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March 2010 Meet Reports
October 25th - Rivington Mountain Biking - Heather Brooke
Members: Heather Brooke, Sue Brooke, Pete Hughes, Joe Flynn, Dave
Dillon, Jo and Mark Furniss (plus John Dobson).
As promised the sunshine was ordered and arrived on time. After a
brief hello from John and his road bike it was a step climb up to the
top of Rivington Pike followed by a gentle descend down to Yarrow
reservoir. Followed by a gentle ride over the moor and down to the
end of Anglezarke Reservoir. Fun was had by all watching Pete take
fighting lessons after misjudging a bump on the way back to Rivington
Barn Hall. Where we all had tea, cakes and a hot chocolate.
December 31st/January 3rd - Ty Powdwr New Year - Dave Bone
Members present: Dave Bone, Dave Wylie.
Someone should report on North Wales so at least you know what you
missed. I drove out to Conwy on Friday lunchtime, no problems there,
just for a couple of hours walk before continuing to the hut. Parking
at Sychnant, I headed for Tal-y-fan across the frozen wastes. Fine
going until the signs of human traffic were left behind, then it was
hard going - little signs of the path and the soft powder snow was at
the level of the Gorse bushes, and they didn't bear any more weight
than the snow. Passing one walker giving up, I made height on the
ridge side. Not long after brought to a halt by ever deepening snow,
at waist height with the waving tips of tufted grass hinting at what
was to come and a suspicious flat area on the starboard bow. About
turn, for a laborious return over the moor, then off to the hut.
The road through Deiniolen was clear, but turned to rutted, packed
snow-ice on the curve before Bus Stop (the circle was gritted for the
buses). The side road beyond was as expected - a sheet of packed ice
so left the car with several others off the turning circle, and
proceeded to the hut on foot - the track was completely impassable by
normal vehicles for the whole weekend. First person at the hut -
somewhat surprising. Still, everything seemed to work and whilst
cooking Dave turned up. Somewhere around 10, hopes of anyone else
stomping in faded. A quiet party for two...
Saturday proceeded to start fine with good hopes of visibility on the
tops so I went round to Ogwen, parking on the roadside below little
Tryfan (Dave W later tried a circuit S from Ogwen). Headed E parallel
to the A55, then crossed it in a snow shower, skirted the buildings
then contoured the snowy hillside. Had intended heading for Pen
Llthrig y Wrach, but the sight of the untracked snowy waste caused
yet another trimming of ambitious plans. Reckoning on the ridge
having thinner snow in the wind I overtook several parties on the
long ridge to Pen-yr-Helgi Du. Yes the going was easier here and the
views of snow covered hills were magnificent. Craig yr Ysfa looked
fine but no signs of climbers - there was little ice about over the
weekend, the snow had buried everything and locked it down at source
with no thawing. However, watching the tentative approach of others
on the descent to the col, I opted for crampons for a more efficient
traverse (and a bit of a climb) over the head of Craig yr Ysfa. On
now for Carnedd Llewelyn over deeper snow, the tops unfortunately now
sitting in wind driven cloud. After wandering about on the flat top,
as the wind filled it in, I failed to follow the supposedly well
trodden way, so time for navigational practice, dropping off the rim
and contouring round until the slope aspect led me off on the shallow
ridge to Carnedd Dafydd. Somewhere round this as the light dimmed I
checked the time and decided on a direct descent for Ogwen.
Negotiating the very badly parked cars on the roadside I drove past
Ogwen and returned to the hut by road and foot, finding Dave already
there and no-one else.
Glyders panorama from Pen yr Helgi Du.
