Home

Programme

Walking

Climbing

Backpack

Links

Newsletter

Gallery

Charities

Email

Meetings

Committee

FAQ's

NEWSLETTER 15          December 2005

Edited by Colin Green

MEMBERSHIP

This is now overdue and should be paid ASAP to the treasurer Eileen Walsh.  Cheques (£15) payable to Nuneaton Mountaineering Club please.  Pay now as you know it makes sense, after all you may not get Newsletter 16 if you don’t!

PROGRAMME DECEMBER 2005 – FEBRUARY 2006  Matt Liggins

December 10^th                      White peak. Dovedale / Milldale area with David

January 14^th and 15^th            Camping / Bothy weekend in North Wales with David.

February 1^st (Wednesday)   Committee Meeting at Eileen’s house.

February 11^th                         Brecon Beacons with Nick.

February 16^th to 20^th             Scottish Highlands.  Crianlarich Youth Hostel with Matt.

March11^th                               Black Mountains with Matt.

April 7^th – 9th                         Mid Wales and Offas Dyke weekend based at Kington Youth Hostel with Colin.

A chance to do those hard to get at mountains of mid Wales.

Or alternatively have a day walk in the area.

May 12^th – 14^th                      North Yorkshire Coast and Moors.  Youth Hostel trip with Eileen.

June 9^th – 11^th                       Lake District.  Eskdale. Camping with Matt.

July 7^th – 9^th                           Snowdonia. Climbing and scrambling. Camping in the Ogwen valley area with Les.

August 11^th – 13^th                 Howgills.  Camping with Keith & Michele.

Other Events - all welcome!

March.                                                Quiz night in aid of Snowdonia mountain rescue. Date TBA.

No other fixed dates as yet, but ideas include:

Poland - High Tatra’s.  Austria - Alpine Huts.  Greece - Mt Olympus.

Climbing at Markfield Quarry!     Starting May 2006

(Weather dependant)           Tuesday Evening’s.  Details for the following week at the Thursday night meet.

And there’s much more than this going on.  Visit us on a Thursday at Old Ed’s Rugby Club, Weddington for impromptu activities, or ring Andrew on 01827  717 648 or Matt on  024 76 758322 if you can’t get down. And don’t forget our website at www.nunmc.org

AGM

Full minutes are available from Andrew but briefly Debra Commins becomes Vice Chair replacing Eileen Walsh who moves to become Treasurer following Nick Barr stepping down as Treasurer after 4 years. This continues an unwritten tradition that committee members move to a new post or step down after a few years so there is mobility on the committee. 

Brian Rogers also becomes Quartermaster so if you need any gear make a note of his number and make sure you leave enough time to be able to contact him and collect equipment. 

Membership goes up to £15.  This is because the BMC have been increasing their fees and also to build up a reserve so that deposits and full payments for hostels etc. don’t have to come out of the pockets of individual members.  With more members going on weekend trips and full payment often being required a lot of money needs to be paid up front.

The BMC Child Protection Policy was adopted. Concerns were expressed by the committee and ordinary members but there was little option as it takes a brave club to decline the advice of its national governing body.  Without the policy, and in the unlikely event of an allegation or claim, the insurance would probably be invalid and the club and its officers would be on their own.

In terms of venue the Fleur de Lys proved not to be the answer so we will stay at the Old Edwardians Rugby Club for the time being whilst actively looking for another venue.  So, any ideas?

There was also a discussion about smoking.  The following resolution was passed.  ‘The Club requires that members do not smoke at meetings’.

NEW VENUE

As said in the notes to the A.G.M. we are actively looking for a new venue.  The Fleur de Lys will not do, though we agreed it would be suitable for a one off event.  For the present we remain at the Old Edwardians Rugby Club.  Please all have a look around and make suggestions to any committee member.  It would be nice if it was free, cosy, warm, smoke free, quiet, had good beer, helpful landlord, open until 10.30pm…….(please add and/or delete as required).

By way of postscript it’s probably a good idea that we didn’t move to the Fleur as it closed on 17^th November and at the time of writing has not re-opened. A plausible explanation of why it has closed is presently in my possession. However, I’ll resist publishing it here in case it’s not entirely true and it catches the attention of m’learned friends.

ANDREW’S POSER   Andrew Holder

Question: What is big and useful and rimes with ice? (Answer on back page.)

