Karabiner Mountaineering Club

March 2006 Forthcoming Meets

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

March 5^th - Peak District Walk - Iain McCallum

Route : Hope Station - Win Hill - Crookstone Barn - Crookstone Moor - Ringing Roger - Edale - Hollins Cross - Lose Hill - Lose Hill Farm - Killhill Bridge - Hope Station.

Distance 12/13 miles.

Map : OS Outdoor Leisure Sheet 1 Dark Peak.

Meet at 9.30am for 9.45am. start at Hope Station (Off the A625 - GR 181832) Park at the station or on the approach road. There is a train service from Manchester Piccadilly via Edale and Hope.

Refreshments : Available at "The Old Nags Head Inn" in Edale and at local cafes in Edale and Hope.

A good walk on good paths and tracks around the hills bordering the Edale Valley. The route can easily be modified to suit the conditions. ETA in Edale at the Old Nags Head Inn is between 1pm and 1.30pm. If anyone wishes to join the walk at Edale I am prepared to give them a lift back from Hope station to Edale.

March 11^th/12^th - Blackrock, Glencoe - David Lygate

The KMC's Winter Glencoe meet is the club's once in a season opportunity to visit a most incredible & magical area in winter for walking, climbing & skiing. However, such wonders come at a cost, there are only ten places available (Ed. All gone as far as I know, but there may be drop-outs). The hut fee is £5 per night (cheques for £10 total payable to the KMC), check late availability with the leader.

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 Coire nan Lochan, The lost valley, The Buachaille, Ben Nevis. Plus many, many more including the suggestions above & everything else on the road down south to Glasgow.

Blackrock Cottage is on the access road to Glencoe ski area (White Corries), at the foot of Meall a' Bhuird, about ½ mile south of the main road (A82), about 1½ miles south east of the Kingshouse hotel. Grid reference 267530, OS sheet 41 - Ben Nevis. SMC hut guide - "The hut has 10 beds with mattresses; electric lighting & cooking; microwave oven; utensils provided; coal fire; WC." There is no camping & no dogs allowed in the hut.

March 19^th - Yorkshire Bouldering - Almscliff - Dan O'Brien

This year's bouldering masterclass will be held at the historic Almscliff (with emphasis on the "ARMS"). The usual rules apply, in order to get your tick you must either climb a boulder, "spot" a boulderer (telescopes frowned upon), or sit on a rock wearing a warm jacket, complaining about the friction and drinking Bovril^® (Bovril^® optional).

I will be at the first boulders near the stone wall (that is on the right as you get through the gate) at about 10.30. If that is unclear then just follow the crowds until you are standing in a bouncy play area (bunch of crash-pads).

Hope to see lots of you there.

March 26^th - Rob's Rocks - Mark Ashley

Location: SE 030 018 (OS Map 110)
Train: to Greenfield (SD 992 048) from Manchester
Bus: 180 to Clarence hotel (SE 002 040) from Manchester via Oldham
Car: Pay and Display (SE 014 034) off A635 from Manchester - Holmfirth road

From the car park go past the Yacht Club, through the gate and on past the memorial woods. Cross the bridge over the Chew Brook and follow the road up the hill. About 500m after crossing a stile, where the road starts to bend left, strike out up the hill for the rocks.

I hopefully will be there about 10:30/11:00am. I am looking to get as many people as possible up the Ylnosd rib route and to see someone lead the Nose route.

Anyone who feels these climbs are not taxing enough can, after doing a route and getting a tick, wander off to any of the crags in the valley or descend to play on the Wimberry boulders.

April 2^nd - President's Hot Pot

Contact Andy Croughton about the Walk, Heather Brooke for climbing, Sue Brooke for the Hot Pot, and Jenny Varley for the slide show

Walk - Andrew Croughton

Meet 9am for a 9.30am start at Pym Chair car park, GR 995768 OL24.

