Karabiner Mountaineering Club

January 2004 Forthcoming Meets

All note the following small print when taking part in meets :-

10^th/11^th January - Ty-Powder - Chris Thickett

A do-it-yourself (but not DIY!) meet. However, as usual, I will be organising a walk on Saturday for anyone who is interested. This year, it will probably be on the Glyders - more details on the Thursday night beforehand. (Most likely, I will still be at the old address in Whitefield)

17^th/18^th January - Alex Mac (12) - David Lygate

The KMC's Winter Glencoe meet is the club's once in a season opportunity to visit a most incredible and magical area in winter for walking, climbing and skiing. However, such wonders come at a cost, there are only twelve places available. So with the level of interest that has already been shown (pre-publication), we suggest that the hut fee of £3:50 per night (cheques for £7 total payable to the KMC) is forwarded to the meet leader as early as possible to secure your place.

Scotland in January, will there be snow?

Possible scenarios:

1. Plenty of snow and ice? well excellent it's exactly what we are going for.
2. Too much snow? (i.e. very high avalanche warning? SAIS) Go skiing instead, sounds like perfect conditions for Aonach Mor.
3. No snow? Treat this as a summer meet but without the fearsome Scottish Midgy.
4. The east coast has better conditions? We are less than 1 hour's drive from the Cairngorms.
5. Totally unbearable conditions all weekend? Go to the Clachaig, the folk singer should be there on the Saturday night, along with a real fire, fantastic beers and a good hundred bottles of whisky to choose from. Or if this does not appeal, then there is always a trip to the newly opened "Ice Factor" in Kinlochleven to fall back on. This is the "UK's premier indoor mountaineering centre", with a real ice wall, climbing walls etc. See www.ice-factor.co.uk.

Now that all fears have been banished, back to scenario 1. Glencoe is a magnificent place in the winter or the summer, but especially in winter, be it for walking, skiing or climbing. So here are a few of the local areas of interest:

• The Aonach Eagach
• Stob Coirenan Lochan
• The lost valley
• The Buachaille
• Ben Nevis

I think that all of these areas speak for themselves. So if you are interested plus have appropriate experience and equipment, then e.mail, phone, or see me in the pub on any Thursday night, (places are on a first come first served basis.)

The Alex Mac. Hut is adjacent to the Creag Mhor Hotel in Onich and accessed from the A82 (Grid ref. 046612, OS sheet 41 - Ben Nevis). SMC hut guide - "The hut has 16 places, mains electricity and water, electric and calor gas cookers and heaters; all utensils; hot water and showers; drying room, with car park at the rear of the building" and as a special surprise, I have been informed that a lot of work has been done this summer, so come and see the changes.

Sun 25^th January - South Pennines Walk - Dave Wylie

This will be another of my "local" walks, joining up sections of some of the many paths and tracks in my South Pennine stamping ground. I've tried to avoid making the walk too long, as daylight is in fairly short supply at this time of year. If all goes to plan, then the lunch stop will be at an indoor location that may be of nocturnal interest to a fair number of Club members (no, it's not a pub!). You should be able to work out what this place is by using the information below and the recommended OS 1:25000 Outdoor Leisure (no. 21) "South Pennines" map!

Meet at the car park at Watergrove Reservoir (Grid Reference SD 911 176) above Wardle, at 9:45am for a 10am start.

Proposed Route:

Watergrove Car Park - East Side of Reservoir - onto Rochdale Way - Dobbin Hill - Turn Slack Clough - Allenden Hill - Reddyshore Scout. Join the Todmorden Centerary Way to head North - Higher and Lower Allescholes - White Slack - Cranberry Dam - Ragby Bridge - Foul Clough Road - Gorpley Reservoir - Midgelden Bank. New path through Midgelden Pasture - cross A681 - lunch stop.

After Lunch, follow A681 up to Holden Gate - Limers Gate - trig point on Trough Edge End. Tracks to Ramsden Clough Reservoir - "stepping stones" - round Rough Hill - Ramsden Road - Watergrove.

The walk is about 13 or 14 miles, though there are several options to shorten the walk or even to add a bit on near the end if the day is fine and the company fit!

Anybody who is in need of a cuppa following the day's exertions will be welcome to come back to my house for one. Let's hope my Kettle works this time, unlike after last year's walk!

If you want any more information call me, e-mail me or see me in the pub. Note that on the Thursday immediately before this meet there is a KMC Winter Lecture, so I'll be at the Britons Protection rather than the Crown and Anchor.

31^st - 1^st February - Bowderstone Cottage, Borrowdale - Mary Stuart

Bowderstone Cottage (NY 255164), Borrowdale, Keswick, Lakes, £5 per person per night (10 places max, sharing hut with another club), inc. electric and fuel.

Three-tier alpine style bunks, Gas cooking, all cooking utensils/crockery etc, hot water, separate flush toilets, shower, mains electricity

Contact Mary ASAP as places are limited.

7^th - 8^th February - Ty-Powder Working Party - Chris Thickett

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, I am having to cancel the hut maintenance meet on 7^th and 8^th February. However, I intend to squeeze it in sometime during March so don't be too disappointed. Perhaps someone will volunteer to run a mountaineering weekend instead.

A DIY (but not do-it-yourself!) meet. As usual, for catering purposes let Iain or myself know if you intend turning up. If the weather is fine, we might blitz the perimeter walls. Routine maintenance will be done inside the hut.

In the meantime, anyone suitabably qualified, or not, might like to check the first aid box and let us know if there are any shortages.