COMING UP - DECEMBER 10^th PEAK DISTRICT WITH DAVID

In anticipation of a cold winter’s day and being reasonably close to Christmas, we shall be looking for just a day’s walk with a few options depending on how we feel.

We shall aim to meet for about 9.15 to 9.30 at the car park at the southern end of Dovedale (there is a parking fee).  The walk will initially go across fields past the Izaak Walton Hotel, Bunster Hill, then down to a minor road leading to Alstonefield.  At this point, if the weather is not too good we shall descend to Milldale.  If the weather is reasonable we shall continue to the northern end of Beresford Dale across the fields. The return will then be down Wolfscote Dale, Milldale and Dovedale.  This is a very pleasant walk without any great effort and can be most picturesque in the winter months.  Approximately 12 miles with no significant ascent.

COMING UP - JANUARY 14^th-15^th 2006 BOTHYING IN WALES WITH DAVID

The cars will be left at a small remote car park at the end of a road below Foel Dduarth or at the car park close to Aber Falls. Everything will depend on the weather and snow conditions.  We shall take advantage of one of two valleys and if possible I would like to consider Llwytmor or Foel-fras, Garnedd Uchaf and Foel Grath descending to the bothy before dark.

The Sunday return will be back up the hill to Drum, and down another way, mostly on a track.

This bothy was visited in the summer and a number of photographs taken which shall be presented to members in December.  The accommodation is basic, and is possibly only large enough for about five persons in the sleeping area. There is a risk that others may be there as well.  I will therefore also be taking with me a small tent - just in case.

COMING UP - FEBRUARY 16^th-20^th CRIANLARICH WITH MATT

This is now booked with a group having arranged to fly and others to travel by car.  It is still possible to go to Crianlarich but you’ll now need to take the initiative and book the hostel independently and also to either fit in with an existing group to travel or to make your own arrangements.

SOCIAL PROGRAMME        Michele

14^th  January – 26^th March 2006 at Nuneaton Art Gallery, Riversley Park.  Imaging Everest: The Sherpa’s Tale

An exciting Royal Geographical Society exhibition, that documents over thirty years of Himalayan exploration from 1921-1953. Breathtaking images show precarious crossings of crevasses and ridges, and iconic images of Tenzing Norgay with Edmund Hillary atop Everest.

WEB SITE

Keith K tells me that he has updated the website committee details, added the latest newsletter and changed the e-mails so we don’t get as much spam.  More pictures of members are needed doing lots of interesting things in places far and near.  So, all you members with digital cameras get clicking please.  We also need more links and more content so can everyone have a look at the site and do their best to make a contribution.

EDITORIAL

Many thanks to all who have made contributions great and small towards this and other newsletters.  Articles are most welcome whether factual or opinion, but also snippets and an update as to what you have been up to are also sought. Contributions from those we don’t see too often are also quite nice as it’s a way to keep in touch.  Don’t worry if writing is not your natural environment as I can always tidy it up or mess it about if you wish me to.  E-mails with material for the newsletter also keep the morale of the Editor high as it means that the newsletter is being read and the readership care about it.  So, let’s have plenty of input especially from those who have not yet taken the plunge and sent something in (you know who you are).  Make it your first resolution for 2006.  Send stuff to colin now (try coiln @ nunmc.org.  (without spaces))

SUPER-SAVER RETURN TO OSTEND Part 2        Steve Ward

Seafaring tales of the Ward’s and Keith Hilton aboard ‘Tigger Too’  Following the adoption of the BMC Child Protection policy please refrain from reading further if you are under aged or a vulnerable adult.

Part 1 can be found in Newsletter 14

Going ashore is from off the bow of ‘Tigger Too’, actually. Climbing outside the pulpit and onto the anchor before stepping, one big stride, to the pontoon.  The bars serve Jupiter or Stella and we are sated. 

Ostend is cosmopolitan, neopolitan, café culture at its best.  Walking around the streets, passing the countless cranes as Ostend is built and rebuilt around you and yet there is no traffic chaos of an English city or town.  Town squares proliferate and we sit in the sun drinking rodenbach (a wine fortified lager) all that fruit and just right for breakfast! We order our duty free from the RNSYC and it’s delivered to the yacht from the bonded warehouse; we eat well, we drink too much. Walk the streets including the red light district though we are unaware at this time; spend the euros we should have bought here (the exchange rate is better!) look at the sculptures, statues, modern art and memorials. Eat Flemish stew, steak, kip, listen to accordions and watch Willie Carson being thrown out of Ron’s Bar. It must have been him!  Scottish, small, Willie Carsonesque.  But really, really drunk.  Two days later we have to slip moorings again.

