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March 2009 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."
March 15th - Derwent/Strines Walk - Iain McCallum
Route: Fairholmes Car Park - Derwent Reservoir Dam - Lost Lad - Back
Tor - Foulstone Road - Strines Bridge - Brogging - *Dale Dikes
Reservoir - Andrew Wood - Stake Hill Road - Moscar Cross - Moscar
House - Derwent Moors - Grainfoot Clough - Grindle Clough - Jubilee
Cottages - Fairholmes Car Park.
*Alternative route - From the top end of Dale Dikes Reservoir head
for Sugworth Hall and Sugworth Road. Follow the road to the end of
Moscar, Cross road and then to Moscar House.
Map: Explorer OL1 - Dark Peak Area
Meet at 9.30am for a 9.45am start in the car park on the right just
before you reach Fairholmes Car Park (GR 174889) - Park in the
Fairholmes Car Park if you prefer.
A good tramp around the eastern side of the Peak District on good
paths and tracks. Distance; About 12 miles. The walk can be modified
to suit the conditions.
March 21st/22nd - Alex Mac Hut Meet - Mark Garrod
For those who don't know the hut, it is in a superb location for Glen
Coe, the Ben, and even a trip to Fort Willam if you need to go
shopping, being one mile north (over) the Ballachulish bridge on the
right, just 50 metres after the Creag Mhor hotel - grid ref 044612.
The days will be longer and hopefully the conditions great for either
winter days out, ice-climbing, and skiing, or sun-kissed routes and
Munro-yomping. Whisky may figure in the evening plans - who knows.
Normal booking conditions for hut meets please, which are that you
don't get a confirmed place until I see the colour of your money (or
cheque). Cost is £5.50 per person per night. If those interested can
get in touch, I can help to try and co-ordinate transport if needed.
Michelle and I will probably be up there from late Thursday or early
Friday.
March 29th - Bridestones - Dan O'Brien
Bridestones is an extensive bouldering crag situated between Hebdon
Bridge and Todmorden. The landings are generally good (i.e. flat!!)
and the walk in is short (i.e. not too far to lug those enormous
crash pads!!)
There are plenty of problems across the grades to keep everyone busy
all day, indeed Bridestones is an ideal place to practice climbing
off-widths in its many chimney-based problems.
I intend to park near the Sportsman's Arms on a road called The Long
Causeway (between Burnley and Hebden Bridge!) Unhelpfully this road
does not have a number (according to Google) and the pub does not
have a postcode (again, thanks go out to Google) so this vague
description will have to do...
Get yourself on the A646 between Burnley and Todmorden and drive
until you get to a small village called Cornholme (if you get to
either Burnley or Todmorden you have gone too far, turn around and
try again, slowly this time!) If you are coming from Todmorden turn
right under a viaduct up Pudsey Road (if coming from Burnley take a
left, you get the picture, right??) Carry on up the road for a long
way (yes, we know it's really steep!) until you reach a t-junction.
Go right and the Sportsman's Arms should be on the left.
I will be at the carpark for 10am and will leave immediately for the
crag. I'd like to climb initially at the far end of the crag
(nearest the Bridestone itself) and then work our way back to the
cars over the course of the day.
No ropes required! Bring a pad if you have one, else just bring
yourself. Hope to see a good turnout, the Sportsman's Arms awaits!
April 4th/5th - Bob Graham Challenge Walk - Des Chadderton
The original information supplied by Des for the Website has been
modified by Mr "Fleet of Foot Bish" for this edition.
Des Chadderton put this meet together as a training aid for me (Dave
Bish). I'm suggesting a slight revision on Des' original plan so that
most people can cover 40 miles of the BGR route over two pleasant
days. I will go for the full route but I will be able to walk with
the group most of the time and not stay alone at Brackenclose.
On Friday night any keenos and I can do the 12 mile Skiddaw section
in the dark before driving down to the Wayfarers Hut opposite the Raw
Head Hut (FRCC) in Langdale NY304066.