The walk will go from Pym Chair along Cats Tor to Shining Tor before descending to Errwood Hall. From Errwood hall we will contour round Errwood reservoir and head up to the White Hall outdoor pursuit centre and then onto Castle Naze to meet with the climbers. From Castle Naze we will head down into Coombs Village where a liquid lunch may be had at the Beehive public house.

After lunch we will head back towards Fernilee reservoir and onto Taxal before heading back over Taxal moor and along Windgather rocks and back to Pym Chair.

This should hopefully be a pleasant walk leaving plenty of time at the end to head over to the Swan Inn in New Mills for the Hot Pot & Slide Show.

Any queries please contact me on my mobile (Due to the shift pattern I now work it is not always easy for me to answer the phone, so please leave an answer phone message or send a text message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

The plan is to climb at Castle Naze for the day.

Contact Sue, or David Lygate, for booking. This year, the Hotpot will be held at the Swan Hotel, New Mills (on the A6). (Ed. At the deadline, only Mr. Lygate knows the mealtime and cost!)

The deadline for entries into this year's slide show and photo competition is Thursday 30th March. Entries which reach me after this date will not be judged - NO EXCEPTIONS.

A gleaming trophy, honour, and adoration will be awarded to the winner of each of the following categories:

• Rock Action
• Mountain Action
• Mountain Landscape
• Human Interest

The winners will be decided by an impartial and incorruptible judge, who will also honour us with his presence on the night to present the slideshow and award the prizes.

The entries must be photos taken by KMC members THIS YEAR (i.e. since 1st April 2005, with some allowance for processing time being granted). As it is almost impossible for me to know if this rule has been broken, I have to rely on the honesty of members. However, if I find out after the event that anyone has flaunted this rule, their prize will be withdrawn, and they may be disqualified from all future slide shows. I will also be tempted to do something extremely painful and humiliating to them.

Entries can be either digital photos in jpg format up to 2 MB size, or slides. Digital photos will be accepted on CD, DVD, USB memory stick, or by email. Please mark all entries clearly with your name, the category, and a brief descriptive title. For digital entries, choose a descriptive file name, this will be used as a title. There are no rules as to the embellishment of the photos, but I urge caution as over-embellishment frankly looks rubbish and we've all seen it before.

Due to being inundated with huge numbers of entries last year, this year I am limiting entries to three per category per member. Further photos with particular relevance or humour are welcomed, but will not be judged. Whether they are shown in the slideshow is at my discretion, and only if there is time, so please don't send me every one of your holiday snaps! Please make sure you mark clearly which photos you would like to be judged, and which are just for the slide show.

In order to keep the slideshow to a reasonable length, if entrants are as enthusiastic as last year, it may be necessary for me to limit the number of competition entries shown on the night. However, all valid entries will still be judged. I will decide which entries will be shown, with guidance from the judge.

Please email entries to slideshow@karabiner.org, mail them to my address (which is in the handbook), or hand them to me in person. I will be in the Crown and Anchor pub on 30th March until 10 pm, then will call briefly into the Castle Hotel equipped with gas mask to collect entries from those who can stand the air quality in there.

April 14^th/17^th [EASTER] - Alex Mac', Glencoe - Dave Whittingham

Springtime. Sunshine. Scotland!

How can you resist!

My springtime in Scotland meet this year is at the Alex MacIntyre hut, at the foot of Glencoe. We have four nights booked over the Easter weekend, 13th to 16th April.

The Alex Mac is well-known to and popular with many KMCers. It is conveniently placed for Glencoe (of course), the Mamores, Black Mount, Glen Etive slabs, Ben Nevis and many more, and the Onich Hotel. There are mountains to be walked, ridges to be scrambled, crags to be climbed, maybe even icy gullies for those of that bent. Those who have read my meet reports for previous years will know that sunshine is guaranteed - and no midges.

Places are only £5.50 a night and are going fast. Phone me or see me in the pub to book a place.

April 23^rd - Ann's Mystery Meet - Ann Sanderson

"Ann's Mystery Meet" will be taking people for a tour of the Berwyns in Wales. We will be meeting in Llandrillo car park (next to Primary school and before the bridge) at 10:45 a.m. on the morning of 23^rd April, 2006. We will be setting off at 11:00 a.m. and the walk will last approx. 5 hours. It is best to make sure that your boots are waterproof because there are a couple of awkward river crossings towards the end.