The Douanier are at the marina as we ready ‘Tigger Too’. Custom officials; so we allow them time to se us, making out we aren’t trying to escape before they arrive. Casually stowing shore cables, undoing sail covers and preparing halyards and sheets.  Keith’s passport - Convict No 1, on America’s most wanted list; mine – Columbian Drugs Baron; Julie’s – Gangsters Moll.  They all pass scrutiny and the boat is free to leave; contraband aboard and not stored anywhere bonded as it should be!  20:30 Belgian time, time to go.  It should be a force 4-5, south, south-westerly, good for giving us a beam reach all he way home, and it is for awhile.  Within an hour we have a force 6 and the bows dig deep throwing flumes of water over the top of the spray hood.

The radio springs to life…

‘English yacht on heading of 321˚ from Ostend, this is Ostend traffic, over?’

We are heading 321º out of Ostend so we respond.

Ostend, Ostend, this is Yacht ‘Tigger Too, Titter Too, over’.

After spelling the name phonetically, and asserting our pleasure status (not commercial) we are informed that our lights are wrong.  We have an all round red masthead showing. It’s still too light to make out what is actually going on on the top of the mast under full sail so we revert to nav lights fore and aft to placate the controller.  He replies that he will help us through his district as we are new to the area.  And so starts a sequence of radio conversations; us giving our position at regular, inopportune moments in heavy seas with a three metre swell and winds to force 7 as we are monitored from Belgian waters.  Some time later as night befell, we see a yacht on the same course as us with an all round masthead light (whoops! wrong yacht Ostend!). Our tricolour masthead goes back on and Ostend wishes us a pleasant sail into the teeth of a gale.

At Twin we rock and roll, skate along, flumes of white spray, ghostly images in the dark.  Metres above us, below us and all about and we find fog!  Our visibility is cut down to under half a nautical mile.  Julie sits on the engine cover in the companion way and scans the radar. 

‘Ship 2 nautical miles dead ahead!’  Nothing. 

‘It’s still there 1 ½ nautical miles slightly on the port bow!’ Nothing.

‘1 nautical mile dead ahead!’

‘ ½  a nautical mile dead ahead!’

What the hell is going on!  Suddenly this small thing comes out of the fog on a collision course, except it’s not small any more, it’s bloody big!  And we can’t tell where it’s going.  I switch the auto helm to standby and turn starboard very quickly.

‘ ¼ nautical mile…it’s with us!’ 

We find ourselves on the same course as a Ferryways container ship called ‘Anglican Way’.  Keith spots a green light and we know where she’s going at last (a couple of hundred metres away).  Turn starboard again and the walnuts I’ve just cracked between my arse cheeks are allowed to fall away.  Apparently, Anglian Way has been very naughty, cutting out of the shipping lanes against the traffic and with no radar and a lax watch.  Her radar switched on when she was about ¼ nautical mile from us, tut, tut!  Two minutes later, she was off our screen still heading across and towards who knows what.  Safe, we revert to watches, Keith at the helm for many a mile.

‘Steve? Steve?

I rouse from that half sleep, half dream state.  ‘Yep?’

‘There’s a bloody big Warship on a convergent course!’

I arrive on deck in the morning pre dawn light.  ‘What’s it doing?’  It’s keeping at our speed, about 5 ½ knots! Converging 20˚ to port and we show her we don’t want to hit her or, if we’re lucky, scratch her. She steams up and off.  And so it finally comes to an end.  North-east Gunfleet, Medusa then Languard and for an hour I sleep, Keith and Julie at the helm on watch.

Woolverstone marina at 12.45 hours Belgian time, 11.45 BST, with a tale to tell of derring do’s on the high sees.  Bombay sapphire gin and a meal in the Schooner Club before bed. And afterwards you realise, you’ve never been so free!  I’ll sail anywhere with that crew!

Steve Ward, Julie Ward and Keith Hilton on their first channel crossing.

