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May 2008 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."
Saturday May 10th - South Pennines Walk - Mike Graves
This should be a delightful walk of about 11.5 miles, with some great
views of the South Pennines. The walk starts at Worsthorn, and
parking is on the Gorple Road, just after the church. SD 877 324 the
route follows the Gorple Rd before dropping down the Hurstwood
Reservoir 889 318 and passing the Cant Clough reservoir 897 310. We
then join the Burnley Way near the Widdop Reservoir 926 324.
Soon we cross Exwistle Moor, passing Swinden Reservoir, through some
pleasant woods and back to Worsthorn. At least we should see some
water!
Sunday May 11th - Bamford Edge - Ann Sanderson
This magnificent crag overlooking Ladybower Reservoir is now open
thanks to the CRoW Act. Because of past access difficulties the
gritstone is superbly rough.
[Please note the landowner has been granted a 5 year ban on dogs].
There is a magnificent selection of routes, such as the pleasant
Bamford Wall (S), well protected jamming in Brown's Crack (HS), the
delicate and photogenic Wrinkled Wall (VS), the spectacular finish on
Gargoyle Flake (VS), the superb finishing move on Quien Sabe? (VS),
the almost too well protected Bilberry Crack (VS 5a) and Neb Buttress
(HVS) requiring careful ropework.
Meet at the Neb Buttress area of the crag. I will be there from
10.30am.
May 17th - CANCELLED: The Roaches - Katie Horgan
In a change to the meet list, I have cancelled the Saturday Roaches meet (especially as
there is another shortly). Chris Thickett is running a weekend lakes meet at Brackenclose,
which is probably as quick to get to as the Roaches anyway, therefore anyone just wanting
to be out for a day, meet at Brackenclose and go for a climb in the vicinity.
May 17th/18th - FRCC Brackenclose meet - Chris Thickett
9 male and 6 female places have been booked for KMC members at £5 per
night each. Please contact Chris Thickett to secure a place. Pay at
the hut.
Arguably the best hut in England at the best location. Some of the
best climbing, walking or scrambling.
May 24th/26th - CANCELLED: Tyndrum - Keith Williams
Unfortunately, an absence of interest in this meet has resulted in it
being called off.
Another old-fashioned Scottish meet hopefully early enough in the
season to avoid the worst of the midges. There are around fifty
Munros within twenty miles of Tyndrum. To the south you'll find the
Arrochar Alps with Ben Vorlich and Ben Vane among them. Travel east
via Crianlarich and Ben More and along Loch Tay to Ben Lawers and
Meall nan Tarmachan or west to the Dalmally horseshoe and Cruachan.
To the north you've got the whole of Glencoe with the Buachailles,
Aonach Eagach and Bidean so there should be enough there to keep you
out of mischief for 3 or 4 days.
Venue - By The Way camp site adjacent to Lwr. Tyndrum railway
station. Full details on their web site at
www.tyndrumbytheway.com. This site offers a variety of accommodation in
addition to camping.
The campsite facilities include shower and toilet block (showers
included in price), camper's kitchen and dining room, good drying
room and laundry facilities. Camping costs £6 per person per night.
You will need to make your own booking arrangements to stay there if
you want to use their wigwams, huts or hostel. Otherwise, I would
just ask folks who intend to camp to let me know not less than two
weeks beforehand so that the owners can earmark an area of the site
for us.
Sunday June 8th - Dovestones Fell Run - Roy Lee
This should only take the fit a morning, with lunch at the Farmer's
Arms. Meet at 9am in the Dovestones Reservoir car-park (pay and
display) at 9am for a 9:30am start. GR013034. The exact route is
still in planning so you'll need to be on time for final directions.
The general idea is to set off up past the three reservoirs, up onto
the tops, across to the main road, and back via a fly past the Pots
and Pans, and Alderman.
Saturday June 14th - The Roaches - James Hoyle
UPDATE: The Roaches top tier is currently shut due to some nesting perigrines, so
the meet will be on the lower tier.
As a relative newbie to the world of rock climbing I'm still working
my way through grit classics in the lower grades. I will be in the Raven
Rock Gully area from 10am.
