|
July 2004 Meet Reports
21st/22nd February - Ty-Powder, Winter Climbing - Scott Sadler
In attendance: Lester Payne, Mark Ashley, Alan Jones, Dan Creber,
Duncan Lee, Trish Cranston, Julie O'Regan, Jenny Varley, Al Metelko
and Scott Sadler.
"The only member young and stupid enough to run a welsh ice climbing
meet" These were the words of Duncan when he read my entry into the
meets calendar before the winter had even started. If you ask me, if
you want a good winter season, all you need is blind optimism!
After listening to most people's negative thoughts of rain and warm
weather, I was very pleased when 9 hopefuls turned up for the meet.
The weekend turned out to be fine and dry with plenty of warm
sunshine, but we didn't all care for that.
Myself, Duncan, Julie, Al and Jenny headed up to the cold shade of
the Black ladders. We weren't very hopeful walking in wearing
T-shirts but when we entered the shadows we could see a few strips of
ice on the lower part of the cliffs. The ice wasn't perfect but it
was good enough to string a couple of pitches together and declare
the meet a success. Being the meet leader, it was my duty to put up a
rope so that Julie and Jenny could both complete their first ever ice
climbs with ease.
Lester, Mark, Trish, Alan and Dan headed off to Snowdon and completed
a traverse of Crib goch, descending Y gribin ridge to join the miners
track back down to Pen y pas.
Thanks to all who attended for a great weekend and I look forward to
next year when I hope to see even more optimist's heading to Wales
for ice.
Sun 29th February - Lake District Walk, Langdale - Linda Crossley
Lorna Marsland
Members: Pete Walker, Joe Flyn, Pete Walker, Lorna Marsland, Pete
Walker, David Wylie, Pete Walker, Alan Wylie, Pete Walker, Peter
Scholefield, Pete Walker, Alan (Liv) Jones, Pete Walker, Martin
Heaton, Pete Walker, Lester Payne, Pete Walker, Linda Crossley, Pete
Walker
Guests: Cath Sanders, Clive Duerden, James Hartley
The extra day of the year was a glorious one - endless clear blues
skies, sunshine, and a dusting of snow. We set off up a Stickle
Ghyll dripping in icicles and walked round to Jack's Rake. This
classic scramble up Pavey Ark offered up a little extra frisson by
providing icy patches at one or two more delicate points. Below,
Stickle Tarn, frozen in places, was a deep shade of steely blue.
Pete W and Alan (L) J felt the walk was a bit short so did a longer
ascent and we met up at the top.
A brisk pace took us over the summits of Harrison Stickle and the
Pike, after which we had lunch. Our President proffered his top
make-up tips (coconut is a nice fragrance) and hot location shopping
spots in Didsbury (where else?). "In former times the KMC were
tough men" said Peter S ". can I try some of that cream for my face,
Joe?"
The clear air provided views from the top of Bowfell stretching east
to the Pennines, white with snow, west to the Isle of Man, suspended
above the horizon, and north to Scotland, beyond the Solway Firth.
We returned down The Band and some ran back gasping to the NDG (Lorna
and Peter S) where bottles were already being rapidly emptied (Pete
W) and via the ODG for those desperate for a fix of Yates (Dave).
I enjoyed a great day out, thanks to all those who came along and
commiserations to those DIY-ers who didn't.
Sun 21st March - Bamford - Dan O'Brien
Members: Dan O'Brien, Duncan Lee, Sabina Cosulich.
Guests: Shaun and Alex from SUMC.
Routes climbed included Quien Sabe? (one letter short of "Queen
Sabe"), Gunpowder Crack and lots of monkeying around at the bottom
between showers. Not exactly the roaring success that I hoped for my
first meet, thanks to all who turned out (and then swiftly ran away.
If you were the mysterious person in the green car who tuned up, took
one look at the walk-in and sped off, you should be ashamed of
yourself.
May 16th - Stanage - Sheena Hendrie
Members: Sheena Hendrie, Neville McMillan, John Castick, Virginia
Castick, Al Metelko, Kevin Anderson, Craig Marsden, Mark Garrod,
Michelle Harvie, Sabina Cosulich, Roger Dyke, Jenny Varley, Robert
Clark, Rob Allen, Mark Ashley, Dave Wylie, Ken Beetham, Linda
Crossley, Lorna Marsland, Andrew Croughton, Colin Maddison, Julie
O'Regan, Jo Farringdon, Dave Garland, Dave Shotton, Lester Payne,
Dave Dillon, Dave Moon
Guests: Roisin Maddison, Roger Daley, Emily Hulley, Conrad Bower,
Pete, Kate, Al, Kate and A N Other
This was a pretty impressive turnout on what turned out to be a nice
warm sunny day. The improving weather was just as well, because the
meet leaders initial choice of venue (Marble Wall Area) soon sorted
us out. First Sister repulsed at least two not very intrepid leaders
before succumbing to Rob Allen, the other Sisters were attacked by
massed ranks of KMC, and only Kevin was brave enough to tackle the
classic of the crag, Terrazza Crack. Spectators mocked and laughed at
leaders' efforts while consuming the strawberries and white wine
provided by the deputy meet leader, Sabina, and soaking up the sun.
Running out of options at Marble Wall, various parties drifted
rightwards to Crow Chin and Travesties Buttress. Soon KMC ants were
swarming all over Crow Chin, with Feathered Friends being a well
recommended and amenable VS. The less said about Kelly's Eliminate
the better but I'll never live it down!
So a good day was had by all and it was nice to visit a section of
Stanage which we don't often go to.