Not so good on Sunday with an overcast sky, stronger wind and a hint
of a thaw on the way. Off through the Pass to the foot of the Watkin
path I went, planning on a Southern version of the Snowdon Horseshoe
(also too ambitious). Up the path to the waterfall, then cut NE
across the stone bridge on a little used path that rose attractively
through woods and contoured the slopes of Lliwedd. I was soon above
the snowline and once more battling with the drifts. Immediately past
the last mine buildings the drifts peaked, and I had to backtrack a
few times. Eventually just below the top of Gallt y Wenallt, I came
to a wall remnant, where, as the wind was now blasting ice spicules
at one, it was a suitable time for lunch in its shelter. It had taken
~2 hours to get this far! Now the thoughts were of when would I turn
back...
Onwards for Lliwedd, the cloud right down and not a soul to be seen
(nor much else - just when was the ridge going to start?). Just as I
hit the ridge and thought of heading straight home, the cloud lifted
and the wind eased, revealing a wonderfully snow clad Lliwedd (no
chance of Snowdon appearing though). Up to the first top and once
again the crampons made for more efficient progress, meeting people
for the first time, including a party bound together with ropes and
very stationary (why?). They were still in the same spot as I
bottomed on the col and the cloud came down again. I desultorily
headed for Snowdon but a check of the time showed in the conditions
that it'd be sunset by the earliest I could make it (even if
possible), and that the continuation towards Yr Aran was totally out.
Thus I decided to pick up the Watkin path and head down. However the
path was completely buried - this side of the mountain was the
dumping ground for all the wind blown snow and the slopes (what could
be seen of them) were near continuous, soft snow. Rarely have I
expended as much effort going downhill, just heading on a bearing for
the valley floor - I doubt that many would have reached the summit
this way. Somewhere near the bottom it started to snow, which turned
to sleet - the air was noticeably warmer. I squelched up to the car
at around 4 and had a bit of entertainment in the blizzard over the
Pass. Back at the hut it was a lonely evening as Dave had returned to
Manchester.
The Sunday dawned cold and sunny but with lenticular clouds sitting
on the hills, there was obviously a cold wind about, so with an early
return required I headed round to see Aber Falls. I would have liked
to have done a short circuit above the falls, but after an abortive
attempt at traversing the avalanche debris on the left side (at one
point narrowly missing sliding down either the outer or the inside of
the shell of snow), I opted to try some way to the right. Mistake -
more deep powder on top of heather etc. meant it took an hour to gain
~150m and I stopped, defeated, just below the powder cornice. I
settled for the return around the western rim of the valley on rock
hard ground, not without a few skids and bruises.
So where was the KMC? Hopefully having fun somewhere?
January 10th - Oldham Moors Walk - Dave Bone
Members Present: Dave Shotton, Bob Kelly, Dave Bone.
Guests: Andy Stratford.
Members hoping to meet: Dave Wylie.
This meet was in the midst of the big snows but while following the
forecasts through the week there did not seem to be a clear reason to
cancel the meet due to the weather at least. Conditions on the ground
looked interesting though with the first question, would we be able
to park?
We couldn't get into the original car park - a 3m high pile of snow
was in the way, and the access road was drifting over! So we parked
on the roadside in the village (the main road being kept clear by a
stream of ploughs), where the two Daves met Bob. We waited outside
the Pub for the last 2 likelies, thus meeting Andy on his first
(atypical) meet. At10:10, having given up on more attendees, we
started off down the hill - straight into the deep snow between the
walls. This was continually knee deep, and with plunges to greater
depths (the top of the wall gave slight respite, being rickety and
full of gaps), with the navigation with no reference points being
shot to hell as well, it thus took an hour to get the first mile done
to the bridge over the river. We nearly persuaded Andy to walk the
plank first 'bridge' as an initiation. From then on we stayed on the
roads, as the next track was an ocean of snow between the walls,
though the road had metre high drifts across it and no vehicular
access. I should say that the weather was 'OK' - very cloudy and
misty, generally dry, but with quite a bitter wind (conditions were
supposed to deteriorate later, hopefully towards the walk end).
