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July 2005 Meet Reports
July 17th/18th 2004 - Family Meet - Craig/Sue Marsden
Present were: Craig, Sue, Thomas & Phoebe Marsden, Colin & Roisin
Maddison, Zoe Talks, Martin & Alex Heaton
Guests: Tom, Emma, Jacob & Ellie Palmer, Gail, Stuart, Josh, Tom &
Theo Eglin.
Saturday was a very sunny, warm day. We had a walk from Bont Newydd
to Aber Falls, across onto the side of Moel Wnion. Lovely views ahead
walking towards Abergwyngregyn and back up the valley to the car
park. That evening we barbecued fish outside the hut and generally
enjoyed the sunshine. Sunday saw us all at the upper tier of Craig
pant Ifan.....Zoe, Martin and Alex travelled there by Anglesey - the
rest of us taking a more direct route! Everyone found routes to do, a
mass ascent of Marath, selected climbers young and old on Myomancy,
Falling block crack, Mistook and Rammer's route. Again it was a
lovely sunny day finished off at Erics café.
Apr 23th/24th - Weem Bunkhouse (Aberfeldy) - David Whittingham
Members: Andrew Croughton, David Lygate, James Richardson, David
Whittingham (meet leader).
Guest: David Bish.
For those who read my meet advert it all went as planned: sunny
weather, a comfy bunkhouse, a convenient pub and no wee midgies.
This meet upheld the finest traditions of the club. There were at
least three Daves, henceforth known as Scottish Dave, English Dave
and New Dave; and everybody abandoned the meet leader at the first
opportunity.
James and I arrived at the bunkhouse in good time on Friday evening
to find the KMC had been reserved a dormitory of their own, with
en-suite loo and shower. Very posh.
In the interests of a comprehensive meet report I felt obliged to
check out the pub next door and yes, they did serve beer and food,
both quite acceptable.
The other three arrived too late for beer, being unable to leave
Manchester early.
Up betimes on Saturday morning I was ready to fulfil my leaderly
responsibilities with the planned walk over Meall nan Tarmachan
(1044m). I should have known better!
Scottish Dave and Andy left in the general direction of Ben Vorlich.
New Dave and James were taking a leisurely breakfast before checking
out the local crags.
This left just me, English Dave. Undaunted I drove the length of Loch
Tay, parked near the Ben Lawers visitor centre, checked I had map and
compass and set off in the general direction of "my" hill and into
thick cloud. I found a good path heading upwards and in due course
arrived at a summit plastered in hoar frost and with many snow
patches. Working on the assumption that it was the right one I took a
bearing and set off along what turned out to be an interesting ridge,
broad enough to support wee lochans near the first summit and quite
narrow further on. Just occasionally there were hints of views
through the cloud below me.
Descending the steep section to the bealach beyond Meall Garbh I
walked in to bright sunshine, with the climb up to Ben nan Eachan
clear ahead.
Onward and upward. From the summit of this Ben (spot height exactly
1000m!) I could look back and see the cloud thinning on the summits
of the Mealls.
Over Ben nan Eachan the path led me onward to Craig na Caillich. This
hill has a big, steep, broken crag on its eastern side. Rather than
take an easy line over the grassy top the path contoured the upper
lip of the crag. Very airy.
Beyond here the path became indistinct but following the ridge down
took me to a peaty col and a left turn down grass and heather led to
the corrie floor where rough walking led to a track and back to the
car.
As first one back to the bunkhouse I enjoyed a cup of tea or several
in the sunshine before cooking dinner. No sign of the others by 9pm
so it fell to me to uphold the club honour - into the pub next door
and drink beer.
Team breakfast and team Vorlich eventually appeared about 10pm.
Scottish Dave and Andy had driven around half of Scotland trying to
find a road to Ben Vorlich. They even drove off the map and had to
buy another one. It seems someone had heard they were coming and
removed all the bridges. Dave said they were washed out by winter
floods but?
James and New Dave had taken the bus to Craig na-h-Eighe and climbed
just about every lower grade route, no nasty E numbers, in sunshine.
(Thanks to Dave Bone for the loan of his Scottish Outcrops guide.)
They were having so much fun they missed the bus back and had to rely
on the charity of strangers for a lift.
We all decided on a shorter day for Sunday. Scottish Dave and Andy
set off for Schiehallion. New Dave, James and me, English Dave, went
climbing on Polney Crag above Dunkeld.
This pleasant crag on a wooded hillside above the town was
reminiscent in some ways of Shepherds Crag, and of Tremadoc. The rock
is a compact schist and between the obvious crack lines protection is
sparse. But there are routes of all grades, mostly single pitch, and
having a southerly aspect the rock warms up early in the year.
