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September 2006 Forthcoming Meets
All note the following small print when taking part in meets :-
"I accept that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a risk of personal injury or death.
I am aware of and shall accept these risks and wish to participate in these activities voluntarily and
shall be responsible for my own actions and involvement."
September 9th/10th - 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 16th/17th - 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!
September 23rd/24th - Ty Powdwr, Marin Trail Mountain Biking - Heather Brooke
Saturday: Marin trail for those brave enough to try this tough
course deep in the Gwydyr forest near Betws-y-Coed. For details of
the route and a clear description of the difficulty see
www.mbwales.com.
Mountain bikes can be hired from Biecs Betws, Tan Lan, Betws-y-Coed,
Tel: 01690 710 766, Website: www.bikewales.co.uk.
Prices are £18 per day for front suspension and £35 per day for full suspension (front
is usually enough). Pre-booking is recommended and a deposit is
required.
For the less ambitious riders a gentler ride is available around Llyn
Elsi, a reservoir above the village.
Sunday: Climbing for the hard core or nursing injuries from day
before for the rest of us.
October 1st - Laddow (traditional climbing) - Sue Brooke
Not sure whether my knee will be up to the walk in so Heather may be
sent to do the honours as meet leader? Or at least will be expected
to accompany her aged mother into the crag.
A local crag, with a mountain feel, and a great venue for everyone
with routes of all grades. Not promising a mass brew in cave as no
stove and certainly cannot manage to haul in the water! The spirit is
willing but the flesh is weak. Anyway, even without the usual bribe
of a brew am hoping that KMC tradition will result in a good turn out
and a day to remember.
Plan is to meet at the car park in Crowden at 10.00am to start the
long slow walk in. I am sure that late comers will pass me on the
way up and arrive at the crag before me!
October 7th/8th - Ty Powdwr Working Party - James Richardson
As usual, James is looking for people to put a bit of time into the
hut. There is always something to do! Please contact him if you can
help.
October 15th - KMC Fell Race - David Whittingham
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE - this is now a Sunday Only event
This year's venue for the Fell Race has undergone a last-minute relocation
to the Peak District.
The Start and Finish point is the car park below Dovestones Reservoir, Chew
valley. This is easily found by heading east from Greenfield on the A635.
The turning on the right is clearly signposted. If you get to open country
you have gone too far.
There is a modest charge for using this car park, which should encourage car
sharing. [There is a free car park further along the A635 but it does often
fill up quite early.]
Those wishing to take part should present themselves to me in the car park
at 10:00 for the start time of 11:00 for mere mortals, somewhat later for
those with whippet genes.
I will rely on the runners to self select into the appropriate categories,
but the usual KMC handicapping system will operate; i.e. arcane and
incomprehensible.
Please note you will be expected to have a map and compass! The 1:25000
Outdoor Leisure map of the Peak District, Dark Peak, would be a good choice.
SW Lakes would not!
I will be in the pub this Thursday, the 12th. All queries, bribes etc.
can be directed to me there. Anyone willing to marshal/generally help out will
earn my undying gratitude.
The rumours have started early. Please note it will not be obligatory to
swim the length of the reservoir or to solo Appointment With Fear.
October 21st/22nd - Ty Powdwr, FRCC joint meet - John Evans
Only a couple of things are guaranteed for this meet - I'll be there,
and I won't be cooking any curry! The recent 'Joint' meets have
apparently not attracted many members from our mighty kindred club,
I'm curious to see if this one will be any different... A chance to
get out on the hills and/or crags as the dreaded going back of the
clock approaches, fine weather could be very interesting indeed (as
could gales, clag and stair-rods of rain, depending on one's
objective). If there is sunshine or at least some dry rock to go at,
climbing will be on the agenda, otherwise plans B, C and perhaps even
D will have to be formulated. Plan E is climbing in Lockwood's
Chimney by the way, where I may attempt the famous "Garland Rucksack
Wedge" without the aid of a net... I'll be at the pub in advance to
discuss this, and other possibilities, sensible or otherwise.
October 22nd - Peak District Walk - Dave Shotton
A scenic and varied walk in limestone country, partly on the Monsal
Trail, following good paths and tracks along riverside paths, up high
limestone dales and on old railway tracks, with a viaduct crossing or
two.
Route: Monsal Head - Monsal Dale - Deep Dale - Over Wheal -
Taddington - Long Lane - Miller's Dale - Litton Mill -
Water-cum-Jolly - Upperdale - Monsal Head.
Distance: 13 miles
Map: OS Explorer OL24 White Peak Area
Meet at 9.30 a.m. for a 9.45 a.m. start at Monsal Head car park
(SK185715, behind the Monsal Head Hotel).
This LONG STAY car park is BEHIND the Monsal Head Hotel and has 150
spaces, but parking costs £4.50 for over 4 hours, which seems a bit
steep. Car sharing (always recommended for environmental reasons in any
case) is strongly suggested if you park here!
As an alternative, there is a lane which forms a T-junction with the B6465
at the side of the Hotel and which leads to Little Longstone; free parking
is available, for early birds in particular, for some distance along the
left-hand side of this lane.
Don't park in the SHORT STAY car park in FRONT of the hotel as parking
here is limited to 1 hour.
Details: Descend to Monsal Dale and follow this downstream beside
the River Wye. Cross the A6 and ascend Deep Dale. Turn right onto
Wheal Lane, follow this past Over Wheal farm and head down through
Taddington village (possible stop for food and liquid refreshment
e.g. at Queens Arms on Main Street). Follow the A6 out of the
village, turn right down Hollow O'The Moor towards Priestcliffe,
then continue along Long Lane and finally descend to the River
Wye again in Miller's Dale (alternatively the walk can be
extended by heading via Blackwell to join the river further upstream,
taking in Chee Dale and Chee Tor as well on the walk downstream).