Our next track was blocked by a 4m high pile, so we joined the
original route later - another wall enclosed, drift hell that led to
a major cross roads. It was now getting on for 12 and the way onto
the moor was a sea of white (and we were on the lee side of the
hills) so I dropped the original plan that was unworkable and stuck
to a short low level circuit - starting by heading for the A640 over
the field. This was another half mile of wading, past the reservoir
- I couldn't find the paths for the snow so we dropped into Denshaw
and took the A672 out to get some speed up. Then another footpath
sign led us into a trap - we were dropping in up to our waists and
there was barbed wire in there somewhere. Another route was
reluctantly abandoned and at 1330 we sheltered for lunch in a
collapsing hut (further collapse threatened by the farmer digging
snow out with his tractor on the bank above). So then it was back
into Denshaw and another road out to the pass - then picking up the
original route onto Crompton moor - the drifts had cornices here!
Once on the top the going was easier on scoured icy grass, and we met
the (only) 2 walkers of the day. We also met more massive drifts at
the next track that fortunately bore just enough weight to prevent a
full depth plunge. We were back at the cars at ~15:15 as the snow got
going. We made good our escape...
Once back at work I heard from Dave Wylie who had hoped to meet us
part way round. I enclose his account here to complete the day's
story. I think he may have been more determined (is that the right
word?) than the rest of us. Thanks to those who came along for an
interesting day.
Dave Wylie's walk
I set off from home at 10am and walked up from Hollingworth Lake, up
past Dry Mere, then cut over to the Pennine Way just North of the
M62. I went past Windy Hill and crossed the A672 at around Noon.
According to my calculations, I should then have encountered you
coming in the other direction somewhere in the vicinity of White
Hill. I continued South on the Pennine Way to where it crosses the
A640. I loitered there until about 1:15pm, in case your meet had been
delayed by the conditions, but there was no sign of you. There was no
indication that anyone else had been walking in that area either (no
footprints in the snow at all, neither North nor South of the road).
The only other person I saw was a mad cyclist trying to push his bike
through the snow up the (blocked and closed) A640...
If I had met you, then I would have joined your meet and gone back
North with you over White Hill again, down the ridge and then veered
off somewhere later to head back home.
As it was, I decided to make my walk into a circuit, so dropped down
the snowbound A640 a short distance and started off North along the
Pennine Bridleway. The snow on the track at this point had drifted to
at least 20 feet deep, so I had to detour slightly! I continued
North, past some of the "various reservoirs" before heading back over
to Hollingworth Lake and home.
I've done that circuit, or variations of it, many times in both
directions - but it has never been such hard work! It's about 12
miles and, normally, I'd estimate that it would take me less than
four hours. Yesterday it took me nearly six. Snow, ice and wind made it pretty
"interesting" and I was pretty tired by the time I got back home.
January 24th - Pot Scar - Duncan Lee
Members present: Heather Brooke, Colin Maddison and Duncan Lee.
Guest present: James Williams.
Glorious sunshine and dry rock, who could have imagined it could be
such a perfect day for climbing? Sadly I could but I was disturbed
from my idyllic dream by the plaintive wail of the baby!
In reality four very optimistic souls drove northwards through heavy
drizzle that only abated shortly before we arrived in Feizor. Once
there I pointed at a cloud and assured people that the crag was up
there somewhere. Colin pointed at the café and we all followed,
indulging in round one of tea and cakes as the mirk lifted. Thus the
crag was visible once we emerged from the café so we wandered up to
the scar past the impressive remnants of the previous weeks snow
drifts.
Amazingly there were actually patches of dry rock but sadly none of
these patches connected to give a dry route so we opted for the two
climbs that only looked slightly damp and consoled ourselves with the
fact that it was just nice to be outdoors for a change. Colin and Heb
made light work of the classic jug fest Equity (S **) whilst James
and I had a slightly more testing time on the lively Nirvana (VS 4C
*). A tricky but thankfully well protected little number, so well
protected in fact that James thoughtfully left a convenient wire in
for a grateful Colin and an extremely grateful Heb who was belaying
whilst contemplating the weight differential between the two. Shortly
afterwards she had "remembered why I don't climb outdoors in January"
as she was doubled over at the top of the crag racked with agonising
hot aches. A snow covered Ingleborough provided a fitting back drop.