There must still be something at the Roaches for nearly everyone so even grit
gurus could pop along and say hello before moving off to quieter parts of the
crag. If you're still to do the climbs in this area or fancy revisiting
them then the more the merrier and I look forwards to seeing you there.
June 21st/22nd - Llanberis Pass: Cwm Glas Mawr hut - Al Metelko
UPDATE: HUT FULLY BOOKED
Anyone wishing to join the meet during the day can stay at Ty Powdr or the
camp at the farm (SH 623 569). Please note: no camping is allowed around the
Cwm Glas Mawr hut.
Situated in the heart of Llanberis Pass, surrounded by crags galore,
right in the centre of Britain's climbing Mecca is the Cwm Glas Mawr
Hut (GR 620 569). Adventures of many kinds can be had from here; Door
step climbing with the nearest crag a mere 150m away, Journeys in to
the high mountain crags of Cwm Glas, which in turn could be combined
with a route or two on Cloggy what could be better than that on the
longest day of the year.
There are only 10 places available and £6 per head secures a space.
Book your spot early to avoid disappointment.
Below are a number of ideas to whet the appetite -
- The Anderson Challenge: one route per crag (not sure what the record
is but this is the weekend to break it).
- Distance climbed (guide book heights added up): good > 400m,
excellent > 700m and superb > 1000m
- Linking scrambles: for example - Jammed Boulder Gully -Clogwyn y
Person's Arête - Lliwedd West Buttress.
- The Almost Two Horseshoes Walk: North Ridge of Crib Goch - Crib y
Ddysgl - Snowdon - Lliwedd - Miners Track to point 993 Bwlch Glas -
descend Gyrn Las ridge to the hut.
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Or just a nice easy day out on the boulders, crags and surrounding
hills above and below the hut.
June 28th/29th - Welsh Mystery Rock - Dave Bone
The mystery here was which crags should I choose - and I'm talking
about the Meirionnydd guide (mid-Wales, not North Wales). There are
many good ones here without the crowds and some wonderful settings.
You have to walk (& up) to most of them though. OK so I've made an
arbitrary choice and it's time to dispel some of the mystery.
The plan is to drive out to mid-Wales early on the Saturday morning.
You can camp out somewhere on the Friday night if you prefer, but it
is only around 2.5hrs.
Day one is "Craig y Merched" on Landranger124
at 690233. Head for Dolgellau and take the A496 Barmouth road. 2mi
after the A470 turnoff, take the first side road on the right. Park
near the road end and take a walk through the forest - you will need
the guidebook. There are four crags - let's start at the middle -
Rhino's Buttress. This has some very good VS routes. There are routes
from VS to E2 and a VD. Who knows, this time I may make it up to the
Upper crag for the HVS and E1s there.
When you're done here, it's back into the cars for the drive over to
the campsite, handy for the next day's options (and because I like
the place). Back past Dolgellau, and take the A470 to Dinas Mawddwy.
Keep on the main road past the village to the bridge at the foot of
the hill and turn left into the Celyn Brithion Caravan and camping
site (GR 861139)- keep right for the camping area in back of the
farmhouse. You'll know you're at the right place by the giant rabbits
in hutches and the array of animals. A small site with reasonable
facilities - details on
www.celynbrithion.co.uk (01650 531344) -
£6.00 per person + £1 for the car (so please keep the number of cars
down). From here it's a 10min walk back into the village up the
street with the Swifts screaming overhead for the highlight of the
evening, the fine Red Lion Pub.
Day 2: Still an air of mystery here so you'll have to turn up by 9am
on Sunday to find out. I'll make a choice on the weekend. Landranger
125 will be handy too. Number one option could be Cwm Cywarch only 4
miles away where there are routes for all, or I could take people up
to the very tops of the Arans. There is even a nice south-facing low
level option on a route home. And if you see more than another team,
be surprised? You'll like it, honest!
