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July 2007 Meet Reports
April 29th - Twistleton Scars - Mark Ashley
Members: Lester Payne, Dave Dillon, Robert Clark, Robert Allen, Roger
Daley, Al Metelko, Duncan Lee, Vicky Alderton, Joe Flynn, Mike Hall.
Guests: Dot Hall.
Not having done much climbing on Yorkshire Limestone [An innocent to
the slaughter. Ed], I was nervous before this meet that no one would
turn up. Also, would the great Yorkshire weather God Ernshaw favour
visitors from the other side of the Pennines with sunshine?
The day turned out well - sunny, dry and not too windy. A total of 12
people came (double last year's meet). Climbs done ranged from "The
Candle" HVS, to "Fretsaw" VD, with a mass ascent of the classic
"Evening Star" S. My favourite was Fretsaw, which needed a 120cm
sling to fit the thread placement.
Thanks to all who came, especially those that car shared.
May 13th - South Pennines Walk - Mike Graves
Members Present: A Peck, D Wylie, A Wylie, C Thickett, P Ramsbottom,
F Williams, K Mundt, L Payne, A Barber, M Ashley, N Bobola, H Airlie
(G), J Brown (Julia) (G), J Hoyle (G), Kasia Hoyle (G), C Pollard and
Jenny Flynn (G).
And apologies from Iain.
There were some suggestions that this walk should be called the
Lancs. and Pennines roads and turbines inspection!
The last time I was in this area just over one year ago, it was a
fine walk, with a tramp over some rough moorland. Imagine my surprise
when I walked the route a couple of weeks earlier, and saw a car
going across the moor, on closer inspection I found a bloody motorway
had been laid.
After a coffee stop at Lower Lumb Mill, we carried on to Paradise
where Alan Barber was waiting for us. Lunch was taken in an old
quarry, and from here a short walk up to the Motorway! It was here
that Alan produced his map, and explained that there are 8.5 kms of
road works on the moors. There are to be 26 400ft wind turbines built
on this moor. Chris said he would have a fantastic view of them
(well, I think that's what he said)!
The speed, in which we descended to the Lord Raglan, would have
impressed Iain! And the reason I call it a Motorway, all the signs
are in blue.
May 19th/20th - 3 Peaks Walk Meet - Michelle Harvie
True grit in Limestone Country?
Present Michelle Harvie Mark Garrod, Chris Thickett, Phil Ramsbottom,
Kirsten Mundt, Al Metelko. Dave Wylie, Mark Ashley. Guests : James
and Kasia Hoyle, Terry O'Donnell.
The weekend started for most of us pitching our tents in the rain,
and finding shelter, sustenance and liquid refreshment (though not
tap water as this was a £ a glass), and an awful lot of cigarette
smoke in the Golden Lion, a fluorescent green pub some 100 metres up
the road. A disturbed night's sleep thanks to heavy showers,
distressed sheep and our fellow 3 peak walkers arising even as early
as 4.30 am to make their scheduled 5.30 am starts.
We had a more leisurely approach, unfortunately Mark Ashley was not
feeling well, and so went back to bed (should have got up as normal
at 4.00 am perhaps). We set off at 8.15 up a windy and showery
Penyghent (694m) which we reached in just over the hour (1.02
minutes), then back down the Pennine way towards Ribblehead, taking
Phil and Chris's cunning bog free route. A sunny 11.00am stop at
God's bridge where we were joined by a muddy Al, who had been chasing
us down through bogs for the last 2 hours. Having arrived after our
departure, Al set off from the campsite 45 minutes after we had left.
We passed the busy tea van at Ribblehead where Terry struck off for
Ingleborough, deciding to omit Whernside. To the delight of the train
spotters amongst us (no names supplied), we walked up the railway
line past Dale head station before striking off past a powerful Force
Gill to the summit of Whernside. Kirsten was way out ahead using her
"mountain gear". We reached the summit of Whernside (736m) just
before 2.00 pm and carefully made the slippery steep descent to the
welcome refreshment caravan at Ivescar farm, where as well as tea and
cake you can buy dry socks! Onwards and upwards to the summit of
Ingleborough (723m), still windy but now some blue skies, and many
weary 3 peak walkers from other groups and all round panoramas of our
recent conquests and the Dales. Back down to Horton in early evening
sunshine and a blister free return after 10¼ hours, 24½ miles 1,672
metres of ascent and lots of weather. For information Chris and
Phil's previous record is 9 ½ hours, while the record for the fell
race is 2 hours 46 minutes!
We found a convalescing Mark, who had ascended Penyghent, but managed
to miss an intrepid Iain McCallum who had climbed Whernside &
Ingleborough but overestimated our speed and expected to be overtaken
by us, although he was actually 2 hours ahead.
We spent a pleasant evening in the Crown pub in Horton, which seemed
to ban some of the characters we had been drinking with the night
before. No late night drinking was required, we were all tucked up by
10.30pm after a quick bit of star gazing. Sunday was a much brighter
day, the Marks, Dave, Terry & I headed off to the waterfalls walk at
Ingleton; a 4 ½ mile route which shockingly costs £4.00 to enter,
nearly £1.00 a mile. Just as well walking was not charged at this
rate the day before. It is a beautiful walk with bluebells, woods and
waterfalls, which were predictably full. Well done to all for being
such great company and for rising to the challenge. And well done to
Chris and Phil for completing your **** Three Peaks Walk.