A speedy recovery soon saw her leading Rebate (Vdiff) whilst I led
The Stone Soup (E1 5B*). Once everyone had followed that with varying
degrees of style and elegance we beat a retreat to the café for
round two.
January 29th/31st - Mill Cottage - Brian Street (+Andrew Croughton typing)
Members present: Katharine Bagshaw (G), Bob Kelly, Brian Street,
Andrew Croughton.
Day 1 - Friday
A glorious day! The day started off with blue skies, over the Lake
District, good icy conditions under foot with ample snow on the tops.
A quick accent of Sharp edge on Blencathra offered a good break in
the journey north to Mill cottage in Feshiebridge Cairngorm. The
start of the route was clear, just the odd patch of consolidated snow
and ice, leading to the frozen tarn just below the ridge proper,
despite having left my insoles back in Manchester inside my other
boots, it was not too arduous under foot.
After a quick stop to don crampons we set off over the ridge, while
the couple that had been following us from the top of the ascent path
stopped slightly longer in order to don harnesses, crampons, extra
gloves, sort out ice axes and generally faff for England.
As we progressed along the ridge it became obvious that ice axes were
not going to give much purchase on the thin covering of ice and
dusting of snow that covered the already highly polished and slippery
rock underneath, so we stopped to pose for a few pictures. As we
looked back down the ridge we could still see Mr. and Mrs. Faff,
faffing at the bottom of the ridge. They had enquired about the
possibility of further snow, on the way up, to which I had given them
that day's forecast.
It was at the final section of the ridge, for us, when we looked back
to see that Mr. And Mrs. Faff were still sat at the bottom of the
ridge that we considered it might have been better to give them the
next day's snow forecast instead, as they could well still be there
until then. As we finally neared the summit of Blencathra itself we
had great views across the Lake District and could see that most of
the summits still had a good covering of snow on them. Two seconds
later the wind chill dropped the temperature to well below freezing,
the clag came down with the speed of a blanket being spread over a
bed and suddenly we were in freezing, windblown, conditions with very
little visibility of any kind - must be time to stop for lunch!
After lunch we headed back down out of the clag via the broader
descent ridge and back to the car, glad to have had the crampons
still on our feet across the frozen turf, allowing a much easier
descent with very few slips, just the odd trip. As we had returned at
a reasonable hour we now headed to Keswick, in order to by some new
insoles, before continuing north, to Mill Cottage and the Cairngorms
on Saturday.
As we neared Aviemore, Bob Kelly rang to inform us that the approach
track to the hut was snowed in and he and Kath intended to drop off
their gear and park at the water sports centre about a mile away.
We decided to head to Aviemore for Haggis and chips as we had already
passed the junction for Inch. Bob headed in to Aviemore to collect
the key for the hut so they could return and get the fire going.
Brian decided as we arrived that the track was not that over snowed
and we headed down it to the hut, with the bottom of the car scraping
along the iced up track underneath. We reached the hut relatively
easily despite going slightly off track outside the hut door.
It was only after several minutes of pushing and shoving to get the
car back on to the previously worn tracks we were happy to leave the
car where it sat, (That's when it started to snow again, Doh!.) time
to get the beer and whisky out.
Day two - Saturday
Bob and Kath set off early for Bynack More, and the barns of Bynack,
while Brian and I decided a 8am lie in was called for before
intending to head off to Fiacail ridge and Corrie an Snechda for a
short day of scrambling in the expected snow and ice. It was not
until we had started the attempt to get the car back up the sloping
track that we realised our folly from the night before.