SATURDAY 4th (20 Miles)
If not staying in Wayfarers' Friday night, early Saturday morning
drop 1 car in Langdale with second car driving to Threkeld.
Start at Threkeld to climb over the Dodds up to Helvellyn and then on
to Fairfield and down to Dumail Raise. Cross the raise and over Steel
fell to High Raise dropping down past Sergeant Man back to the hut.
SUNDAY 5th (18 Miles)
Walk from hut to Pavey Arc and up to Thunacarr Knott then Langdale
Pikes on to Bowfell, Scafell Pike and Scafell (including the roped
scramble of Broad Stand) . That's about 9 miles - David (plus
keenos?) will then drop down past the Rawhead hut continuing on to
Yewbarrow and around via Great Gable to Honister (12 more miles with
only 10 more back to Keswick!). The rest of the party can retrace
their steps back to Bowfell and then pleasantly descend "The Band"
back to the ODG and on to the hut to collect their car.
If interested in this meet please contact Des or David so that we
can arrange cars and accommodation.
IMPORTANT
This event is not for the faint hearted and very much dependent on
the weather. Anyone attempting the walk will have to carry all
relevant equipment to make an independent exit from the main party
and foreshorten their walk because of blisters, lost lunch boxes,
dropped beer funds, etc. Also depending on the number interested you
may also have to hitch to someplace warm to await recovery.
You may also choose to stay in the hut and do your own thing or
support the walkers or Dave. So why not support him?
April 10th/13th - Easter at Ty Powdwr - The Committee
The Committee invite you all to the Club Hut for Easter. Plenty of
all types of activities for a long break, and a good shelter for
those days when it's not quite so good outside.
April 19th - County Durham Biking - Katie Horgan
Although this is advertised as a day meet, it can easily be a
weekend. Hamsterley Forest (grid ref 092313) is located in the
depths of County Durham (M62, A1M, A68). Set in the Bedburn valley,
it has steep climbs, long downhills and some good longer distance
routes - the Doctor's Gate route looks good. I haven't been since
they started redeveloping the already good mountain bike routes. Now
there's an Extreme Downhill course, a multi-user skills area called
The Loop and a range of different ability routes, as well as a
Trailquest - orienteering on bikes. It's also a beautiful forest to
explore on foot - you can play in the river and build dens in the
woods - and the cake in the Tearoom is excellent! The plan is to
drive to Hamsterley Forest with or without bikes (£20/day to hire in
the Forest). It takes about 2 hours 15mins to drive there, so you
can come up for the day or head up the day before. I have reserved
space for three two man tents at High Shipley Campsite for the
Saturday night (grid ref 115343 - £15 per night for tent, car and 2
people), so let me know if you'd like a space. Check out
www.hamsterley-trailblazers.co.uk
for alternative accommodation and
info as well as www.forestry.gov.uk and click 'England' then
Cycling'. Hamsterley is the third on the list. If you do come up on
the Saturday - morning or evening - the pub in Hamsterley village
does good, straightforward food. Otherwise there's the Moorcock in
Egleston.
As for the forest itself, it'll cost you £3 to park (they call it the
Forest Drive, don't be fooled, it's a parking fee) but you can cycle
in from the village or the campsite. If I end up in a car with
anyone, I'll also have a Forestry Commission staff sticker...free
parking! Let me know if you're thinking about coming, there's even
some climbing in Weardale (check out
www.climbonline.co.uk/weardale_in_winter.htm and Millstone Rigg looks
pretty good/near) and Teesdale, although I haven't tried any of it!
Goldsborough Carr, Holwick Scar (although it's extremely sensitive
and has a lot of access restrictions). It's an area that has
something for everyone and is a bit of a hidden gem - I have to
declare an interest - I used to be a Ranger in the forest!
April 26th - President's Hotpot - The Committee
The President's Hotpot and Slide show competition venue is THE GLOBE
INN in Glossop. The Globe is situated on the main road through
Glossop. The Globe is a Vegetarian & Vegan Pub, which serves a large
variety of Real Ales. Full address is:
- The Globe Inn,
- 144 High St West,
- Glossop,
- Derbyshire
- SK13 8HJ
-
- Tel: 01457 852417
The Hotpot will start at 7pm.
