Karabiner Mountaineering Club

September 2007 Forthcoming Meets

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

September 8^th/9^th - Malham Camping - Vicky Alderton

The weekend plan is fabulous sunshine, lots of climbing of the limestone and gritstone variety - so something for everyone, good company, fine beer and camping!

UPDATE - 06/09/2007
The campsite has changed to the Gordale Scar campsite. To get to this take the sign out of Malham for Gordale (Gordale Lane) - it's on this road about 1m.

Prices are:

I'll be arriving at the campsite early Saturday and will be climbing on the left wing of Malham from 11 onwards. Please let me know if you intend to camp so I can book places.

Saturday:
When you think of Malham the first thing that springs to mind is hard routes, well actually, very hard routes! This is certainly true but for the slightly less 'gnarly climbers' there's still loads to go at. Out on the left wing there's everything from VD to extremes with starred routes like Flake Wall, S and Crazy Paving, VS all worth a go. The right wing also offers amenable grades and is particularly good for the VS to HVS leader with lots of 3 star routes to be found. Saturday night will most likely be spent in the very good, local pub.

Sunday:
Climbing at Rylstone, just a short drive from Malham. Should be there, at the aptly named Warm up Buttress, from about 11 (ish!). I can't say a lot about Rylstone as I've never been but it looks good in the guide!

September 16^th - North Wales Limestone - Rob Allen

North Wales Limestone: Llandudno Area It's been some time since we had a climbing meet here, so here goes. Plan A is to climb on Pen Trwyn. If it's a bit nippy/windy plan B is to retreat to Llandulas Caves. I aim to be at the lookout area on the main cliff at UPT (~ 700m from the toll gate) from about 10:30 so hope to see you there.

September 23^rd - Laddow - Sue Brooke

A local crag, with a mountain feel, and a great venue for everyone with routes of all grades. If people want the customary mass brew in the cave the arrangement will have to be similar to last year? I will carry in a couple of litres of water, milk, sugar, tea bags and nibbles but I do not have a kettle, suitable stove, teapot or tea cosy! Any volunteers to supply the missing items and to carry in additional water, further supplies of nibbles, will be greatly received. Anyway, if we can't get it together and I cannot offer the usual bribe of a brew, I hope that in true KMC tradition there will still be 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?

September 29^th/30^th - Cemaes Bay (Anglesey), Birthday Swim & Climb - Al Metelko & Michelle Harvie

You would not believe us if we disclosed our ages, but we are inviting the KMC to come and help us celebrate our milestone birthdays.

Final details for the meet

The campsite is in Cemaes on the north coast of Anglesey. Directions can be found by following the link:

Ystad Parc Lodge

Telephone Numbers:

Directions

Cemaes is located on the most northerly point of Anglesey in North Wales.

There are a few ways you can get to Cemaes by car from the rest of Wales, but the simplest is by sticking to the main A roads, the A5/A55 and the A5025 once on the Isle of Anglesey.

If you cross the Britannia Bridge on to the island which is on the A5/A55, you can then continue until you see the signs for valley (not RAF Valley), which is just before Holyhead. Then at the Valley cross roads turn right onto the A5025, continue approx 12 miles to the roundabout in Cemaes. Turn left down Cemaes high street to the Stag pub.

Then take the road to the right of the pub and down along beach road, at the end of beach road turn left up the hill. At the top of the hill turn left between the old terrace houses on the left and the new houses on the right. Go across the cattle grid and follow the road to the white house on the hill. Just before the house fork left for the campsite and right for the cottages.

It is £8 for a two persons and a tent per night.

The Plan

Michelle + Mark will be there on Friday evening from 9.30 pm onwards. Plan to climb, swim on Saturday, maybe run / walk as well. We have drink, cake and nibbles for early evening. Retire to local pub for evening meal and drinkies.

Al will be climbing Gogarth on Saturday, anyone wishing to join him, should meet up at South Stack car park for around 10am (follow the South Stack signs in Holyhead). If you arrive later contact him on his mobile.

See you there!

October 6^th/7^th - Hut Working Party - James Richardson

No particular details have been received but I'm sure that plenty of work can be found.

October 14^th - Giggleswick South - Duncan Lee

Giggleswick Scar South (GR: SD 807652) is a nice collection of limestone buttresses in a sheltered sunny setting that have recently undergone a transformation from a vegetated hellhole into one of Yorkshire's finest low to mid grade sports climbing venues. The guidebook is so out of date it is untrue but is still useful in order to find the place, but once there, routes now start at F4 /4+ (about severe) on the bolted lines and traditionalists can find a fine collection of Yorkshire's finest sandbags on the High Level Crag where grades vary from HVD to E4. (And those are just the book grades, Ed.)