Ann's gooey cake will be served at the end of the walk.....

See you there.

Directions

From Llangollen take the A5 heading west. When you are exiting Corwen, before crossing the river, take the left turning B4401. This will take you through to Llandrillo. The car park is on the right hand side BEFORE crossing the bridge over the river which runs through the middle of the village.

April 29^th/May 1^st - Ty-Powdwr - KMC

The usual Bank Holiday do as you will meet based at the Club Hut, Wales.

May 7^th - Pennine Rock - Dave Dillon

As an ongoing project of looking at rock along the Pennine Way, this meet will explore the delights situated between Mill Hill buttress (SK067898) and Kinder downfall (SK083889) including, but not limited to, Western Buttresses, Kinder Buttress and Annexe Buttress. I expect to be surveying Mill Hill Buttress at 10:30, by which time the sun should be warming the finishing jugs. Public transport users, travelling on Sunday, are exempt from this gem and may proceed directly to Upper Western Buttress.

Approach:
From the Snake, Either - start at summit and follow Pennine Way, past lump called Mill Hill onto rocks called Mill Hill. Or - if raining or low cloud, from Snake Inn, cross river Ashop, go up Fair Brook, take west (270) bearing at edge path to arrive just north of the Downfall, progress right to Mill Hill rocks. From Hayfield, follow Kinder road, keep left of Kinder reservoir, up Williams Clough, turn right onto Pennine Way which is identifiable in mist by it's flag stones and move along to Mill Hill rocks.

Any other approaches (e.g. from Edale, Kirk Yetholm, etc.) will gain extra points and a more prominent position in the meet report.

Bus service:
358 from Stockport 09:05 to Hayfield 09:55 on Sundays, return until midnight.
373 from Manchester Piccadilly 09:00 to the Snake summit 10:08, Snake Inn 10:15, return 17:43 from Snake Inn. 5 pound ticket. NOTE: It would seem the 373 is still running, so it's still a possible approach.

Train:
Manchester Piccadilly 07:45 to Edale 09:49, return 22:23

Car:
Hayfield, Edale: car parking - bring lots of money, more than five pounds.

July 15^th/16^th - Langdale - Roger Daley

The Great Langdale Valley is guarded by the dominating Langdale Pikes, and is a walker's and climber's dream come true, and according to the Fell and Rock guide book "contains perhaps the best concentration of south-facing crags in the Lakes".

Climbing

There is a range of grades and walk-ins to entice all. A thirty minute approach will bring you to Scout or White Ghyll Crags. However, the promise of blue skies and classics routes will surely draw you higher to Pavey Ark and Gimmer, to give a fine mountain day.

Walking/Scrambling

For those wishing to walk / scramble there are excellent possibilities; how about the Langdale Pikes via Pavey Ark and Jack's Rake. Still plenty of energy then continue on to Bowfell, Crinkle crags and (legs permitting) Pike O'Blisco. This round will allow you to fully appreciate a pint at the Old Dungeon Ghyll.

All this and accommodation at the coveted FRCC Raw Head Hut, Raw Head, Great Langdale, for £4.00 per night, grid ref: NY304067, surely an opportunity which is too good to miss this summer. 12 places have been reserved; 9 Male and 4 Female.

To secure a place, please contact me via E-Mail, at home, or on my mobile.

August 12^th/13^th - Pyrenees - Al Metelko

This is the meeting up weekend. I plan to go for 2-3 weeks. There are various ways of getting there, by air to Toulouse or one of the airports around Barcelona, overland by train, bus or car. All members welcome walkers to extreme climbers.

During the first week I'll be organising a couple of mountain days to get a feel of the area followed by a couple of climbing days. This is an opportunity for members who have wanted to go the big mountains without having to worry about crevasses and bergschrunds. Please let me know if you're interested.

March Newsletter Index.

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