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July 2003 Meet Reports
30th June 2002 - Froggatt Edge - Heather Brooke!
Members: Rob Allen, Bob Anderson, Mark Ashley, Ken Beetham, Susan
Brooke, Midge and Joanne Castick, Andrew Croughton, John Dobson,
Roger Dyke, Joe Flynn, Dave Garland, Martin Heaton, Sheena Hendrie,
Duncan Lee, Colin Maddison, Neville McMillan, Lester Payne, Zoe
Talks, Pete Walker, Dave Whittingham
Guests: Roisin Maddison, Kate Flynn, Lynn Tomlinson, Mick and Pete?
Not only did I have to act as meet leader in her absence (walking in
the Lake District, what kind of excuse is that!) I now find myself
having to write the meet report. Unfortunately because it was so
long ago my memory is somewhat hazy, although I distinctly remember
my fall off Heather Wall. The day was dry and cold with occasional
gusts of wind, which apparently made the more balancy routes such as
Three Pebble Slab more difficult, or that was the excuse Sheena used
this time when asking for a top rope. However given the conditions
Joannes lead of Grey Slab was very impressive, with John, who tried
to follow Joanne and Midge up the route, having to ask for a top rope
also. Sheena realised that this was definitely not her day when
attempting the vital move on Tody's Wall, with the usual hackling
audience, she realised that she had not tied on properly. The stand
in meet leader was most impressed by the latest generation of
parents' ingenuity in controlling children, by hanging them up from
the nearest tree and leaving them. This especially got my approval
as it freed Colin to give me a top rope on a few routes. Whilst I
thought it was a wonderful idea I wasn't sure what the RSPCC would
make of it! The usual joviality and lighthearted banter ensued and
it appeared that a good day was had by all that attended.
I would like to thank everybody on my daughter's behalf for
supporting her meet!
Susan Brooke
10th/14th February - Alex MacIntyre Hut (mid-week meet) - John Evans
After a weekend meet of poor weather (windy & what little ice/snow
there was melting), only two of us were left at the hut with half a
dozen scowling, unemployed mountain guides for company. Never mind.
During the following few days, the weather improved but there was
still no snow, and most winter crags were reportedly very lean
indeed. Richard (a complete novice) and myself (sometimes I put my
crampons on the right feet) elected to walk up a few hills and
generally relax. Our adventures, such as they were included the
Ballachulish ridge, Bidean nam Bian & Stob coire Sgreamaich, Stob Ban
and a very wet walk from Glen Nevis up to the Steall falls - the one
with the hilarious bridge of 3 wires... Also included was a jaunt to
Ardnamurchan Point, where some fine views of the Isles were to be
had, not to mention inviting glimpses of the hills & crags of Ardgour.
Understandably we were very thirsty at night, and consequently we had
the breakfast facilities to ourselves after everyone else had gone.
The reasons why most of those who booked to attend this meet never
made it were obscure indeed, so much so that other than an alleged
incident involving a dinnerplate and a long reach, I cannot recall
them. Gullible as I am, I shall return to the Scottish Hills next
February.
Sun 16th March - Peak District Walk - Iain McCallum
Members : Linda Crossley, Joe Flynn, Alan (H) Jones, Alan (L) Jones,
Iain McCallum, Lorna Marsland, Lester Payne, Alan Peck, Phil
Ramsbottom, Jim Taylor, Chris Thickett, Peter Walker, Nigel
Rosenbaum, Frank Williams, Margaret Williams, Keith Williams (16)
Guests: Peter Harrison, Zoe Rosenbaum, Harry Rosenbaum (aged 2), Dave
Swindlehurst. (4)
The weather forecast was accurate for once - the walk was blessed
bright sunny weather all day. After assembling at Hope Station we
crossed the fields to Aston and then climbed up the track to the top
of Whin Hill. The views from the top were fabulous - Eastern Edges,
Derwent valley, Kinder and Bleaklow all lay before us. After a short
pit stop we tramped along the ridge to Crookstone Barn. Just before
this point Alan(L), Peter, Frank and Margaret decided to take the
lower route to Hollins Cross via Jaggers Clough and Backtor Bridge.
The main party carried on along the southern edge of Kinder before
dropping down towards Edale below Ringing Roger. We were well spread
out by this time, so some Joe, Chris, Keith and Lester had lunch at
the The Nag's Head while the main party lunched on a knoll above
Edale. On the Knoll young Harry grew quite bold for a while until
Alan(H)'s dog barking brought about his rapid retreat into Zoe's arms.
Across the valley, hang gliders and para gliders floated in the
gentle breeze above Mam Tor and Rushup Edge. Down in the valley the
cars sparkled in the sun light. Despite the crowds, the bar in the
Nag's Head was strangely quiet and drinks could be had immediately.
Where was everyone?
