Karabiner Mountaineering Club

July 2006 Forthcoming Meets

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

July 8^th/9^th - Welsh Sun Rock (Ty Powdwr) - Dan O'Brien

Now I had put this one in early so there are no excuses. The weather has been ordered off the Met Office and the sun will indeed have his hat on as well as all his climbing gear. So bring your sun cream and shades and prepare to tick all those routes you never thought you would get done in Wales because the weather is always rubbish. For the unimaginative amongst you, here are a few suggestions.

Craig Yr Ysfa for Amphitheatre Buttress (960ft VDiff) Great Gully (725ft VDiff) and Mur y Niwl (250ft VS). Or for the hardcore amongst us Llech Ddu offers The Groove and The Great Corner at E1 and E2 respectively.

Depending on how good the weather is a bivouac might be in order but I think we will have to gauge the mood of the party on Friday to decide.

Hope to see you all there.

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; 8 Male and 4 Female. Only a few left. To secure a place, please contact me via E-Mail, at home, or on my mobile.

July 22^nd/23^rd - KMC Family Meet (Ty Powdwr) - Roger and Bridget Mapleson

The Family Meet will take place at Ty Powdwr and all are welcome whether you happen to have children or not. This is a change of date from the previously stated date 29th July weekend - thank you to Heather for swapping her meet with us.

We are planning a walk for Saturday and climbing for Sunday with a feast on saturday night. Daytime plans flexible according to weather.

Saturday - walk approx 6 miles (but can be shortened (or lengthened)) taking in the summit of the Welsh Matterhorn which does involve some scrambling.

Anyone turning up on Saturday morning who wants to join the walk should contact us to arrange meeting up. Walk start is from the village of Croesor, GR 632447, SE of Beddgelert.

Saturday feast - will be veg curry, dahl and rice or tomato sauce and pasta. Let us if know if you wish to partake.

Sunday - climbing at Little Tryfan (or Big Tryfan) in the Ogwen valley. Little Tryfan provides lovely climbing for small children

Remember to let us know if you want food on Saturday.

Any questions, queries, etc., please contact us. Look forward to seeing you there.

July 30^th - Dovestones Edge - Heather Brooke

This year I have decided to go very local, at least for me, and I'm heading to Dovestones Edge.

As Dovestones is one of the classic gritstone crag with the superbly exposed setting and grades ranging from Diff to E5, everyone should find something to try.

I will be arriving at the Binn Green Car park at about 9.30am, with hopes to leave asap, and be arriving at Nasal buttress area of the crag for about 10am.

The Binn Green car park is past the entrance for Dovestones reservoir just off the A635. From here descend to the private road, cross over the dam and follow the stream to tunnel and make a steep direct ascend to cliff. Alternatively park at Dovestones Reservoir Car park, which is pay and display, walk around the southern edge of reservoir, cross the stream and follow path that slopes up the hill from Chew Brook bridge, passing the quarries before heading to cliff above.

August 5^th/6^th - Hut Adventures/Curry Meet - Fiona Roy/John Evans

High summer in Snowdonia (as defined by the Pete's Eats flyer above the box where the hut fees go)... the images of dry mountain crags, cloud-free summits, glittering sea...possibly... however, this will definitely be an opportunity to eat some curry regardless of weather conditions outside. With a slice of luck there will be big, dry north-facing crags to climb on (needless to say those facing in other directions will most likely be dry)... Other activities could include the obvious walking, scrambling, cycling and perhaps swimming - but with a bit of imagination there could be goat-fancying, slate sculpture or even another round of Cloggy buggying! As regards the food arrangements, I shall (with my glamorous assistants) prepare several vegetarian curry dishes, with rice, bread, poppadoms and possibly the odd samosa. The cost will be 2 pounds per head. I'll be in the pub prior to the meet to garner levels of interest/hunger and offer weather-related pots and plans.

