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January 2006 Meet Reports
April 10th - Birchen Edge Climbing - Heather Brooke
Members: Heather Brooke, Dave Wylie, Neville McMillan, Dan O'Brien,
Sue Brooke, Rob Clarke, Midge Castick, Sheena Hendrie, Craig Marsden,
Sue Marsden, Roger Mapleson, Bridget Mapleson, Colin Maddison, Kevin
Anderson, Duncan Lee, Sabina Cosulich, Roger Dyke, Joe Flynn, Lester
Payne, Jenny Varley, Al Metelko and Uncle Ken.
Guests: Dave Bayley, Roger Dayley, Thomas and Phoebe Marsden, Owen
and Carsie Mapleson, Roisin Maddison, Alex Krause, Chris Allen, Martin Simpson
and Jamie Findlow.
With the edge looking beautiful in the summer sunshine and
lots of eager climbing coming out to play in the mild temperature,
the Birchens meet was amazingly successful with the day being filled
with lots of KMC fun. Many of the crags traditional routes were
climbed in varying degrees of style, with the usual KMC extras of
encouragement, name calling and loops of incentive. Routes climbed
included Sail Buttress, Nelson's Slab, Top Sail, Rat Line, and
Captains Bunk. And after a hard day's climbing what more can you ask
for but a Hotpot and slide show.
September 11th - Wimberry Rocks - Dan O'Brien
Due to the original version OF THIS REPORT BEING LOST SOMEWHERE in
the vast echelons of hard disk space on my computer, the following
report has been compiled at the last minute at great expense.
Members present: Dan O'Brien, Scott Sadler, Sue Brooke, Mark Ashley and Ken
Beetham.
Guests Present: Geoff Hibbert + Canine, and Conrad Bower.
I met Ken at the dovestones car park at 10.30. No sign of anyone else
but Ken and I started up towards the crag, going our separate ways at
the start of the boulder field. The long slog up yielded only a two
hour wait before any other KMCers arrived.
Routes Climbed included: Route 1, Route 2, Ornithologists Corner,
Pinball Wizard and a variety of other cracks that allowed each member
of the team to show his mastery of the art of jamming (Or lack thereof!!)
And to all of you who missed out after revelling too late at Scotts housewarming
(I pleaded the headaches!!) shame on you!! Missed out on a cracker you
did, talk like yoda I will.
September 24th/25th - Borders Rock - Dave Bone
Meeting cancelled due to a complete lack of interest!
October 30th - Wild Wales Walk - Dave Bone
The meeting was touch and go as the weather forecast was predicting a
wet and windy Sunday, which put off a number of people. Still on
Saturday evening there was a glimmer of hope for an improvement in
the afternoon. It was all a matter of timing! By Sunday morning,
still no rain in Manchester, but Al and Dave hit the band of heavy
rain by Wrexham, and were splashing through deep puddles into the
village of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant (GR 124261), where the rain
stopped.
Shortly before 10am Jim & Sandy arrived from the West,
having encountered Monsoon conditions. With no-one else turning up
(no real surprise) we left at 10am under light rain, heading NE out
on one of Jim's thoughts for the initial section to Tyn-y-fridd. Some
quiet roads led to a disused bridleway high above the eastern side of
the valley - where a pair of Kites were seen, as well as several
Buzzards, Stonechats and a variety of other birdlife. By now the rain
had stopped (no real trouble) and there were signs of blue sky to the
South, but the wind was getting up. The combined might of Hurricane
Wilma and Tropical Storm Alpha had proven to be wimps! Leaving the
road at the phone-box, passing the baying canines, we were soon on
the first top of Mynydd Tarw barely above the conifers where the
southerly (warm!) wind really made itself felt.