Early next year the Hollywood blockbuster based on the epic crossing will be seen in British cinemas.  A DreamWorks Corporation spokesperson said it was a faithful representation in every way with particular care being paid to detail and authenticity.  Asked by’ Film 2005’ critic Jonathan Ross how a group of mature Brits could be played by a cast including two Americans? (Johnny Depp, Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom) the spokesperson said, ‘Gee, are there only two Americans?’  Furthermore Jonathan Ross questioned how a trip from Woolverstone to Ostend could be represented by one from Hawaii to Tahiti, as seen in the film, with the Pacific Ocean doubling as the English Channel.  Also the scene with half crazed phantom pirates attempting murder, pillage, rape and other iniquities seemed to be missing from Steve Ward’s text. Bemused the spokesperson said that he understood  there had been a few tweaks to the original script but only for artistic purposes in order to make it understandable to an American audience, and that everything had been dealt with sensitively.  A book based on the film (not the original story for God’s sake) is on sale now at all good bookshops from $15.99 US or £29.99 UK.   Ed.

FAN GYHIRYCH   Ace reporter ‘Arctic’ Willie interviewed Andrew Holder for the NMC.

Arctic:             Why this one?  Why now?

Andrew:          I’d seen Fan Gyhirych many times from the Brecon to Swansea road and it always looked beautiful.  Nick and I once went up the Western slopes    navigating.  In the past, access has been restricted to one or two permissive paths, courtesy of the Cnewr Estate.  But thanks to the CroW Act the upland parts of Fforest Fawr are opened up to responsible walkers     now.

Arctic:             What’s it like?

Andrew:          Like a smaller Pen y Fan.  There’s the same steep, North-facing concave escarpment with the horizontal banding, and a 360° view from the top.

Arctic:             Any wildlife?

Andrew:          Ravens, the odd red kite and a possible peregrine. The only flowers were the tiny yellow tormentil.  The first mushrooms of Autumn were growing on the dung from the wild ponies.

Arctic:             Tell me about the view.

Andrew:          Southward to the Gower and the Bristol Channel, East to Fan Nedd, the Beacons, the Black Mountains and the Malverns.  North to the Eppynt and the Sennybridge Firing Range. The oddest thing is probably the German village in the far distance.  It was built by the Army to give NATO troops practice in street fighting at a time when we believed the next war would be fought against the forces of the Warsaw Pact across the plains of central Germany.  And then round to the West is the Camarthenshire Fan, living up to its other name, the Black Mountain, when it was silhouetted against the evening sky.  Finally, the Preseli Mountains of Pembrokeshire in the far West.

Arctic:             Overall satisfaction rating with the walk?  Marks out of ten?

Andrew:          12.4.  It was brilliant.  If you start from Crai the walk is very manageable, but you could link up across wild country with the Beacons to the East or to the Camarthenshire Fan and Fan Hir in the West to make a splendid extended walk.

Arctic:             Unique selling point?

Andrew:          None really, except that on a sunny Saturday in August I never saw another person (even through binoculars) the whole time. Nothing against people, but sometimes you appreciate upland country best when you’re on your own.  The whole region was empty and peaceful.  Don’t tell your friends.

Arctic:             Any final thoughts?

Andrew:          It’s interesting to think about just how important this part of Wales has been in the development of rock.

Arctic:             What?

Andrew:          Not many people know that Elddis Preseli was born in a village near here in 1935.  When he began his musical career at Llandovery Eisteddfod at the age of seven he adopted the bardic name of Elddis ap Elddis, or Elddis son of Elddis. After the family emigrated to the United States twelve months later this was anglicised to the more familiar Elvis the Pelvis at the insistence of Memphis Recording Studios.

Arctic:             That’s bollocks.

Andrew:          Well spotted.  Fair cop Arctic.  Not much gets past you. The rest was all true, though.

Arctic:             Thanks for agreeing to talk to us.

Andrew:          It’s been a pleasure.  Good luck with your great magazine.

©  Arctic Willie MMV.           Alle Rechte vorbehalten.  Tous droits réservés.  World copyright reserved.

CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Debra Commins
No plastics in micro.  No plastic wrap in micro.  No water bottles in freezer.  

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in their newsletters worth noting.

This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Centre.

Dioxin Carcinogens cause cancer, especially breast cancer.  Don't freeze your plastic water bottles with water as this also releases dioxins in the plastic.
Dr. Edward Fujimoto from Castle hospital was on a TV programme explaining this health hazard.  (He is the manager of the Wellness Programme at the hospital.)
He was talking about dioxins and how bad they are for us.  He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.  This applies to foods that contain fat.  He said that the combination of fat, high heat and plastics releases dioxins into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.  Dioxins are carcinogens and highly toxic to the cells of our bodies.  Instead, he recommends using glass, Corning Ware, or ceramic containers for heating food.  You get the same results, without the dioxins.
So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.  Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper.  It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.  He said we might remember when some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper.  The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.
To add to this, Saran wrap placed over foods as they are nuked, with the high heat, actually drips poisonous toxins into the food, use paper towels.

