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January 2010 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."
January 24th - Pot Scar Climbing - Duncan Lee
This lovely little Yorkshire crag faces south west overlooking the
hamlet of Feizor (GR SD795678) and receives lots of sun and dries
quickly. I won't try to claim that it is sheltered because there were
enough of you there last year to pull me up on that fact but everyone
who turned up will certainly vouch for the quality and quantity of
the home-made cakes provided by the cafe in Feizor. I plan to be at
the crag between 10.30 and 11am to allow the morning sun to take the
chill off the rock. Routes range from V.Diff to E3 so there is
something for almost everyone. The majority of the two and three star
routes are in the Severe to E1 range.
In the unlikely event of bad weather, well you have to be optimistic,
the day will start and finish in the cafe with a walk around some of
the local outcrops in between the tea and cakes.
Please try and car share because the parking in the hamlet is
limited.
January 30th/31st - Mill Cottage - Brian Street/Andrew Croughton
As I write this (23/12) it is absolutely perfect conditions outside
with a cloudless blue sky, lots of snow and cold and that is just in
lowlands of Cheshire! Occasionally, just occasionally, you get such
winter days in Scotland and these make up for all the claggy and
rained out expeditions to the North! Have I whetted your appetite or
put you off?
There are just eight spaces available for this meet and at the time
of writing five of these have already been taken up! Cost is a
measly £7/night. As always, cash (or cheque) in the claw secures the
place!
Here are some directions and facts about Mill Cottage as provided by
my co-meet leader Andrew?
Mill Cottage is 0.25 miles to the North West of Feshiebridge off the
B970. Follow the old A9 to Kincraig, between Kingussie & Aviemore,
take the side road to Kincraig (turn east), over bridge & past the
Loch Insh Watersports Centre. Left at the T-junction & left into the
Forestry Commission car park, taking the left fork onto an unpaved
track above the car park. Turn down the right fork after passing
below the pylon line, here you will find the hut (approximately 300
yards from the main road). Grid reference NH844047, OS sheet 35 -
Kingussie. SMC hut guide - "The hut has 8 bunks & a six berth alpine
platform, all with mattresses; full cooking & dining facilities are
supplied, all electric. Shower, toilets, drying room, multi-fuel
stove in lounge with firewood & coal."
February 7th - Lancashire Walk - Dave Shotton
This is a pleasant winter walk taking in some classic Lancashire
moorland on what is effectively a high-level circuit of Belmont
Reservoir, taking in Great Hill, Winter Hill and (optionally) Darwen
Hill.
Start point: Crookfield Road car park (just off A675 Belmont Road) at
grid reference SD665191 to the north of Belmont village and
reservoir. The car park is fairly large and is unlikely to be
excessively busy at this time of year.
Start time: Meet at 09:30 for a 09:45 start.
Map: OS Explorer 287 (West Pennine Moors); alternatively Landrangers
103 (Blackburn & Burnley) and 109 (Manchester).
Distance: 9-13 miles depending on route taken. Bring a headtorch just
in case.
Route: From the car park, a scenic detour via the ruins of
Hollinshead Hall leads upwards to the top of Great Hill. From there,
a walk along Redmonds Edge and Spitlers Edge (much of the way on
stone flags) crosses the road at Hordern Stoops to reach the summit
of Winter Hill and its forest of TV and telecommunications antennae.
From there the way descends to Belmont village (pub stop if desired).
From Belmont, the shorter variation of the walk leads more directly
back to the car park along part of the Witton Weavers Way above the
Belmont Reservoir. However, weather and inclination permitting, we
can press on up and across Darwen Moor (possibly over White Hill) to
reach Darwen Tower (the Jubilee Tower on Darwen Hill, giving great
views to the north) before returning home.
February 13th/14th - Ty Powdwr Working Meet - James Hoyle
As normal a wide range of activities need to be done at the hut
including some work on the track and the walls leading to the hut as
well as a good clean and wash inside. Other jobs will be decided
upon based on the weather that weekend and the numbers who arrive.
Lunch will be provided and hopefully it will not be quite as tiring
as the last working party, leaving people to have plenty of fun on
the Sunday. Hope to see plenty of you there.
February 14th/21st - Norway Ice Climbing and Skiing - Craig Marsden
Heroes of Telelemark: Part 4 - Return to Rjukan
You've seen the pictures, read the meet reports, now live the experience.