14^th - 15^th February - Roybridge (12) - Craig Marsden

The accommodation is situated 2 miles east of Roybridge on the A86 opposite the Glen Spean Lodge Hotel. (grid ref. 301811, OS sheet 41). The McofS publication "Scottish clubs' huts" describes the accommodation as, "Warm, comfortable, friendly country hostel in converted barn, set in stunning scenery near Roybridge. Ideal location for walking and climbing (Creag Meagaidh, Ben Nevis), canoeing and mountain biking." There are also local opportunities for ski touring and alpine skiing at Aviemore or Fort William, which are both quite close (less than 1 Hour drive away).

Allt Cruinnichidh, an incredible venue with more than enough winter activities within the surrounding area. The options are almost endless and it would be impossible to fit them all into a single weekend. Additionally, with a local pub there is the added opportunity of whisky sampling in the evenings. So to claim your very limited place see the Meet Leader on Thursday nights at the pub and pay the token fee of £18 for your accommodation.

15^th - 20^th February - Jock's Spot (6) Mid-Week Meet - John Evans

Have to admit it, I don't expect there'll be much skiing on this meet, but snow has been seen to fall on Scotland at this time of the year in the past so you never know... I did say I was gullible didn't I?

Jock's Spot is a hut on the north side of the A86 Laggan to Newtonmore road, 1 mile west of Creag Dubh. the map is OS Sheet 35 Kingussie, the grid ref is: 667947. From Newtonmore the hut is 50 yards past the only bend signposted on the road; 'please use the car park on the south side of the road'. Six places are booked for the KMC at the hut, five nights starting from Sunday 15th Feb. Sleeping bags and Karrimats are required, other facilites seem good (e.g. hot water, electricity, shower, drying room etc.). The location is very handyfor Craig Meagaidh, Ben Nevis and the Cairngorms. Price should be in the range 4-6 quid per night, Hopefully the weather will cooperate, you never know...

I'll be at the Crown and Anchor reasonably often until Feb, otherwise call or e-mail if you're interested.

21^st - 22^nd February - Ty-Powder, Winter Climbing - Scott Sadler

Clear blue sky and cold crisp air. Miles of snow covered ridges and hillsides without a single footprint. Hundreds of meters of perfect white ice and gullies packed full of hard Neve without another climber to be seen. Welsh winters are not usually this perfect. What's going on?? Your question is answered by the sound of snoring and rain on the skylight! Welsh winter weekends are not that difficult to predict, but on the other hand, you never know? If you fancy trying your luck then give me a call or just turn up.

Sun 29^th February - Lake District Walk, Langdale - Linda Crossley, Lorna Marsland

I've just discovered that Dan lead an almost identical walk to this last but since I wasn't there, here it is again!

Meet at 9.45am for a 10.00am start outside the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Langdale (GR 295065). The car parks tend to fill up, nor are they free, so please try to share cars. If you can offer/require transport, let me know.

Route: Up Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn; Jack's Rake up Pavey Ark (3* grade 1 scramble) or walk up if preferred; Harrison Stickle; Pike o' Stickle; round the head of Langdale Combe to Angle Tarn; Bow Fell; Three Tarns; down The Band; through Stool End Farm to the ODG and the footpath back to the car parks.

Maps: OS 1:25 000 Outdoor Leisure Sheet 6 and OS 1: 50 000 Landranger Sheet 89. Distance: 16km/10 miles Ascent: 1150m/3770 feet Facilities: Toilets at Stickle Barn opposite the car park. Food and drink at Stickle Barn and the Old Dungeon Ghyll.

6^th - 7^th March - Ty-Powder Maintenance and Mountaineering - Chris Thickett

The meet at Ty Powdwr on March 6^th and 7^th will be a maintenance and mountaineering weekend. Please let me (Chris) know in advance if you intend to do a day's work (for catering and organisational purposes).

The proposed KMC meet at the Braemar Telemark Festival has been called off. The Telemark festival will go ahead as usual, despite there being next to no snow at Glenshee for skiing. By the start of February the area was closed due to lack of snow and, even though the situation is improving, it is at a very slow pace. There is no base to build upon and currently only one run open (made from artificial snow). In the three weeks before the festival (traditionally a time of low precipitation), I cannot envisage there being enough of a change in the weather to bring enough snow and dramaticly alter this situation. Therefore without the prospect of good/any skiing and taking into account the distance, accommodation expenses, registration fees, lift passes and equipment hire, I have decided that would not be worthwhile for the KMC to attend the festival this year.

However, I must stress that even though the conditions are bad for skiing, there will still be some good winter climbing in the Highlands, especially in the gullies, so it is still worth attending any forth coming Scottish Winter Climbing Meets.

David K Lygate

Sun 14^th March - Peak District Walk - Iain McCallum

Route: Hope Station - Brough - Shatton - Offerton - Oaks Farm - Stoke Ford - Bretton Clough - Bretton - Foolow - Grindlow - Great Hucklow - Bradwell - Hope Station.

Maps: OS Outdoor Leisure Sheets Nos. 1 and 24.

Meet at 9.30am for 9.45am start at Hope Station? Off the A625 (GR181832). Park at the station or on the approach road. Train services are available from Manchester Piccadilly to Hope.

Refreshments are available from local cafes and "The Barrel" at Bretton.

A good tramp around the dales and moors of the Peak Distance about 12/13miles On good paths and tracks. The route can be easily modified to suit the conditions.

January Newsletter Index.

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