I plan to arrive at Sector Swans (the first area reached when walking up the hill from opposite the golf course) at around 11am but don't be surprised if I'm late. To guarantee that I'm on time you could always collect me on the way past Accrington and that way I could have a pint or two of fine real ale in The Maypole on the way home.

October 20^th/21^st - KMC Fell Race weekend - Neville McMillan

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

This is the event all your year's training has been working up to, and it's definitely based on Irish Row, Coniston this year. The course is still a mystery, but it is bound to be within 20 miles of the hut.

On Saturday it is climbing - traditionally on Dow Crag, though there are many crags around Coppermines Valley, and there is Hodge Close Quarry for the E2 Lakeland slate afficionados. Alternatively some may take a sneaky walk, hoping to guess where the course will be. As usual, the Fell Race is on Sunday. Attendance by Committee members is compulsory, either to participate, marshall, revive the also-rans, or feed the hungry with bread and soup.

The idiosyncratic handicap system will be tweaked and spun again, so come and take your luck.. 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! Approaching Coniston from the N, along the A593, turn R immediately before the Black Bull pub. After ¼ mile the track goes L steeply and the surface deteriorates. Take care to avoid immovable boulders, especially if arriving in the dark on Friday night. Continue along the track towards the youth hostel. Irish Row is the line of cottages directly above the small footbridge on the R. Park responsibly; there is off-track parking on the L, 50 yds or so beyond the footbridge.

There are around 25 hut places, but please book ahead with Neville (£6 pp/pn) especially for Saturday night. Please note that to be on this meet, you must participate in the fell race, either as a runner, marshall, or official kitchen staff! The course will start and end at the hut. Course details will be posted on Sunday morning at 10.00 am.

Start times (three groups) will be 11.00, 11.30, and 12.00 noon.

This will be the last time I organise the KMC Fell Race, so make sure you are in it.

Contact Neville to make hut bookings, for further information, or with offers of help.

October 28^th - WWW (Wild Wales Walk) - Dave Bone

This year's Wild Wales Walk may not quite suit the adjective, but should be easier than last year's effort, as there a good deal of tracks. Nevertheless, I have still discovered some long forgotten paths and untracked terrain for you in the moorlands of the Northern Berwyn, south of the Corwen - Llangollen valley. There are some fine peephole views and quiet valleys, horizons will be broadened. Start point: Head for Llangollen then Corwen on the A5. Just after the brown sign for Glyndyfrdwy, park in the layby on the right hand side in front of the "Original Butterfly Man" (source of many of the kitsch house ornaments hereabouts). GR 158424 - about 1hr10 from S Manchester. Start walking at 9.45am.

Map: OS 1:50,000 No. 125 Bala. Remember a head-torch as the clocks have just gone back.

The route (subject to variation and the fitness of the party): Head south up the dead end road, taking the right fork, at its end picking up a vague path that wanders into the conifers. A short period of darkness and the little used path emerges on the open moorland. Put the map away and follow a trail 90? from where you want to go, hoping the trail bikes that formed it aren't out, picking up an incongruous tarmaced road crossing the ridge. Into the Ceiriog Forest and a bridleway, dropping sharply into the valley. For speed take the road E to Tyn-y-celyn and turn R onto the 'London' road (according to the unofficial side of the sign). Officially the Ceiriog Trail, a rocky track heading for the high ground. Now, following a long forgotten non-path across the moor to an out-building at 149350 the known route drops to the Afon Ceiriog at Dolwen, though we can search for a short-cut.

Up the valley to tarmac's end - I was going W from here (and still may), but time will likely mean taking the path past Swch-cae-rhiw - on the open hill, no trace of path can be found, but the rim of the attractive, waterfalled valley is followed. Reeds do well here, then heather before the wet bit. Reed defences lead to the stream bank, Long jumpers move swiftly on, engineers start constructing pontoon bridges, then all flail about before the sanctuary of a heavily eroded track (don't fall into the ravines). Not many people pass this way and with luck the central Berwyn will be glowing in the sun. Now for the Berwyn ridge and a mile North to the northernmost top of the Berwyn, Moel Fferna at ~630m. E down the ridge to a stile, but turn L on the flattened heather. Take the right fork into yet another forgotten Welsh Quarry, and pick up the dismantled quarry railway, now part of the North Berwyn Way. If on time, down the valley the Llangollen limestone will be a golden glow in the low sun. The route leaves the railway, forced over a neck of land by a fence. Leaving the Way, we drop abruptly into the valley and return to the railway at a bridge. Keeping to the track, we cross the tarmac (which continues on as that met in the morning, and take the path over the neck of land (right hand gate of pair) to pick up the outward trail, 1/3 mile from the start.