Saturday - Welsh Freeze - Michelle Harvie

What?

As you might gather the Welsh Freeze is a cool aquatic version of the well known walking challenge. Starting at Ogwen cottage the plan is to ascend the highest peaks in the Carneddau (Carnedd Llewelyn), the Glyders (Glyder Fawr) and of course Snowdon, which takes in ~ 30 K of walking, 2400 m of ascent & descent.

The freeze bit involves swimming the length of 5 major high mountain lakes on route : Llyn Ogwen (1.6 k at 300 m ), Ffynnon Lloer (600m at 650 m), Llyn Idwal (1 k , at 400 m), Cwmffynnon (0.5 k at 400m) and Glasylyn (0.5 k at 600m!). A total of 3.6 k of cool swimming.

Why?

Sadly I lost my mum to complications from her rheumatoid arthritis last November. Since being diagnosed at the age of 40, Mum had suffered with increasing pain and disability of arthritis for 25 years, and lost the fight with this terrible disease at the age of 66. This event is to raise monies for The Arthritis Research Campaign, as a tribute to my mum. This is an overlooked cause, which struggles to get much needed support. The plan is to finish on Snowdon, which is the only mountain my mum ever climbed!

When?

The Freeze will take place on Saturday 5th August. It will be a long day! So the plan to start at ~6.00 is from Ogwen. After all, we need to get back to the hut in time for a warming John Evans curry. Want to be involved?

If you want to come and walk, swim for any or the entire event, hold my towel, carry flask of tea, take pictures, please let me know. Should be a fun day - for some anyway!

Want to sponsor me?

I will be collecting sponsorship for The Arthritis Research Campaign personally or you may prefer to donate via www.justgiving.com/michelleharvie/ (check out the glamorous picture!). I look forward to hearing from you.

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

There are various ways of getting to the area and should have been organised by now, I will be driving down and expect to be in the area for around 2 weeks exploring the Maladeta/Encantados area. The meet starts at the café in Vielha on Saturday morning (12th August) or later at the camp site (Yerla) near Arties but it would be preferable if members could contact me before heading to the meet so that I know who to expect. Whilst in the Pyrenees you may contact me via my mobile. I also currently have one place in my car for anyone interested.

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 and see where it goes from there.

All welcome, walkers and climbers. Please let me know if you're interested.

August 13^th - The Roaches - Peter Walker

Best gritstone crag this side of the Pennines.

Climbing on the Roaches, Hen Cloud or bouldering are all on the meet, as is cycling there, or join me on an early a.m walk in from Wincle. I will traverse the crag looking for KMC and expect to be offered top ropes on some easy routes!

August 19^th/20^th - Northumberland Climbing - Robert Clark

Note the change of venue from Ty-Powdwr!

For this meet we will be camping at Highburn House Country Holiday Park, Wooler, at grid ref 983281 on sheet 75, (same place we camped at July 2005). The main attraction will be the very fine rock climbing to be had on the sandstone outcrops of Northumberland.

Bowden Doors, Back Bowden, and Kyloe are the crags nearest to the camping. Further away there are other crags around Bellingham and Otterburn. The Northumberland National Park is nearby if you are into walking and the Northumberland coast is less than 20 miles away (cycling distance I seem to recall from last years meet). You may also wish to join the meet leader in a birthday drink or two on Saturday evening.

I will be down the pub on the Thursdays immediately before the meet if you want to talk about it, or organize transport. Let me know of any interest so that I can give the campsite a rough idea of numbers.

August 26^th/28^th [BH] - Brackenclose Hut, FRCC joint meet - John Evans

This meet (fingers crossed) will hopefully offer the opportunity to get some climbing done on the fine cliffs of Scafell and Scafell Pike - a look through Classic or Hard Rock, or one the other relevant guidebooks will give an impression of the possibilities for routes to tackle through the range of grades. Needless to say the walking and scrambling potential is also excellent. The Brackenclose Hut is handily placed for the above-mentioned hills, but there are less frequented areas (for bank-holiday misanthropes such as myself) also reasonably near at hand. In the event of poor weather, apart from festering in the hut, I shall consider a walk around Wastwater and/or a scramble on one of the quieter hills. Approx. 12 places will be available at the "Kindred Club" rate of 4 pounds per night - roll up, roll up!