The track was cloaked in a fresh covering of snow, which concealed
the ice underneath. This combined with the high, compacted snow ridge
along the centre of the track gave way to an arduous hour and a half
of digging and pushing in order to stop the car grounding on the ice
and inch it up the incline. It was not until the final section of the
steepest part of the track that the distinctive smell of a burning
clutch signalled the demise of the car and the realisation that we
were not going to make it on to the hills that day. To add insult to
injury, it was looking like a glorious day to be up on a hill. We
waited for an hour for the recovery truck but they were struggling to
find our location, so Brian decided that we would attempt to get into
Aviemore where we could be found more readily.
The car was driveable but the road conditions did little to aid our
progress. When the recovery vehicle finally arrived from Inverness we
had already surmised that the option available to us were to:
A, have the car towed to the nearest garage to await repair on Monday
at the earliest. This would mean an extra day, waiting around, and no
guarantee that it would even be done by then.
B, try and drive the car back the next day and hope that what little
clutch activity we had would get us safely back to Manchester.
We decided on B and went to the pub. Whilst we sat in the Cairngorm
hotel we spied a couple of familiar faces heading towards the bar. It
was Brian and Ann, a local couple, to Aviemore, whom we had met while
skiing in Italy the previous year. So the silver lining to the day
was re-acquainting ourselves with friends we had not seen for a year.
(Plus Brian got a beer in which to drown his sorrows.)
Bob and Kath on the other hand had a much better day and managed an
ascent of Bynack More starting from the visitor centre car park at
Glenmore lodge in the light of a big full moon. The path from
Glenmore lodge was powder snow as they headed along the Pass of
Ryvoan. They then continued passed Lochan Uaine and east towards
Bynack stables and the river Nethy, before crossing the river and
following the path, falling into lots of snow covered holes, SE over
the lower shoulder of Bynack More and up to its highest point then
heading up the north ridge to the summit itself. From here they
headed back down to the corrie of Bynack Beg and under the shoulder
back into Strath Nethy, which they then followed back to the car park
at Glenmore lodge.
On her return to the hut Kath was glad of the shower, stating that it
was the greatest experience of the day. We all then spent the rest of
the evening cooking meals in the forlorn hope that the heat from the
ovens would warm the kitchen. It didn't, but the huge chunks of coal
burning away on the lounge stove generated plenty of heat keeping us
all warm for the night, whilst we drank wine and whisky and I typed
up the report for the day.
Day three - Sunday
Brian and I had resigned ourselves to the fact that Sunday would only
mean carting our gear to the top of the track where the car sat, and
hope we could nurse the car back to Manchester before what remained
of the clutch gave way totally. Fortunately (and surprisingly) - it
did!
Bob and Kath unsurprisingly had a better Sunday and were again away
pre-dawn to get another crisp moonlit walk in. They were up at the
Coire Cas car park at half eight and trogged (Bob's word but I like
it - BS) up and around to Coire an t'Sneachda. Visibility was not
good at that point and they could not clearly see the climbs but set
their minds on Jacobs ladder. The first effective pitch went
un-roped but as the gully narrowed, the rope was brought out because
of the amount of ice. After this pitch, the difficulty eased and the
rest of the climb was finished without the need for the rope.
Meanwhile, it had started to snow in the gully and as they topped out
they met high winds and no visibility at all - pretty much a white
out. They navigated around to the cairn at the top of Fiacail Coire
Cas with no drama but did manage to pick up a couple of young skiers
on the way who were heading off into the plateau thinking they were
heading back to the slopes. Having sent them on the right track bob
and Kath zipped down the ridge and were back at half past two ready
for a clear run back to Manchester
Summary
Bob Kelly - "Thank you for arranging - what turned out for Katharine
and I - a great meet".
Katharine Bagshaw - "Yes, thanks to you both, the hut was great too,
I'd for sure go there again".