Yes, we're off to Norway for the fourth successive year; heading for
Rjukan in the Telemark region. To quote the guidebook:
"Imagine a place with more than 150 waterfalls, almost all of which
have easy access and a stable climate that guarantees long periods of cold
weather. Add a local population that welcomes visiting ice climbers, a
dramatic World War II history and great skiing on offer for 'rest
days' and this is not just a place to dream about - it is Rjukan."
(Ice Climbing in Rjukan Norway - Rockfax 2005)
Rjukan has something for everyone; a valley full of ice climbs, the
compactbut attractive Gaustablikk downhill ski centre and the almost
limitless cross-country skiing opportunities of the vast Hardangervidda
plateau.
The ice climbing goes from 1 to 17 pitches; with most in the 1-4
pitch range. Walk-ins range 0 to 60 minutes, but the majority are less than
30 minutes. There's water ice (WI) up to WI7 and mixed climbing up to
M10, but the bulk is in the WI2 to WI5 range. For comparison WI3 is
approximately Scottish Grade IV.
Gaustablikk ski centre has 12 lifts, 28 downhill runs (longest
3.5km); 635m vertical drop, 80km x-country tracks, ski school and ski hire.
This year we have booked a 10 person cabin up at the Gaustablikk ski
centre (about 10 minutes drive up from the valley) with its fine views of the
Gaustatoppen and the Hardangervidda. So far we have four Marsdens and
two Maddisons and it would be good to fill the other four spaces. If more
people are interested we can advise on other options.
Ryanair flies from Liverpool to Oslo Torp. From there it is a 2.5-3
hour drive northwest to Rjukan. The Marsden/Maddison party flies out at
18:35 on Sunday 14th February and back at 2:50 on Sunday 21st February. We
recommend booking now before prices rise.
If you plan to come, please let Craig Marsden or Colin Maddison know
as soon as possible, so we can coordinate and advise on accommodation and
hire cars.
For previous meet reports, see the
September 2009 and
January 2009 Newsletters.
For more about the area and climbing see the Rjukan pages of:
VisitNorway.com
and Rockfax....
...or just rent a copy of 'Heroes of Telemark' to see Kirk Douglas
yomping around the area as a Norwegian saboteur!
For further information speak to Craig or Colin.
February 20th/21st - Blackrock Cottage - Sean Kelly
Black Rock Cottage can be found on the left of the A82, before you
enter into Glencoe fully, this is the cottage that so many people
shoot with the Buchaille Etive Mor in the background. You can park
across from it. It's on a small single track road that ends at the
Glencoe Ski Center www.glencoemountain.co.uk which has a
photo of the hut + a web cam if you want to check the snow before you
head up that way.
Accommodation: 10 beds with mattresses and some blankets. No camping
is allowed near the cottage. Facilities: Electric lighting and
cooking; microwave oven; utensils provided; coal fire; WC
Cost: 10 places @ £6pn. Can you please send cheques payable to the
Karabiner MC to the Hon Sec direct (Al Metelko) and please let me
know when you have done this so I can collate numbers. (8 spaces
left!)
The hut is situated in a brilliant area for Winter walking,
Ice-climbing or Skiing. Most importantly, there is a pub close by
(the Kingshouse Hotel). For those that don't know the area I can
provide ample details of just what is possible and do-able over the
weekend. I shall be up in the area for the preceeding week (staying
at the Alex Mac hut), and shall be at Blackrock Cottage sometime
after 4 on the Friday afternoon for early arrivals.
I am hoping to tackle Ben Lui Central Gully over the weekend and the
little Munro behind, having been turned back twice by appalling
weather and impossible river-crossing conditions last winter. As I
type this I note very heavy snow accumulations across the Highlands!
February 28th - Local Biking Meet - Katie Horgan
This is really local! Meet at the Forestry Commission Hurst Farm Offices,
Copper Lane, Stand, Whitefield M45 7TQ at 10am. It'll be a day of exploring
the Irwell Valley from Ringley (including a pub stop) down to Forest Bank in
Salford. Real mix of tracks with some wide, newly laid tracks, steps and muddy
descents and some single track as well. The route should be around 8 miles but
it can be exended and with the pub as well, we'll be out for around 4 hours.