September 2^nd/3^rd - Mystery meet - Kevin Anderson

Put simply, the event will be a less challenging version of the previous aborted boot-camp meet.

Dry and below force 4

Friday night - Bivi below the Mot

Saturday - bright and early start, routes on ..

Sunday - Adventures on Atlantic Slab (Carnedd y Filiast)

Wet and above force 4

Friday - stay at the hut

Saturday - mass ascent of Devil's Kitchen

Sunday - free day of fun

More details at the pub on Thursday.

September 9^th/10^th - Gogarth & Birthday - Scott Sadler

Everyone loves Gogarth. If you don't, then you will after this meet!

As is usual with the first couple of weeks of September, the weather will be perfect. The plan is to get an early start in Wen Zawn and get a couple of classics ticked before heading to the Main cliff for more classics. After a route here, I plan on walking back over to Castell Hellen via the ice cream van.

When we have worn through the skin on our fingers and rubber on our feet we can head back to the hut for a well-earned drink. It will be my Birthday at Midnight so please join me to celebrate the start of the final year in my twenties?.

Depending on what time I drag my Lazy, Hung-over arse out of bed will decide whether I go to Rhoscolyn or Llanberis pass. Either way there's loads of stuff to do.

Scott at Castell Helen - Gogarth at its best.

September 16^th/17^th - The Climbing, Scrambling , Stumbling And Crumbling Meet - Trish Cranston

The location for the meet is the Thirlmere area, 3 miles SE of Keswick. The campsite is Bridge End Farm at the north end of Thirlmere, turning off the A591 to Keswick heading towards the lake in a SW direction, situated on the left, Grid Ref NY 314 194 approx!

A snip at £3.50 per night, non bookable I'm afraid, with showers also a bargain at 20p a go, dogs allowed kept on a lead, etc.

I plan to be there on Fri and Sat nights plus large amounts of blackberry crumble and (hopefully) custard, perfect camping food for alpine training...

Ridge walks nearby to entice the energetic could take in High Seat (1996) to High Raise (2500), Seat Sandal (2365) to Raise (2889), stumbling gracefully over Helvellyn en route. Scrambling on Sunday Crag could provide an interesting diversion...

Crags to attract attention in the vicinity could be The Castle Rock of Triermain, which dries out quickly, routes from Diff - E5, for those with strong claws, Raven Crag for the tough and hardy, HS, VS and worse, or the more intrepid may wish to venture to crags in Borrowdale or Patterdale...

Lake Thirlmere could be a perfect venue for those with webbed feet...! All polished off with pints of falling down juice at the local watering hole, a mere 2km away, staggering home to the warmth, hopefully not wet, canvas shelters to snore loudly in anticipation of the next days excitement.

I'll be in the pub on the preceding Thurs night to organise lifts etc, or phone me at home or contact on my mobile. Hope to see you there!

October 14^th/15^th - KMC Fell race weekend - Neville McMillan

LOCATION: Irish Row (Yorkshire MC Hut), Coppermines Valley, Coniston SS 293984.

Here's advance notice of this key event in the KMC calendar. Put it in your diaries and don't miss it!

Climbing on Saturday; the Fell Race on Sunday. As usual, the course is a mystery (even to the organiser), but it is bound to be within 20 miles of the hut. Trophies for fastest male, fastest female, Shelagh Manning handicap, and the Concordia Trophy, but only for KMC members. Guests can participate for the sheer hell of it!

Attendance by certain key club members is compulsory - no excuses accepted.

July Newsletter Index.

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