Brian & Andrew - "Some you win and some you lose but we had an
excellent Friday, had a good rest, drank and ate well and of course
had great company. Also, the clutch was sorted and so nothing
broken that couldn't be fixed!"
February 7th - Lancashire Walk - Dave Shotton
Members: John Dobson, Jim and Sandy Gregson, Bob Kelly, Iain
McCallum, Dave Shotton, Keith Williams, Dave Wylie.
Guests: Margaret Baldock, Julien Bodard, Joe Dugdale, Ding Koy,
Julian Laidler, Julia Partington.
It was good to see a satisfying turnout (of both newcomers and
familiar faces) on the day, confounding early expectations! The
weather was overcast, with visibility becoming poor at times due to
mist on the tops, but at least it didn't rain.
We left the Crookfield Road car park just after 9.45 a.m. (almost on
time), passing through the plantation and halting only briefly by the
ruins of Hollinshead Hall, before crossing the A675 and heading on
upwards to the summit of Great Hill. After a quick refreshment stop
at the top, we pressed on before the imminent arrival of an even
larger party of walkers, following the stone flags along Spitlers
Edge, crossing the road at Hordern Stoops, and heading on up the
short but steep section to the summit of Winter Hill. By this time
thick mist had closed in to the extent that the TV and
telecommunications antennae were largely hidden from view even when
standing next to them! We carried on down the path to the A675 near
Belmont village, at which point Bob Kelly left us early as he had
remembered something important (though all turned out well in the
end, as he confirmed later).
There followed something of a magical mystery (de)tour down towards
the Ornamental Reservoir, involving a slightly unofficial incursion
on the back yard of the old Belmont Dye Works to reach Egerton Road,
from where footpaths and lanes led to Belmont Reservoir. The dam was
off limits due to construction works, so lunch was taken next to the
track leading up towards Longworth Moor. The track was then followed
past Higher Pasture House and on to the junction with the Witton
Weavers Way, where a breakaway group comprising Julia, Margaret, Joe
and John took a direct route back to the car park. The remaining
stalwarts however took a longer loop back over Longworth and Turton
Moors, pausing en route to investigate the remains of old mine
workings, farm buildings and the old tramway around the area known as
the Rabbit Warren. We then continued along paths between Turton and
Darwen Moors (largely devoid of other walkers), rejoining the Witton
Weavers Way before descending to lower ground just south of Turn
Lowe, and reaching the car park a little after 4 p.m. (Due to
restricted visibility and lack of inclination, Darwen Tower was left
for another day).
Total distance covered was about 12 miles (19 kilometres) for the
full route without shortcuts.
February 13th/14th - Hut Working Party - James Hoyle
Members present: James and Kasia Hoyle, Chris Williams, Dave Wylie,
Bob Kelly, Jo and Mark Furniss, John Castick, Iain McCallum.
A good turnout of familiar faces got lots done on the Saturday. Ty
Derelict had become unsafe so Chris, Dave and John knocked it down
carefully, leaving a neat and tidy shell in its place, helping us
avoid any liability claims. Meanwhile, Bob and Kasia cleaned and
tidied the hut with Bob's military past coming into its own as even
the brass got a good polish and came up gleaming. With the harsh
winter, attempts were made to maintain the steep section of track
which we spent some money on last summer. The ditch was dug out down
the side and bumps to prevent the gravel running down it were
heightened but don't worry we didn't go too high! A number of other
jobs were also completed but we finished at a good time after a good
day's work for a few beers and a sit around the fire which Chris had
purchased some new coals.
On Sunday many of us climbed Parsley Fern Gully which was in
fantastic knick and enjoyed a walk in very wintry weather down to Pen
y Pass. Other people did their own thing but I don't think the aches
and pains of Saturday had got the better of anyone this time around
so everyone enjoyed doing something.
Many thanks to all those who helped out. It is really appreciated
and I hope you had a good time too.
March Newsletter Index.
Copyright © 2010 Karabiner Mountaineering Club
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