Follow the Monsal Trail downstream through Miller's Dale village and
old station and over the viaduct, generally following the route of
the abandoned railway. Continue past Litton Mill, Cressbrook Hall,
Water-cum-Jolly (possible stop to solo an E3?) and Cressbrook Mill,
then follow the path uphill through Upperdale to rejoin the old
railway and cross the Monsal Dale Viaduct before finally climbing
back up to Monsal Head.
October 29th - Wild Wales Walk - Dave Bone
All the previous year's WWWs have been leading up to this! South of
Arenig Fawr, SW of Bala is a wild and unvisited corner of Wales in
which the summits of Dduallt and Rhobell Fawr lie. On a Recce this
year, I evaluated the Wild quality as very high, and returned with a
good start to the sun tan for the year. Paths - what are they then?
To get there: Head to Bala by your favoured route, then continue
south on the A494 past Lake Bala. IMMEDIATELY after the 40mph
restriction sign for Llanuwchllyn, turn right on road to Trawsfynydd.
The start is at Dolhendre (GR 854309) 4/3mile further on. Park in the
vicinity of the phone box by a bridge and meet here - more space 50m
further along the road. This takes ~1.75 hours from S. Manchester.
The walk starts prompt at 10am (it's going to be a long day).
The Route: Cross the bridge and straight ahead. Past a cottage, then
right and right again at more buildings to emerge on Open Country at
a stile. Path ends. Visit Castell Carndochan (good viewpoint), then S
down ridge, turn R and cross very boggy ground and stream, aiming for
high ground. Follow ridge line via Craig y Llestri, with doglegs to
Cerrig yr Lwrch. (Valley option is less exposed, but wetter). Keeping
to grass as long as possible, head for corner of decrepit forest,
then the shortest line to the grassy north ridge of Dduallt. The
marsh symbols are an exaggeration - it's a sea of deep heather.
Follow knobbly ridge to Dduallt. The direct way on to Rhobell Fawr is
blocked by ancient forest but follow me south on the ridge then via
the forest edge. Pick up a narrow, overgrown firebreak - keep close
for who knows what roams in the deep forest, Fangorn's darker cousin.
A wider forest ride takes those who survive onto a Forest track. We
head further south away from those you have known, turning right at a
wall, heading for the summit of Rhobell Fawr - very rugged with
several crags. From the summit head north, to skirt the W edge of the
forest (now largely cut down). Eventually an old track will appear in
a gully, taking us to the valley floor, where we head west on the
farm track until tarmac. Cross bridge and turn R up the hillside
before a farmhouse (Cwm-hesgen), to pick up an old path leading
north-east up the valley. Path fades to nothing as we cross a stream,
which we follow round to a ruin. With nothing but sections of sheep
track to follow, we strike right into the wilderness. Keep to high
ground, very easy to get mislaid, until Llyfnant is ahead (little
sign of Man). Hard going to a stream, down to a fence and a lonely
gate indicating the past existence of a right of way. Reach the road
at some farm buildings (Buarthmeini). Turn right - we may take the
road, but the proper route takes another path through a gate shortly
after and after we gain another farm with some complex gate work, the
final track down through the forest to the start point.
Total Distance ~15miles. Ascent 1050m. Time 8-9hrs. Fit walkers only
to apply and be prepared for rough, trackless going. There will be a
plan B in the Bala area in the event of very poor weather. A Head
Torch is essential. Compass advised, if you don't keep together. Once
started I cannot vouch for significant short cuts (once S of Dduallt
we're committed) - the alternative return 'track' (on the map but not
on the ground) has no sign of a exit, so it would likely be a compass
directed trudge across the vast Serengeti plain in the dark. Note the
Clocks go back this Morning!
Dduallt seen from the NE at the end of April 2006. Empty country! [D.Bone].
November 4th/5th - Ty Powdwr Bonfire/90th birthday bash - Sabina Cosulich/Mark Garrod
A weekend of activities based on the usual bonfire shenanigans.
This year we will add extra fuel in the form of cakes, nibbles and
drinks to celebrate Mark and Sabina's 90th Birthday.
See you all there!
Sabina and Mark
November 12th - Haweswater/High street - Midge Castick
The walk will start at the north end of Haweswater at Burnbank G.R. 510162.
There is plenty of roadside parking. If the weather is good I intend to walk along
the west shore of Haweswater, up the Rigg to High street summit, and then north over
Kidsty Pike, High raise and Low raise.
Total distance 13 miles, start time 9.30.
Further details from me if needed. It should be a good day out whatever the weather!
November 18th - KMC ANNUAL DINNER 2006 - Andrew Croughton
Saturday 18th November 2006 sees a welcome return to the ODG for the
2006 KMC annual dinner.
Numbers are strictly limited to 50 people and are being offered on a
first come, first served basis. (That means those who book and PAY
their money first get to go. Those that don't will miss out sorry.)
Please book as soon as possible. I will need to give final numbers to
the hotel at least one week prior to the night.
The menu choice will be:
Costs are £25 per head for meal only, or £65 B&B + Evening Meal.
Please note that in order to secure the booking of this wonderful
venue we have had to agree to the booking of all the rooms in the
hotel, so anybody who wants to stay in the hotel please book early,
and let me know so that I can keep a track of how many rooms are
available.
Payment should be made out to the KMC and sent to Andrew Croughton ASAP.
Interest has been steady to date and bookings going well so book soon
and let's make it another great night at the ODG.
September Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2006 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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