John Hopkins University is in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and has a specialist Cancer research unit.

LLANBEDR 14^th – 16^th October   Colin Green

An excellent turn out of 15 members had a fine weekend in the Rhinogs and pottering around doing other things.  From an organisational point of view I had to put a lot of money up front but thanks to all as everyone paid up in good time.  Speaking to the hostel was a nightmare as the warden was on holiday and even as I arrived on the Friday they still hadn’t opened the envelope with my cheque which had been sent two weeks before! Perhaps there should also be an amendment in the YHA handbook as one of the features of Llanbedr seems to be that the local youth gather outside the building, on this occasion yacking away until 2am!

Otherwise all seemed to go well though no consensus developed over arrangements for Saturday evening meal as Plan A – the pub, brought mixed reviews.  Plan B – hostel meal, they weren’t doing any; so Plans C & D emerged which involved the local restaurant and bringing back Chinese food to the hostel.

The level of banter proved to be high exemplified by a conversation on Friday evening initiated by a comment on Extreme Ironing.  This developed into a general treatise on the merits or otherwise of ironing which seemed to go on a bit, though it eventually flattened out.

Len also taught several of us a few words of the Welsh language though the revelation that the iconic Welsh patriotic song ‘Sospan Fach’ often heard before Rugby internationals is actually about a little saucepan and a big saucepan rather deflates the romantic image of thousands of people singing in close harmony before their heroes do battle with the foe. I’d always imagined legendry tales of Llewellyn the Great or Owain Glyn Dŵr heroically fending off the wicked English in the style of ‘Flower of Scotland’, but hey! who am I to mess around with an ancient culture and its treasured hymns.  After all, we have ‘God Save the Queen’.

Friday

Colin and Ian C arrived in time to tackle Moel Ysgyfarnogod and Foel Penolau from the west.  The track was very useful across bouldery ground covered in heather and there was plenty of interesting rock scenery higher up.  Foel Penolau though flat on top was surrounded by crags with best access up and down the same way.  Interestingly Matt and Ian A were just behind us on the same route and though they shouted and waved (clearly half-heartedly) we heard and saw nothing. After a few deviations to avoid the steepest ground we regained the track and only back at the starting point realised that the van with ladders on top was Ian’s.

Saturday

Colin, Len, Tony, Sheila and Ian C set off from Cwm Nantcol for Rhinog Fawr 720m.  Higher up there was mist and quite strong winds as we crouched behind the summit cairn. Descending on a track which took us quite a long way to the east we moved back west through some splendid rock scenery and into warm sunshine.  The descent was slow and down to about 350m, leaving a significant re-ascent up steep heather towards Rhinog Fach 712m.  Len began to suffer on the ascent but eventually made the top before we moved off to the dip before Y Llethr.  On the ascent we met Keith and Michele on the way down with news that they had passed the other group who were ahead of us.  On Y Llethr 756m the highest in the area there was no further talk of any more ascents and we descended on easy grass along a wall to the top of a track which returned us to Cwm Nantcol where we again passed Keith and Michele going the other way.

Meanwhile  from just along the valley Keith and Michele traversed around the flanks of Moelfre to follow the old road across the Afon Ysgethin to the main ridge of the Rhinogs in the south.  Bagging new hills was of course just co-incidental as the two Diffwys tops, Crib-y-rhiw and Y Llethr were reached.  Once off the grass and onto the rock and heather the going became slow as a descent was made back to Cwm Nantcol.

And at the same time Matt, Ian A, Debra, Andrew, Alistair, Kimberley, Mark and Eileen also starting from Cwm Nantcol climbed to Llyn Hywel with Matt no doubt pointing out the location of our October 2002 backpacking overnight on the edge of the lake.  From here Rhinog Fach was climbed before steps were re-traced and Y Llethr ascended.  Alert readers will no doubt now realise that at some stage all fifteen of us climbed Y Llethr on this day. But were our team finished here? By golly, No.  Moving on Crib-y-rhiw the two Diffwys tops were also taken in (was this Matt’s idea?) before a descent and re-ascent was made to reach the top of the zig zag track that led to Cwm Nantcol.

