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March 2004 Meet Reports
Sun 30th November - Kettleshulme - Len Stubbs, Jim Gregson
In attendance: Len Stubbs, Peter Walker, Alan Liv. Jones, Iain
McCallum, Alan Hyde Jones, Bob Haynes, Dave Wylie, Julie 0'Regan, Sue
Brooke, Alan Peck, Brian Taylor, Neville McMillan, Roger Dyke, Sheena
Hendrie, Lester Payne, Phil Ramsbottom, Trish Cranston, Mike Graves,
Sabina Cosulich, Frank Williams, Margaret Williams, Linda Crossley,
Lorna Marsland, Andrew Croughton, Derek Seddon, Joe Flynn, Al
Metelko, Jenny Varley, Ken Beetham, Dave Dillon, Ethel Hallam, Pat
Holt, Richard Holt, Jim Gregson.
Another very good KMC response to Len's kind invitation to hold a
Kettleshulme Meet, reminding him that the club he helped to found in
those post-war years is still prospering and repaying his continuing
interest in its affairs.
The walk was blessed with a day of sparkling weather and seemed to be
deemed about right in length and pace, taking a figure-8 route to
revisit some old haunts along and adjacent to the
Taxal/Windgather/Goyt/Shining Tor/Cat and Fiddle axis. People were
free to exercise their own options as to timing for the return leg,
with a few even diverting for a swift Windgather route en route. As
promised very little bog was encountered despite the downpours of the
previous day. Everybody safely gathered at Paddock Close as darkness
fell to continue conversations in the warmth while enjoying the
splendid commissariat so ably overseen by the generosity of Len,
Ethel, Pat and Richard. News and memories were exchanged in a
friendly atmosphere as the day drew to a close.
Sun 25th January - South Pennines Walk - Dave Wylie
Members: Jim Gregson, Sandy Gregson, Bob Haynes, Martin Heaton, Alan
"Hyde" Jones, Lorna Marsland, Iain McCallum, Alan Peck, Brian Taylor,
Frank Williams, Margaret Williams, Dave Wylie.
Guests: Karin Loffler, Nigel Officer, Annie Redhead, Helen
Stephenson, "Skip" (Alan Jones' Dog)
The view over the South Pennine moors was obscured by cloud first
thing in the morning. However, by the time I had walked the two miles
from home to the start of the meet at Watergrove, the cloud base was
already noticeably higher. Vague worries that nobody would want to
come out for a walk in the mist were soon dispelled by the eleven
members (plus one dog), three prospective members and one ex-member
(Helen) who congregated in the car park. The longer-serving KMC
members were delighted to renew their acquaintance with Helen, who
had not been around the KMC for several years.
At the appointed time, we set off along a slightly modified route.
The original course, planned from the map, had proved to be rather
poor going when tried for real on a reconnaissance mission. A more
obvious, if slightly longer, track was followed instead. A
re-grouping was required at Turn Slack Clough, after a trio had
popped back to the car-park to retrieve the map that Frank had left
behind. A cunning route across the moors led us up into mist which
persisted all the way over to Reddyshore Scout, when at last the
cloud started to lift.
The going underfoot was quite heavy, with some of the tracks
incredibly muddy, thanks to the rain over the preceding days. This
meant that we were slipping behind schedule as we wove our way
Northwards. Frank and Margaret decided to cut the day short and snuck
off before lunch, to take a shorter route back to the car. A brief
shower passed over and then a beautiful rainbow signalled the end of
the dull conditions, just before we reached our lunch spot.
Lunch was held at the Astronomy Centre.
Many KMC members will know that astronomy is one of my other hobbies
(or, in more practical terms: when I haven't been busy working on
Ty-Powdwr I've been helping build the observatory!). Many thanks to
Peter Drew, who runs the Centre, for letting us stop by and eat our
lunch amidst all the telescopes under the dome. Peter had also set up
the Coronado Solar Telescope so that we could have a look at the
spectacular solar prominences and details on the sun's surface.
Another KMC member, Steve Taylor, plus his family (Lizzy, William and
Jonathan) were also up at the Observatory. However, as they didn't
actually do any of the walk, they don't get a meet tick!
The return leg of the walk was more direct and, with the paths in
generally better condition than the outbound route, we made good time
getting back to Watergrove. My offer of a cuppa (and apple pie!) back
at my house was taken up by Jim, Sandy, Brian, Karin and Annie. This
meant that I didn't have to walk home (thanks for the lift, Brian).
I hope everybody enjoyed the walk - I certainly did - thanks for
coming along.
7th - 8th February - Ty-Powder Working Party - Chris Thickett
This meet was cancelled
March Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2004 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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