June 5th/11th - Glen Brittle, Skye - Dave Wylie
Members and Guests: John Castick, Midge Castick, Roger Dyke, Sheena
Hendrie, Cath Sanders, Jim Gregson, Sandy Gregson, Mark Ashley, Lorna
Marsland, Helen Stephenson, Joanne Castick, Mark Heslop, John Wild,
Al Metelko, Dave Shotton, Robert Clark, Dave Wylie
Some of the essential items that should be taken on a mountaineering
trip to Skye are:
1) Climbing Gear
2) Walking/Scrambling Gear
3) Midge Repellent
4) Waterproofs
5) Drive and Tenacity
It was, perhaps, understandable that item (1) didn't get used much
this year, for the same reason that item (3) wasn't really needed and
why item (4) was so vital. However, the items listed under (2) did
not seem to get used nearly as much as they should have, seemingly
due to a lack of items (5) on the part of some of the members present.
It is quite understandable when low cloud, heavy rain or strong winds
force mountaineers to undertake lower level walks and the climbers to
revert to scrambling or walking. However, when the first sign of mist
causes a large contingent to head for the shops(!), it does seem
rather a poor show.
That said, people did actually get out on the hill, despite the
rather disappointing weather. The record, as far as I am aware, was
reaching the Cuillin Ridge on four consecutive days, though two of
these were solo assaults along very short sections in mist.
Monday saw Sheena, Roger and Dave W. get to the South end of the
Cuillin, via an ascent through Coire a'Ghrunda. Gaps in the cloud
allowed for some views, but no sweeping panoramas. Trips by others
included Idrigill Point, the Quiraing, Waternish Point and the low
hills to the West of Glenbrittle.
The largest group trip was on the Tuesday, when a section of main
ridge starting on Bruach na Frithe was attacked by a team of eleven.
Some people dropped down early, but three managed to get along as far
as An Dorus. Lorna and Helen had a separate trip, to tick off summits
at the Northern end of the ridge. This was definitely the best day
overall, with no rain and the cloud base higher than the summits.
There was even a brief gap in the clouds which allowed the meet
leader to glimpse the transit of Venus first thing in the morning!
The "longest day" prize must go to Al, who went up over the Cuillin,
then down the Druim nan Ramh ridge to Coruisk. He then walked all the
way round the Southern coastal path to get back to the Hut. The
Gregson's expedition, later in the week, to go over the Ridge to
Lotta Coire and Harta Coire, also rates highly in the "proper outing"
stakes.
By Wednesday, it became obvious that not all of the KMC are true
Rufty Tufty Mountain types. This is where shopping trips took over
from outdoor activities. OK, so it rained in the morning - but it
dried off in the afternoon for anybody who was prepared to put up
with a bit of mist.
On Thursday, with more early rain, the rot really began to set in.
the first group to defect headed down to the Lake District in search
of better conditions (I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, rather
than assuming they were looking for more shops). Two more (no names,
no pack drill) then also ran away, one to seek out Inverewe Gardens
and the other claiming to be heading for Hobson Moor...
It was perhaps ironic that, given the large amounts of water outside
the Hut, there were supply problems inside. Warning notices about
high levels of bacteria in the water had been posted next to all
taps. The KMC response to these varied from one extreme to the other
(i.e. from completely ignoring them to only using bottled water). No
reports of Cholera or Dysentery have yet reached the meet leader.
Things didn't improve by the second half of the week. An airlock,
triggered by the Hut Warden's cleaning session at the water intake,
resulted in there being no water supply at all in the Hut on Thursday
evening. This is, of course, all just part of the Rich Mountaineering
Experience!
Friday morning (with yet more rain) saw a further eight people, in
four cars, give up and leave. At this point, even the meet leader's
spirit broke and he too headed back South early. Extra points must
therefore go to John Wild and Mark Ashley for sticking things out to
the end. Mark gets a further bonus point, as he had booked into the
Youth Hostel for the Saturday night so that he could stay an extra
day.
Thanks must go to our Hut Warden for the week, John Temple. Despite
having to go to London by coach for a one day meeting during our
stay(!), he made us all feel very welcome.
Will there be another KMC Skye Trip next year? If there is, then the
weather is bound to be better (he said...) and so there'd be no
excuses. Watch this space.
June 13th - Millstone Climbing - Dave Dillon
Present : Kate Sparks, Ken Beetham, Colin Maddison, Rosine, Duncan
Lee, Sabina Cosulich, Al Metelko, Jenny Varley, Rick Davis, Julie
O'Regan, Sheena Hendrie, Dave Bone, Dave Dillon.
The weather was superb. Blue skies, delightful sunshine, with trees
and bushes to give a spot of shade, when required. The teachers and
ex-presidents made a good stand for proportional representation. Team
Dave was mostly down to one until t'other turned up from Cheer Tor
and various expedition activities. Sheena and Al popped in from Skye.
Millstone laid out it's impressive array of routes, all dry and ready
for use. Great North Road, Boomerang, Bond Street, The Scoop, Stone
Dri, Flapjack (Variant), Lyon's Corner House (Italian style), etc.,
etc.
There was buzz (or rumble) of activity when the cakes and tea were
unleashed into the community. They'd been hand crafted by Julie.
Though sadly some had been choffed the day before at Burgbage North
on Heather's meet. Quality control was the excuse. It certainly
helped with the communal snufflings.
For me it turned out to be the second of three days climbing, in the
peak, in the sun. So, many thanks for coming along and, er, enjoying
yourselves.
July Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2004 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
|