Once again the Scottish springtime meet was under-attended, and once
again those of us who did go had a rewarding weekend in excellent
weather. Start queuing here for next year's meet: it's too good to
miss again!
May 7th/8th - Ty Powder Working Party - Duncan Lee
Ian McCallum, Frank Williams, Margaret Williams, Chris Thicket, John
Castick, Dave Dillon, James Richardson, Trish Cranston, Duncan Lee
Guest: John Warburton
To say it was a shock that I was 'meet leader' for this one was an
understatement but I resolved to make sure that the hut manager was
also in attendance. A task that was difficult to accomplish due
initially to my own inability to get out of bed but latterly by
having to awaken James from the land of the dead, or terminally
hung-over in his case. We finally made it to the hut in time for the
free lunch which had been prepared by eager beavers who had already
toiled away all morning at a variety of tasks.
As my penance I got to spend the afternoon on the roof of the hut
armed with a sealant gun. In the meantime Chris furtled away in his
hobbit hole occasionally popping up through the skylight for a chat
while Wavey conducted a master class in dry stone walling. JC did
the sheep out of a job by strimming the grass and numerous other jobs
were ticked off the list by others.
On the Sunday JC continued to strim the grass whilst the rest of us
treated ourselves to a day in the hills and boy was it cold! Chris
and Ian had an enjoyable stroll up Elidir Fawr whilst James, Warby
and I went to the quarries and did Combat Rock and Rhyfewlr before
cleaning and climbing a new route to the right, Teenage Kicks (E4
6a). All in all a good day despite the snow/hail showers. God knows
what Wavey got up to!
May 22nd - Wildcat - Sheena Hendrie
Members Present: Sabina Cosulich, Rob Allen, Dave Dillon, Trish
Cranston, Sheena Hendrie
Guests: David Bish, Amanda, Katie, Kate Sparks
With a shortage of ropes between us, the climbers amongst the first
arrivals ended up in 2x3 combinations. Hence Rob, Sab and I started
up Jackdaw Grooves (but ended up Broken Toe Groove) while David,
Katie and Amanda headed for Cat's Eye. On arrival Dave and Trish
enjoyed Cougar Cleft, Kate was sociable and then went for a walk
without touching limestone. We all ate Kit Kats at half time.
Having changed ends, David et al went for Jackdaw Grooves, and Rob et
al moved to Manx, and Dave and Trish went walking. In extra time
Rob, Sab and I ticked Golden Yardstick, by far the best route of the
day.
Noises off were provided by the traffic on the main road - thanks ot
those who came on what turned out to be an indifferent May day.
June 11th/12th - Sunny Pembroke meet - Michelle Harvie
Present : Michelle Harvie, Mark Garrod, Julie Regan, Scott Sadler,
Sabina Cosulich, Lorna Marsland, Trish Cranston, Wavy Davy, Al
Metalko, Jenny Varley
Guests: Martin Statham, Steve Powell , David Swindelehurst
It is a long drive to Pembroke, even without the predictable dubious
"Harvie style" campsite directions but I'm sure all agreed it was a
great place to spend the weekend. A great campsite with superlatives
over Ramsey Island; close enough to walk to the beach and the crag
(even for Dave). Fresh pain au chocolat for breakfast from the
campsite shop kept Sabs happy!
Friday was sufficiently windy to drive the hardiest campers into the
pub, and Saturday began under a veil of cloud, but then the sun
shone???
Many of us enjoyed 2 great relaxed climbing days basking by the sea
at Caerfai Bay Porth Ffynnon and Port Clais. Highlights included
Dreamboat Annie (E1) (Scott and Julie) Armonian HVS (Scott , Julie,
Al ,Jenny) Cracked Wall (VS) (Sabina, Martin Michelle) Caerfai Crack
(Julie Scott Martin Mark Michelle) and just about everyone enjoyed
the delightful Red Wall (severe). Meanwhile Steve, Lorna and Dave
respectively explored most / some of Pembroke by bike on Saturday
and some of the coastal path by foot on Sunday.
Although a neighbouring camper on the site thought "this climbing
looked like a leisurely pastime" the team packed in ~ 63 routes, 3
cycle rides, and 4 walks. Five mermaids and 6 mermen enjoyed
(endured) 16¼ swims (¼ swim = up to Dave's kneecaps)
Major spots of the weekend included the meet leader on rock, Trish
leading the way on some great (and not so great) rock routes, Jenny
skipping up routes, Wavy Davy wearing shorts, and Wavy submerging his
knees in the sea. Thanks to all who came and made this a fun weekend
and inspiring me to get back on rock.
July Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2005 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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