The menu includes Vegetarian Hotpot and Apple pie (2 courses) with
cost being £5 PER HEAD.
To book your place for the evening, please contact Heather by email
or by phone. Final confirmation of numbers is required by 18th April.
Slide Show Competition
All entries for this year's competition should be sent to Andrew
Croughton by email or post. AC will be the judge this year.
Categories are:
- Mountain Landscape
- Mountain Action
- Climbing Action
- Human Interest
- Digital Fun
I will allow up to 15 entries per person total this year. That is, if
they only have climbing shots they can send 15 in, same for human
interest, etc. I will put together a show of all entries and then a
final section where winners of all categories will be revealed. All
entries must have been taken over the 2008/2009 period leading up to
the Hot Pot itself. Please note any entries outside of this time
period will be disqualified and the culprit barred from future
competitions.
The Day's Events
Climbing
Climbing meeting is being lead by Heather Brooke. Venue is Stanage
far end, we will be there from 10.30am at Green Slab area.
Presidents Hot Pot Walk
Meet 09:30 for 10:00 start.
The walk will start at the large lay-by on the A57 Sheffield to Snake
Pass road just above Cutthroat Bridge (Grid ref SK217874).
The intended route for the day will take in a circuit of the derwent
edges via Whinstone Tor, Wheel Stones, Salt Cellar Dovestone Tor,
BackTor and Lost Lad before returning back to the Layby at Cutthroat
Bridge.
Distance is approximately 10 miles, of fairly moderate walking,
hopefully with some great views and decent weather to help build up
an appetite before the hot pot and slide show.
May 2nd/4th - Pembroke South - Sheena Hendrie
Masterplan, what masterplan? The planning has got as far as getting
a grid reference for the campsite at St Petrox (SR 970975 (Landranger
map 158). This is basecamp for the weekend. For those that are not
familiar with it, put St Petrox in your browser and see entry in
UKClimbing.com. This gives useful information including directions on
how to get there. [Look on the right for the first Church on the
Bosherston road, but not too hard otherwise you'll be through the
hedge on the sharp left turn that follows. Ed.]
From there on it's up to you - there are choices of easy routes at
Saddle Head, Stennis Head, Flimston Bay and Crystal Slabs, and harder
routes pretty much everywhere else. You can also go swimming, but
preferably not while still in climbing gear, and walking along the
Coastal Path (ditto). High tide is around 1200 on the Saturday so if
you don't fancy swimming, choose your routes wisely!
I can be contacted on the e mail and phone number in the Handbook if
anyone has any questions.
May 9th/10th - Bob Graham Round, Fell Run - David Bish
Yes there is a reason I ran up Elidr Fach from the hut in the dark
twice on the last working meet. It would seem I am attempting the 62
mile Bob Graham Round on the 9th of May just before my 42nd birthday
(the BGR covers 42 Lakeland peaks which Bob G. did on his 42nd).
Although those in the know keep asking me about my training and some
have even seen me running up hills on meets over the last year, this
thing is far from in the bag. I really, really would like the support
of some keen walkers and maybe even runners. I still have a couple of
training weekends planned (call me on my mobile to help) and I will
need people to act as checkpoints on the Midnight Friday to Midnight
Saturday attempt of the round. I especially need a confident person
to wait around with a rope on Broad Stand and also am hoping that a
few friendly KMC faces would like to man the last few hard tops
around Wasdale Head.
I have booked spaces in the Brackenclose hut for
the Saturday night which I will pay for and I can provide specially
printed, laminated routemarked maps. My sponsors "Simpsons Foods" of
Urmston have also provided meat pies for anyone who does a bit with
me plus I am also trying to get some beers together from Bank Top. I
will have at least one camper van in attendance at road crossings and
can ferry anyone from the end of a leg back to their car if they are
with me for a long stint (the longest leg is 13 miles). This thing is
likely to cripple me but I'd like any help that KMCers out there can
offer.