Total distance as described: 15miles ~900m ascent. Time - up to you. Hope to see you there!

November 3^rd/4^th - Bonfire Meet (Ty Powdyr) - The KMC

This meet tends to organise itself - turn up at the hut for a bit of outdoor activities, a variety of flashes and bangs on the Saturday Night, and people trying to raze the land.

November 10^th - KMC Annual Dinner 2007 - KMC

This year's annual dinner will be held at:

Prices

Programme

Friday

Vanguard Arrival
From 9pm for drinks in resident's lounge.

Saturday

Crag Day
09:00 for Castell Cidwm.

Arrival
Arrive, scrub up and have a drink!

Annual Dinner
08:00 - Speeches and club toast.
08:30 - Nosh.
09:30 - After dinner entertainments.
11:30 - Non-diners to leave.
12:45 - Last orders at bar.
01:30 - Bar closes.

Sunday

Walking Day
WALK 1 - 10:00 for Snowdon via Watkin Path.
WALK 2 - 10:00 for Copper Mine/Fishermans trail.

Prices are based on two sharing and must be booked and pre-paid via the KMC committee.

Dinner Details

The Festivities

Some may wish to escape Manchester (or elsewhere for those outside the M60) early on Friday and take advantage of the excellent offer on accommodation for the night (meals available in the bar). This will put them on the spot for a foray to the nearby Castell Cidwm for some historic cragging (Dwm or Glwm anyone?) alternatively a gentle day discovering dragon's lairs or Arthurian lore may suit some. [or some Chimney sweeping?]

On the night itself our guest speaker is yet to be revealed, but preparations for a traditional KMC evening entertainment have begun. Anyone with a thespian bent would do well to contact Chris Thicket or Katie Horgan with suggestions or offers! Negotiations have also begun with several "award winning" breweries for a special KMC brew or blend (the sticking point is bespoke labels for bottles so if anyone knows anyone who can do that kind of thing?).

Due to the hotel not wishing to upset local residents Andy has agreed on behalf of the club that non-residents will leave by 11:30pm. This will allow us to have the bar open much later for reminiscence or two over a pint or three. Really with the excellent price we have negotiated for the night I hope as many people as possible will opt to stay at the hotel itself and do the thing properly.

Sunday breakfast could give way to a gentle exploration of Craig Llan direct from the hotel, there is a pleasant trail up past the Sygun copper mines which returns down through the old (soon to be re-opened) railway tunnels (bring a headtorch) and back along the "fisherman's trail" to the tourist tick of Gelert's grave. A leader for this wonderful walk is sought - please contact Dave Bish or Heather.

The alternative stiffer plod is Snowdon via the Watkin path (again you can start from the hotel) - surprising new views and ridges for those used to being on the pass side of the hill. Naturally some will opt for a crag - something with a more modern feel or will it be Cwm Silyn?

Your Menu

The Chef at the Goat hotel has promised us a four course meal selection, we can incorporate some final requests from anyone who finds the spread arrayed below too limited (Vegan option suggestions anyone?) but for the time being the four course menu is as follows:

Starters

Homemade Veg Broth
Oven baked Brie in filo Pastry with cranberry sauce
Creamy Mushrooms

Main Courses

Roast Lamb shank in Garlic and redcurrant sauce.
Half Roast Chicken with trimmings.
Grilled Fillet of Plaice in creamy sauce.
Savoury filled pancake glazed with goats cheese.

All the above will be with spuds and seasonal veg of the day.

Deserts

Fruit cobbler and cream
Chocolate terrine and fruit coulis
Ice cream trio

..and finally

Coffee and mints.

So once the final menu is agreed I will be taking orders of who would like what to ensure smooth service on the night. So far no-one has suggested taking orders for breakfast on the Sunday but if last year at the ODG was anything to go by it might not be a bad idea!

September Newsletter Index.

Copyright © 2007 Karabiner Mountaineering Club