July 5th/6th - Raw Head Hut - Joe Flynn
This has been a popular meet over the last couple of years. The
excellent location and fabulous weather at this time of year have drawn
us back. The climbing and walking provide sport at all levels. For
climbers there is a range of grades and walk-ins to entice all. A
fifteen minute approach will bring you to Scout Crag or 30 mins to
White Ghyll. 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.
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.
The local hostelries provide excellent food and other refreshments.
The New Dungeon Ghyll and Stickle Barn are only 10 mins walk and the
Old Dungeon Ghyll is handy as you return from the hill.
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.
To secure a place, please contact me via E-Mail, at home, or on my
mobile.
July 12th/13th - North Devon Climbing - Mark Garrod
It's a long way to go, but we have aimed for the weekend before the
main holidays to minimise traffic and maximise the sun and warmth.
The climbing at Baggy Point is the main focus of the weekend, along
with the requisite sea dips (with you know who), and campsite
socialising as ever. I have not yet managed to check the tides, so
I'm not sure whether the low tide routes will be accessible am or pm,
but there is plenty of light to catch them at some point. Anyone who
fancies surfing is also is the right place. For those who want to
extend the stay, Lundy is just over the water.
The plan is to base ourselves in Croyde to have easy access to both
sea and Baggy point. The campsites here are somewhat pricey; £13 per
night per night per person plus £3 for a car, and you need to book
for both weekend nights, to stay at Mitchum's village campsite, where
we intend being. Rules abound in all campsites around here; this one
only allows 2-3 man smallish tents, not frame tents or equivalent,
and doesn't allow camper-vans or pets. Please contact me with
definite bookings 3 weeks before the weekend, and I will book the
site, otherwise please book direct or take your chance. Campsite grid
ref is 441397, directions are get to Croyde whichever way you want,
then take Jones Hill off the B3231 going north toward Putsborough for
200m, then turn left on Moor lane which heads out toward Baggy point.
The campsite is a short way (100-200m) along Moor lane.
Saturday will definitely be climbing on Baggy point as the main
focus. Sunday can more flexible, with some (limited) potential for
other climbing in the area, although Baggy point should keep most
people happy for 2 days.
Please contact me if you are thinking of, or definitely, coming.
Mark
July 19th/20th - Family Meet (Ty Powder) - Bridget Mapleson
Some may view this as a public service warning but KMC family meet
will be as usual at Ty Powder 19th/20th July. On Saturday 19th a
possible stroll along the Nantlle ridge such that by the afternoon
when the sun is in the shining one can enjoy the pond under Cwm
Silyn. Parking of a car or two at each end would allow the walk to be
in the area of 6 miles long with a bit of up and down. The beginning
of the walk should start from grid reference 566525 where there is
lay-by parking on/near the right hand bend as you go from Rhyd Ddu at
about 10:30. If the weather is badly off the mark (i.e. likely to
cause serious aversion to future hill walking/climbing) maybe a
coastal walk will be in order.
If acceptable we could celebrate a successful walk with a communal
dinner at the hut. Please let me know if you would like to join in.
I will look for some suitable climbing on Sunday along the lines of
friendly crag, shortish walk-in, a stream/pond to paddle in, sun etc.
All people most welcome.
Bridget.
August 10th/23rd - Ailefroide,the Ecrin Massif - Duncan Lee, Vicky Alderton, Roger and Bridgit Mapleson
So there will be four members present at least...
We plan to camp at Ailefroide on the south side of the Ecrin Massif. The campsite is
large and well equipped and has an entire guidebook of rock climbs (F3 - 8A, 1 - 14 pitch)
on perfect granite within walking distance. If you choose to venture up into the surrounding
higher mountains these include the Barre des Ecrin (4101m), Mont Pelvoux (3943m) and the small
but perfectly formed Pointe des Cineastes amongst others. There is also lots more rock climbing
on limestone down the valley as well as mountain biking, a via ferrata and lots of good walking.
All that and the fact that the area generally gets better weather than the Mont Blanc massif
combine to make Ailefroide a great base from which to launch Alpine adventures.
So let us know if you want more information or plan to come along so we can keep an eye open
for your arrival seeing as the campsite is very spread out and mobile phone reception was none
existent 2 years ago.
May Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2008 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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