Track – Ditches cleaned and gorse cut back (John and Virginia).
- Catering – Lunches and teas (Pam).
Many thanks to everybody for their hard work
Iain McCallum
Please note that we have a mice problem at the hut. Do not leave food lying
about. Poison has been laid and hopefully this will eradicate the
mice in due course.
10th February - Peak District Yomp - James Richardson
Those Present: Chris Thickett, Lester Payne, Peter Walker, Alan L Jones,
Alan Peck, Andrew Croughton, Roger Dyke, Dave Dillon, Lorna Marsland,
Jim Gregson, Sandy Gregson, Bob Anderson, Derek Seddon, Frank
Williams and Paula Williams.
Firstly I would like to thank Linda Crossley for the work she had put in
before hand to organise the route. This left me with very little to
do other than turn up and guide people around! I think we pretty
much kept to the route described by Linda which was an excellent day
out.
With Mr Fish promising the worst we got away with a fabulous day. Walking
across Stanage gave us all wonderful views of the entire Peak
District (even if there was a divine attempt to blow us off the top).
The day passed without any major incidents, five of the starting 15
departed half way along Stanage to head back to the car. This attempt
to avoid the wind and later rain failed as they were later seen from
Andy's car appearing from off the wrong footpath into
Grindleford as we raced through the rain to Outside to claim our Tea
(after completing the full length of Stanage).
There was also a slight mutiny as people's stomachs rumbled and lunch
was held before the designated lunching zone. We finally got back to
the Buckstone to rejoin Dave Dillon who had sneaked off to attempt of
few of the Buckstone's problems (allegedly this included the
dyno). I also had a play and completed my duty as leader by slipping
of a few times.
With the final team reunited we headed back to the cars and Mr Fish's
evil prophecy finally came true as the showers started. A wet team
then headed to Outside for Tea where our dear President was hiding
with Kevin Anderson and Sabina after climbing at Lawrence Field, so
Tea was moved to the Whalley Bridge Café.
Finally if Duncan and Sabina get mentioned for making me coffee then so
should John Evans for the excellent Rat-a-toui he cooked me for
dinner.
16th / 17th February - Allt Cruinnichidh, Roybridge - David K Lygate
Members: Andy Croughton, Sabina Cusilich, John Evans,
Alan (Liverpool) Jones, Duncan Lee, David K. Lygate, Colin Maddison,
Al Metelko, James Richardson & Dave Whittingham.
Guests: Pete Bannister.
Visitors: Steve Bawker, Dave Kenyon, Dave Palmer & Liz Wilson.
The Roy Bridge meet took place in yet another warm & wet February; it
felt more like a blustery autumn weekend than the middle of winter.
There was little evidence of ice & most of the climbing areas in
the Scottish hills had a considerable avalanche risk from what little
snow there was.
FRIDAY
A small group of three, John, James & Dave W. drove north on the
Thursday night to extend the weekend into including Friday. After
failing to get into the Alex Mac Hut (no beds) & Glen Nevis Youth
Hostel (due to bureaucracy), the three of them slept in the car at
the north face car park, this is quite a feat when you consider the
height of both John & Dave (then add one more to the car). The
next day they climbed No. 2 Gully on the Ben (grade II), which I
believe is James' first winter route.
That night everyone else arrived at the hostel, most being quite late.
SATURDAY
The day was overcast, with heavy showers & high winds. Duncan &
Colin set off early for Creag Meagaidh, but when they got into Coire
Ardair they found conditions that were ridiculous with huge cornices
& avalanche debris. Deciding that it wasn't safe, they
called it a day & made it back in time for lunch.
Al & Pete were very restrained after being dug out of an avalanche
on the Ben the week before. So Saturday saw them on the north east
ridge approaching Creag Meagaidh & playing about with some
off-piste snow blades that Pete had recently bought (these things
even have touring bindings & skins). Al recons they are amazing
fun & a must have purchase for everyone in the KMC.
DKL, Sabina, Alan & Andy, went hill walking to Sgurr Mor a mountain at
the gateway to Knoydart with a longish walk-in & a river
crossing. After getting pretty wet on the way in they battled against
the high winds and over some small snow patches to reach the summit.
On route Andy demonstrated his javelin skills (hasn't forgotten
a thing since his school days) & we all played around with
walkie-talkies. The day was timed to perfection as we got back to the
track just as the light failed.
John, James & Dave W spent Saturday relaxing in the hostel &
Nevisport in Fort William, going for cups of tea & resting after
their exertions of Friday.
On Saturday night we found to our horror that the pub across the road
was closed, so Roy Bridge had to put up with us instead. However,
this was to our advantage since their local pub's guest beer
was "Barochan" an ale which is brewed at the microbrewery
in the meet leader's home village & famed throughout most
of Renfrewshire. We didn't leave until the barrel was finished;
everyone exclaimed how good a brew it was.
Dave Kenyon, plus members of the Mynedd, Steve Bawker & Dave Palmer
also popped into the pub to enjoy the evening's entertainments
& although not down the pub, Liz Wilson a member of the KMC was
resident in the hostel when we arrived but stayed independent from
our group.
SUNDAY
This was a rather uninspiring day with low cloud & an intermittent
heavy smirr.
Duncan & Colin went to Coire an t-Sneachda in the Cairngorms, Dave
Kenyon had informed them that he was going there & with his
insider knowledge they were hopeful of some better climbing
conditions. Sabina accompanied them for the walk-in before traversing
over to the Cairngorm ski area to watch a snowboarding big air
competition, in the newly found afternoon sunshine. With the fresh
air clearing their heads from the night before, Duncan & Colin
managed fingers ridge a 140m grade IV, a good effort & for those
interested, Dave Kenyon did Patey's route a 120m IV.
DKL & Andy did some more hill walking tackling Meall Chuaich on the
A9 near Dalwhinnie, with Alan going as far as the loch before decided
to walk round that instead of climbing the hill. Luckily just like
the group that went to the Cairngorms, the day turned into afternoon
sunshine after starting with low cloud & sleet/snow showers. The
summit was snow covered & this combined with a biting cold wind
finally made it feel more like winter.
Al & Pete decided to go home, but went via the White Corries ski
area in Glencoe. They were tempted by the skiing but with the amount
of people & the limited area available they decided to give it a
miss. However, on their journey Pete brewed up for them on his
massive stove (which has cooking a power that could cater for an
entire army) truly an incredible sight.
John, James & Dave W spent Sunday going for a walk along the river
beside the hostel, before returning to Manchester.
The weekend's weather & conditions were not ideal for a
Scottish winter meet, but everybody got something done, (even if the
alternative of skiing hadn't looked viable with the low cloud &
rain). However the major highlight was that more members of the KMC
have now managed to sample the legendary "barochan" &
enjoyed it despite their claims of a sore head the next morning.
April Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2002 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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