May 26th/28th - Cornwall - Dave Bish
Those people who like to be right will be delighted to know that it
rained for the long Cornish weekend. But a hardy, although reduced,
crew did brave a campsite well beyond the shelter of "Count"
Metelko's abode above Bosigran for some pretty windy and wet weather.
OK so Roger and Annie did make a slight retreat after the tent some
nice people had lent them turned out to have tinfoil poles, but they
got extra points for arriving a night early with Wavey and Trish for
one of the best days of the four.
Friday saw them exploring the John Wayne memorial crag and an area
just below the airport where several aeronautically named lines were
climbed by all and heckler started to earn a reputation as a good
"crag dog".
Following a moonlit drive and roadside bivvy Al and I met up with the
others on Saturday morning at Bosigran. Still a fairly good day - our
main objective, Commando ridge was somewhat besieged with other
parties and rather than swim the first pitch we decided to get a bit
more done on the landward cliff. Again Heckler did his thing while
Annie and Roger climbed above along with Wavey and Trish on a ledge
route type climb. Al and I ticked Doorway and something hideous with
a mantel cum bellyflop cum handjam in it that left a fair amount of
my skin on "the devil's rock" before we wound up the day on the
rather glorious Ding to retreat from the rain to a splendid cream tea
(fortunately Trish had money - Al and I just couldn't find our
wallets - sorry Trish). Even after a jammy scone the count was not
sated however and flew down to the base of the cliffs for a solo
escapade up the ramparts of the watery ridge in the dying moments of
the day (anyone noticed how Al climbs really well in the dark -
spooky).
Despite a small downpour the traditional barbecue was observed
(inside a tent!) with Wavey getting very inventive with umbrellas.
Sunday wasn't quite a washout due to the pasty crawl in St Ives for
the heathens amongst us, and I am sorry to say that after all our
exhaustive research I still can't remember but if you want to know
ask Trish, as last time I saw her, she still had some in her pocket.
After a good beverage at sundown the count tried to lure us to the
comforts of his lair once more but three remained at the campsite for
a final night.
Monday began windy but clear and while the mud maiden of Helegan
lured two of our number Northward, Roger, Annie and doggie did get to
chair ladder and explore the cliffs while Al and I got a couple of
ticks on Diocese and Bishops rib (minus the wet pitch). Once again
we stayed rather late and made it back to Manchester just in time to
get to work the next day.
The Count emerging from the Cave Pitch on Diocese [D. Bish]
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The Barbie [D. Bish]
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The Count on Doorway [D. Bish]
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June 2nd/3rd - Hut Working Party - James Richardson
Members: Dave Bailey, David Bish, Robert Clark, Trish Cranston, Roger
Daley, Dave Dillon, Kate Horgan, Iain McCallum, Al. Metelko, James
Richardson, Dave Wylie.
Tasks carried out included:
| Track |
Digging out the ditch on the slope leading down to the Padarn Park boundary. |
| Loft |
Removing all the timber out of the loft to gain
access to the structure in order to check for woodworm. Sorting and
storing all the good timber back in the loft. All the poor quality
timber was burnt. |
| Gas store |
Cleared of rubbish. |
| Toilet blocks |
Toilets, urinals and washbasins cleaned. |
| Hut Safety |
Fire Safety - signage and certain safety aspects
checked. |
| Legionella |
shower heads cleaned and water system reviewed. |
| Casualty |
Trish visited A & E at Bangor Hospital to have an injury
to her eye inspected. Her eye had been grazed very slightly by a
rock splinter but fortunately there was no serious damage. Trish was
very impressed the treatment she received. |
June 17th - Millstone - Dave Dillon
Present - Mark Ashley, Trish Cranston, Al Metelko, Ken Beetham, James
Richardson, Chris Williamson (II), Richard of Yorke, Colin Maddison,
Roisin Maddison, Dave Dillon.
As usual for one of my meets it was raining in Manchester. So set off
with umbrellas. The gloom and doom stopped after cresting the Snake
pass. No ice cream van in the surprise view car park. Met Mark and
Chris, collected Trish and headed for the Great Slab and Cioch areas.
Mark obliged Chris's desire to see how climbing was done by
practising some self-belaying to retrieve an obstinate rope on
Boomerang. Ken found us and produced a small drinks cabinet of
intricately carved oak. From within this he produced several bottles
of Tempranillo, apparently just medication. Al led a route with James
which looked like it had been climbed but wasn't in any of our varied
guides. The route started as for Boomerang but went straight up, so
they considered calling it Stick.
Spurred on by this Al ticked off all the nasty routes around, and on,
the Cioch, dragging James (and any other fools) behind him kicking
and screaming. James perfected a primitive impulse reaction engine by
shouting short words loudly in a downwards direction causing him to
rise majestically up the route. Colin lulled us by choosing nice
routes to second, then snuck off and bagged Lyon's Corner House
direct without pause for thought. Chris popped Eartha into his
growing out door bag.
Trish demonstrated the use of delicate fingers on Cioch Diagonal, to
the dismay of her seconders. Richard said he enjoyed the practice he
got for night clubbing on Cioch corner.
And so it went on. From the Book of Excuses - Can't do that route,
I'm going to a wedding and won't pull with hands oozing pus.
I hang my head in shame for not using public transport. However Mark,
Colin and Roisin deserve three cheers, as they did use our highly
efficient rail and bus network.
Cheers and thanks for the umbrella.
[If more turned round reports this quickly? Ed]
July Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2007 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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