At Edale, Peter Harrison, Zoe and Harry left us travelling back by
train. The rest of us made for Hollins Cross on the old pack horse
trail from Edale to Castleton. Linda joined joined us at the Cross.
From there we followed the ridge to Back Tor and Lose hill. A very
busy route. It was pretty windy by the time we reached Lose Hill so
we had to hunker down in a hollow below the summit for our break. Our
descent took us down past Lose Hill farm to the valley then across
the river Noe at Killhill bridge. From the bridge we walked along the
river and then for a short stretch along the road back to Hope
Station.
A very enjoyable meet. Distance about 13 miles.
Thanks for your support.
Congratulation to Lester who travelled to the meet by train!
3rd/5th May - Ty-Powder, Birthday Meet - Neville McMillan
THE OLD GIT'S BIG DAY
Members: Neville McMillan (meet leader and septuagenarian), Joe Flynn
(President), Iain McCallum, Peter Walker, Keith Williams, Rob Allen,
Sue Brooke, Rick Davies, John Dobson, Dave Garland, Mark Garrod,
Michelle Harvie, Sheena Hendrie (home help), Lester Payne, James
Richardson, Mary Stuart, Chris Thickett, Dave Wylie, Anne Sanderson,
Scott Sadler.
Guests: Steve Cannotreadhisname, Mark Binham, Fred Hall (DMM).
The Bank Holiday Weekend was punctuated with deluges of such biblical
proportions that it would not have been a surprise if Noah and his
air-sea rescue unit had turned up. Instead he sent his mate
Methuselah, sometimes known as Neville, the Henry Kissinger of
European Mountain Safety, to be guest of honour.
To celebrate this milestone of his reaching the proverbial three
score and ten, I had previously visited the birthday card shops of
Bury to obtain a suitable badge for our mate to inform the world that
'I AM AN OLD GIT' but the genteel lady assistants politely apologised
that they could not accede to such a request. Moreover, I was moved
to complain to them that the cards on display with '70 years old
today' seemed to be targeted at old dodderers and completely
unsuitable for a jet-setter still willing to hang by his eyebrows on
the steepest cliffs of Europe - Well! As long as it was not raining!
The day of his birthday (Saturday) dawned in splendour causing the
assembled young enthusiasts to jump out of bed whilst the more
elderly fell over their zimmer frames looking for their glasses - no
names mentioned! Everything was all in vain when breakfast was
completed and the first bout of indigestion struck, as the sky had
already become overcast although I admit it was still dry.
So what does the average 70-year-old do on his birthday? Correct! He
goes rock climbing. Naturally! So even though our old boy sported a
bad shoulder - must be rheumatism at his age - he gamely set off to
do his duty.
Sheena acted as rock climbing leader, home help and geriatric nurse
by watching his knot tying, straightening his collar and checking his
flies were fastened.
You have really got to hand it to Sheena for her patience:- "Now
then, Mr McMillan! Can we reach this hold? Careful! Careful! Just
take your time! But not too long 'cos time's not really on your side,
is it?"
They chose 'Crackstone Rib' on the Wastad as a suitable route for the
day but it already had occupants when they arrived and Sheena's
threats failed to scare them off (must be losing her touch!) so
instead they decided on 'Skylon'. Sheena led up the first pitch in
the dry but the rain started as Neville climbed so he had to do the
crux in the wet as if to punish him for all his sins over the last
seventy years. Thus a moist retreat was then executed under auspices
of divine retribution.
In the meantime James, Scott and Rob drove to Tremadoc to meet the
coming of the rain when Eric's Cafe provided a reasonable alternative
to the crag. However, later on Scott led the group up the sheltered
'Striptease' before they returned to Pete's Eats. Isn't it is good to
know that climbing traditions are being maintained?
Rick and Mark looked for better weather out at Gogarth.
Keith, Iain, Peter and Chris headed over to Croesor for a walking
circuit that included Cnicht and some cnichting ridges. In the hut
book our ageless meet leader referred to our group as the 'Music
Hall' team which at first glance I thought to be defamatory but then
realised he must really appreciate the high quality of our jokes
after all. Therefore, I decided not to make a song and dance about it.
In the evening Neville kindly invited us all to join him in the hut
lounge to sample a crate of red wine appropriately named 'Old Git',
pleasant enough even though it stretched the term 'vintage', and for
his own preparations of excellent savouries and fish pate. This
latter was supplemented by toast supplied by the home help.
After the meal, we enjoyed a very genial evening, at which KMC
loungers seem to be most expert, providing the old git - whoops, I'm
sorry - the venerable gentleman with a very satisfying celebration.
On an unsettled Sunday Neville joined Iain, Peter and myself for some
excellent jokes and a short yet enjoyable walk round the Padarn Lake.
After a sojourn in a tea shop, we visited the 'Electric Mountain'
centre where we admired photographs of ancient quarry workers, some
nearly as old as Neville himself. Observing one of the photos I
wondered what the woman in the picture did! Peter, of course, knew
her name and that of her mother as well as her grandmother's too I
should imagine - and what they would all be doing next Saturday night.