May 23rd/31st - Skye Week - Rough, Tough Mountaineer's Accommodation! - James Hoyle
Those of you who have already given the meets calendar a scan may
have spotted that I am organising a KMC week on Skye for the last
week in May. It would be wonderful to see as many members there as
possible be they into walking, climbing, scrambling or whatever. At
the last count about 16 members of the KMC and guests had contacted
me to book onto this meet, which is pretty good going really.
Accommodation has now been booked in the Skyewalker Hostel at
Portnalong but some members have opted to camp at Glenbrittle.
Should anyone else wish to join us then check out their website and
book directly yourselves at £13.50 a night. I do know however that
the hostel is now full for some of the time we are there but there
may still be availability some nights. The hostel also has a camping
ground allowing you to use their facilities like the kitchen.
Various groups seem keen to make attempts on the ridge and climb in
and around the Cuillin and sea cliffs but others seem set on enjoying
the coastal scenery and rugged walks on offer; so there's plenty for
everyone. With a couple of pubs in the area and the facilities
available at the hostel the evenings are looking like fun too so if
you still haven't decided whether to come dilly dally no longer and
give me a call!
June 27th - Marsden - Edale - Phil Ramsbottom
This is advance notice of my June meet which is going to be the
Pennine classic walk. This is to allow you plenty of time to start
training.
I intend to do it in classic (now called environmentally friendly)
style ie: early train from Manchester Victoria to Marsden and then
train back from Edale to Manchester Piccadilly (ask me and I'll tell
you where you can park free close to Victoria). I have chosen
Saturday because the train times are better than on Sundays.
It would be good to camp overnight in Edale but this will need a
volunteer to meet us there with the camping gear - I am certainly not
carrying mine all the way.
August 15th/28th - Saas Grund Alpine Meet - Andy Grantham
At last, it can be announced. This year's Alpine Meet will be held at Saas
Grund in the Saastal valley, in the Valais Alps East.
Saas Grund is an ideal base surrounded by several 4,000m peaks including the
Lagginhorn and Weissmies on the east side of the valley and the Dom, the
Täschhorn, the Lenzspitze, the Nadelhorn and numerous other peaks on the
west side. Routes of all standards are available with plenty to do for
those with all levels of experience.
Camping is available at the Camping Am Kapellenweg (www.kapellenweg.ch,
tel: 0041 27 957 49 97) camp site.
Hope to see as many as possible.
August 22nd/23rd - Three Tarns and a River - Midge Castick and Michelle Harvie
Time to put away those rock boots and slip into something more
comfortable - water. This meet will be based in Borrowdale. We will
be using Stonethwaite campsite (Tel 0176777234) at the end of
Langstrath at GR268133. It is a bit basic with a rough approach track
but that should keep the hordes at bay. You won't need a shower
anyway. I haven't yet checked the need to book but will do nearer the
time. There is a pub very close by in Stonethwaite ( its name eludes
me).
The walk will start from the campsite on the Saturday. We will
follow the main Borrowdale valley to Seathwaite and head off to
Styhead and its tarn. Those not swimming are welcome as bag carriers.
A short distance leads us to Sprinkling Tarn then over Esk Hause and
down to Angle tarn. There follows a long descent of Langstrath with
as many swims as you want on the way down . Blackmoss Pot is the
main target where, if you are brave you'll jump in, or if not, just
cruise through the rocks for two hundred metres of pure magic. Follow
the stream all the way back to the campsite either along the path or
walking/ swimming your way along the beck. The whole walk is about 12
miles. Unless it is a spectacularly hot day or you're just plain mad
(like Michelle), we advise a trip to Decathlon or similar and buy a
cheap shortie wetsuit. This should be less than the price of a good
cossie anyway. Please take old shoes to swim in.
On Sunday feel free to put your rock boots back on. There is a wealth
of good climbing in Langstrath itself plus the rest of Borrowdale of
course. If you prefer and your feet are now permanently webbed
anyway, how about a swim across Derwentwater...
March Newsletter Index.
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