We took lunch in the inadequate summit shelter before continuing west along
the ridge. This was a real battle with the wind on our flanks, but by now we
were in wonderfully warm sunshine with excellent views. A sharp rise
at the end took us to the escarpment edge and a turn south for Cadair
Berwyn for another break from the head-wind inside its more generous
shelter. A large wasp also took shelter... We couldn't believe how
good the conditions were, more like a summer's day, compared to the
predictions.
Shortly before the rise to Moel Sych, we met the only
other person on the hills that day. Then we cut down to the head of
Pistyll Rhaeadr, which was in fine flow - so much so we couldn't
cross the river, but had to take the path to the foot of the
waterfall where it could be admired in its full glory. We stopped for
tea from the cafe where more birdlife (Nuthatches...) could be seen
from its viewpoint verandah.
With light fading we took the path
through the mines under Craig-y-Mwn and climbed 220m up the track to
a splendid path on the southern rim of the valley. The subsequent
gentle descent down tracks and road seemed to go on forever, but we
returned to the cars at ~17:30 having had no further rain.
It had turned out to be an excellent day which goes to show you shouldn't
always listen to weather forecasts!
Members present: Al Metelko, Dave Bone, Jim & Sandy Gregson.
November 13th - Staffordshire Bouldering - Duncan Lee
Members present:
Dave Dillon, Vicky Alderton, Julie O'Regan, Kev Anderson, Steve
Cheslett, Al Metelko, Anna Neubert, Robert Clark & Pete Walker
Guests Present:
Al Barnes, Peter Bamber, Lucy Bell, Kirsten?, Kate Cooper,
John Doldon, Linda Doldon & Nelson.
To put it simply the weather
could not possibly have been better for a day out on the hill,
perfect crystal clear skies with the sunshine taking any early chill
off the rock to give superb conditions for bouldering. The only draw
back was the virtual swamp below Doxey's Pool boulders, but even this
failed to dampen the spirits of those present & numerous problems
received mass ascents with the exception of the beautifully named
'Soggy bottom crack' that you would have needed a raft to get to.
Suitably warmed up we wandered along the edge to 'The Very Far
Boulders' where the fun continued on & off such classics as 'Pixies
to Perkies' & the excellent 'Flight Exam', a test that many passed in
style.
The prizes for the best falls of the day go to Pete, our
solitary walker, who returned from his stroll with a very muddy
backside & to Vicky who took two fine plummets onto the mats off 'Two
Pocket Slab'. The keenest person there had to be Lucy who drove up
from London for the day; a valiant effort.
Finally bad light stopped play so a retreat was made to the Travellers to sample the fantastic
'Hartington IPA' & the 'Farmers Blonde'. It's a beer honest! Cheers
to everyone for turning up.
Editors Note: The 2003 version of Microsoft Word highlights the word
Bouldering as a spelling error, offering alternatives such as
Mouldering or Blundering, I guess it depends on the crag!!!
December 10th/11th - Christmas Bash - KMC
Members: John Evans, James Richardson, Duncan, Vicky, Al, Trish, Wavy,
Anna, Roger Daly, Big Andy, Julie, Kevin, Christine, Joe Flynn,
Scott, Dave Bone, Robert, Bob Haynes, David Bish, Ian Crook, Rocking
Chair Dave and Jenny.
Guests: Kirsten, Katie, Steve Bowker, Karen, Pete and Kate
Thank you to everyone who turned up, especially to all
of the helpers during the day and the pudding bringers!
Saturday was wet and saw parties heading off to the climbing wall, Gogarth
and Tramadog. Not sure what happened to the walking team.
Sunday was much better, clear blue skies in the pass. Teams headed off to
Tramadog, Gogarth and the Pass. A team headed off to do a scramble up to Grib
Goch from the Pass. Ian, Scott and I headed into the pass after
breakfast at Pete's to do Sabre Cut. After Scot screamed about coming
off on the top pitch he finally declared that his leg was stuck. He
continued climbing after deciding that he didn't want Mountain Rescue
to cut his leg off.
January Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2006 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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