The President himself took a bunch of his followers on a walk somehow
linking Llyn Peris with the Snowdon track.
Sheena, Rick, Dave and Mark went to Gogarth (cold but dry) where the
latter two inadvertently created a new route to be named either 'Head
Banger' or 'Bloody Nose'; the climb included a 75 feet pitch of 45
degrees mud. It is still waiting a second ascent. Rick and Sheena had
more sober excitement on 'Bezel'.
The big story of the day was the ascent of 'Devil's Kitchen' by Scott
and James which they described as excellent (?) with a fantastic
atmosphere intensified by green slime. Listen lads:- you are not
going to live to seventy if you go out on the mountains and get wet!
Michelle hung on until two-thirty when the rain started to complete a
water-cooled run. Another one who does not know what is good for her!
On Monday morning the cloud was down to ground level with
wall-to-wall rain (well, it was Bank Holiday Monday!) and a
horror-struck meet leader led a panicking exodus back home. Only
Rick, Dave G, Scott and Mark B remained to see through to the midday
sunshine although it seems more crag-lounging than climbing was
achieved. Rick and Dave did go to Castle Inn where they parked at the
crag and walked to the pub. I hope I got that right way round.
Anyway, as I said before it is good to see all KMC traditions kept up.
Good luck! Neville! Here's to the next seventy!
Chris Thickett - News at Seventy - Llanberis.
10th/11th May - Ty-Powder, Working Party - Chris Thickett
Present: Iain and Pam McCallum, Virginia and John Castick, Frank and
Margaret Williams, Dave Wylie, Alan Wylie, Lester Payne, John Evans,
James Richardson, Dave Dillon, Andrew Croughton, Bob Anderson, Chris
Thickett.
Guess what? Another very successful working meet despite the meet
leader getting his weather mixed up. And despite him turning up to
organise the events.
The sunny Saturday enabled all the outside jobs to be completed in
the day. In the morning a road gang under the foremanship of Andrew
repaired the track and altered the surface drainage near the black
gate. Lester set about pointing up the car park walls after breathing
life into the old concrete mixer. Frank fixed the leaking gutters to
the front of the building.
The wall menders all get a special mention. Dave D and Andrew are
awarded high marks for their skill and John E and James for artistic
impression. All their hard work, and that of John C who strimmed the
whole of the mountainside, left our property looking remarkably
smart. We'll be winning awards next! Iain also got into the act
repairing a section of the boundary wall.
The Wylie brothers set about solving a blocked drain under the track
with their hi-tech expertise. This resulted in abject failure and
they eventually succeeded with some lo-tech dig and thrutch that saw
them finish after 9 o'clock. Dave W had earlier fixed the sticking
door between the two lower dormitories. Virginia varnished all bare
wood and anything else that did not move.
The big job inside was the plaster repairs to the wall of the upper
dormitory which had been damaged by water leaking in. This was
undertaken by Uncle Bob who discovered this leak was caused by some
shoddy workmanship way back in 1879. Anybody seen the guarantee? He
spent the day repairing the deep holes in the slate wall and then
sealing the corresponding gable wall on the outside of the building.
Iain and Pam provided us with an appetising lunch and tea breaks. Pam
and Margaret organised the distribution of the new bedding articles
and undertook many specific cleaning and washing jobs.
On Sunday nearly everybody went out on the hill walking or climbing
although heavy showers made conditions more unpleasant than Saturday.
Climbers had to head out to the west to dodge the rain. Only Iain,
Pam and Lester stayed at the hut to clean windows and carry out tree
maintenance, etc. On returning to the hut, Bob spent a long evening
putting on a couple of coats of plaster to the repairs upstairs.
On Monday morning Bob completed the final plaster skim before another
sunny day saw us enjoying four interesting although not very
strenuous routes on the slabs of Little Tryfan.
Thanks to all the workers for their hard work, enthusiasm and
companionship.
Sun 18th May - Wilton Quarry/Wilton Walk - Mark Ashley/Keith Williams
Wicked Wilton Walk
Members present: Sue Brooke, Dan Creber, John Dobson, Jim Gregson,
Sandy Gregson, Alan (L'pool) Jones, Lorna Marsland, Lester Paine,
Phil Ramsbattom, Dave Sumerfield, Chris Thickett, Peter Walker.
Guest present: Kate Sparks
We came, we walked - dodging between most of the showers - and apart
from a few folks who hadn't had enough after 12 miles, arrived back
together at the car park 5½ hours later. The others soon caught up.
The only minor incident of the day was a discussion with some trail
riders who were advised that they were on a footpath without a
vehicular right of way and who turned round and rode off very
reasonably after a bit of huffing and puffing from one of their
numbers.
Keith Williams
July Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2003 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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