March 6th/7th - Buttermere (FRCC Joint Meet) - Chris Thickett
The joint meet with the Fell and Rock CC will be held at the
Birkness Hut on the weekend of the 6/7 March 2010.
Birkness (GR NY186160) is situated in the Buttermere valley along
the lake and about a mile from the village where there are two good
pubs. Access via Keswick then take your pick of the Newlands,
Honister or Whinlatter Passes.
It will be most likely be a walking weekend (excellent area) but if
the weather is suitable then low-level crags such as Shepherds in
Borrowdale are not far away. I may organise an 'official' walk on the
Saturday, hoping to attract members from both clubs.
Nine male and six female places will be booked for KMC members and
guests at the hut at a cost of £5 per night. Pay me during the
weekend. Sign the book on arrival. Please book your place in advance
direct with me as per details in the handbook - by the Thursday as I
will be travelling up on Friday morning.
Hope to see you there, Chris Thickett.
March 14th - Stanage/Burbage Walk - Iain McCallum
Route: Bamford - Long Causeway - Stanage Edge - Higger Tor - Carl Wark -
Burbage - Longshaw Lodge - Grindleford Station - Leadmill Bridge -
Bamford.
Map: Explorer OL1 & OL24 Dark Peak Area & White Peak Areas.
Meet at 9.30am for a 9.45am start - Park in the dead end road off the
A6013 just south of Bamford Station (SK206825). Park at Bamford
Station 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 - Muddy March Hare - Katie Horgan
Darcy Lever Cricket Club, Hacken Lane, Bolton BL3 1SD.
Every year a short but very muddy trail race is held at Moses Gate Country Park in Bolton.
A KMC member, Katie Horgan, is the race organiser and every year she asks for volunteers from the
Club to help marshall, give out numbers and eat up left over cake! This isn't an official KMC meet
- that's on Saturday at Windgather - but if you can spare a few hours on Sunday morning from 8:30-12:30,
it would be very welcome. Of course, you could always do the run...
visit www.muddymarchhare.co.uk!
Anyone willing or able to help, please give Katie a call.
March 20th/27th - Naismith Hut (Scottish week long meet) - Andrew Croughton
This year I have booked the Naismith Hut from the SMC.
This is the latest hut for the SMC and is situated in Elphin in the
far North-West of Scotland. (NC2160711830), just North of Ullapool.
Surrounded by fantastic hills and spectacular views, this is one of
the most picturesque parts of Scotland.
Suilven is prominent from the hut and other hills of interest are Ben
Mor Coigach, Stac Pollaidh, Cul Beag, Cul Mor and Quinag. Not all
Munro's but all splendid hills in their own right.
We have six places reserved @ £8ppn strictly on a first come, first
served basis. Contact myself to reserve your place and make travel
arrangements.
If the weather is fair there are fantastic walks to be had, if
extremely cold some very remote and rarely tackled ice routes to be
had, and in the event of a freak heat wave some great rock routes to
be put up on Cul Mor's 900 foot cliffs, so something for everyone.
For more information please feel free to contact me:
July 24th/August 7th - Alpine Meet - the Mont Blanc Massif - Duncan Lee & Colin Maddison
I'm sure I don't have to say anything about this stunning range in
order to sell this meet so all I will say is that the planned
campsite is "Camping des Montets" (www.camping-montets.com) over the
Col de Montets from the hustle and bustle of the Chamonix valley.
Anyone who has climbed on the Vallorcine slabs has walked past the
campsite and will know that the nearest crag is well worth a visit
despite being a bit busy at times. The peaks at the northern end of
the Aiguilles Rouges are also accessed from here as are several newly
developed multi pitch routes on some of the crags in the side
valleys. There is also lots of fine walking in the vacinity of the
campsite as well as mountain biking, bouldering and horse riding.
Check out www.vallorcine.com for more details.
If all that is not enough it's only 20 minutes in the car, or a
couple of stops on the train, to the Chamonix valley and all that it
has to offer.
The campsite only has 50 pitches for tents so it may be a good idea
to pre book spots nearer the time. Otherwise there is a larger site
down the valley towards the Swiss border and the delights of the fine
crags at Barberine.
Feel free to contact either of us if you want to pick our brains
about the climbing and mountaineering in the area or just to let us
know that you fancy coming along.
January Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2010 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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