Sunday

Keith and Michele, Len, Eileen, Tony, Ian C, Sheila, Mark and Colin drove around to the south-east of the Rhinogs to tackle Y Garn 620m. From Ganllwyd on a mild day with broken cloud the group wended its way through the forest and up by the old gold mines to a wall which was followed to within half a mile of the summit.  On top it was still generally mild but breezy with hazy views.  Descending by a wall all went well until within sight of easy ground we lost the route and dropped down broken rock steps in woodland and eventually onto the remains of a felled forest covered in broken stumps, branches and brambles. Eventually we made the track which was followed mostly by the outward route to Ganllwyd.

Meanwhile Alistair and Kimberley went to Porthmadog where word has it there was kite boarding on the beach.  Can we all come next time?  Andrew and Debra had a morning pottering on the beach too in the vicinity of Shell Island.  Matt and Ian ended up in Betwys-y-Coed where it is understood that a certain person purchased a copy of ‘The Mountains of England and Wales, Volume 1 Wales’ by John and Ann Nuttall.  Clearly this is for coffee table use and no assumption whatsoever should be made that certain hills contained within the book are now circled.  Matt has now clearly ‘outed’ himself as a Nuttall bagger - and after all he said only as recently as 27^th August when myself Keith and Michele walked off piste to collect an outlying top in the Carnedds.  Nevertheless this road to Damascus (or maybe Capel Curig) conversion can’t be all bad provided that Matt keeps proper records or he’ll end up doing what he did on Saturday and repeating hills he’s already done once without realising it. 

Many thanks to all who attended and to all the drivers.

ROUND-UP FOR SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER

Walking in Devon – Eileen Walsh

As most of you know, Derek and I own a caravan in Paignton, Devon. So we have set ourselves the goal of walking the south-west coastal path from Exeter to Plymouth.

During the two weeks we spent down there in August and September we accomplished about one third of the route - Exeter to Dartmouth.  Not mountains I know but some very interesting terrain with plenty of ups and downs, spectacular views, and loads of interesting things on the way.  We would have probably got more done but as we are both keen bird watchers we have frequent stops on the way to look at the abundant wildlife in the area.

We are back down there next week (19-24 November) so hope to walk, weather permitting, another leg of the journey.

***We do hire our caravan out when we are not using it, so if anyone is interested let me know.***

Pembrokeshire – September/October 2005   Keith and Michele Kondakor

Keith and Michele spent 5 days in Pembrokeshire with 4 days walking along various sections of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.  The sections covered were from Poppit Sands to Lower Fishguard (2 day walks) and from Whitesands Bay near St Davids as far as Newgale Beach. Some sections were very easy walking but the most northerly section was quite rugged and testing.  There were some splendid views and plenty of wildlife, including seals and porpoises.  With the Preseli Hills just inland, there is plenty in the area for a good trip.

October 8^th Climbing Wall

Antony, Keith, Michele, Colin and Debra were at Warwick University climbing wall.  My fingers and arms tell me that it’s been too long since I’ve been.  The price has also shot up.

October 29^th Tryfan   David Foster writes

Les, Mo and David made an ascent of Tryfan via the north ridge. This was a longer than normal scramble, getting onto the rock lower than one normally attempts.  The rock was slippy and dangerous in many places, requiring extra care. Somewhat surprisingly, there were large numbers of scramblers making it almost crowded at the top.  The wind was pretty strong before we started, and picked up as we neared the top.  On coming down the south ridge the wind increased and became dangerous.  A good decision was made to make our way down to Ogwen Cottage as the wind was blowing people over at that stage with heavy rain coming in a few minutes later.

The weather forecast from http://www.mwis.org.uk/forecasts.php was spot on.  955 metres of ascent and 6 hours.

November 5^th Climbing Wall

Keith, Michele and Colin were at the wall.  Personally only marginally more distinguished than my visit in October but enjoyable all the same.

November 5^th Grindleford

Nick had his first half day since breaking his shoulder. Froggatt Edge and White Edge were visited along with Longshaw and Millstone Edge.

November 6^th Grindleford

Never one to do things by halves Nick was at it again and from the same location.  This time Millstone Edge was explored along with various quarry levels.

November 26^th Grindleford

Nick likes Grindleford but this time he took Colin along by way of variation.  Noteworthy before even a step was trod were Nick’s brand new boots and there was a smart looking yellow pole too.  From Froggatt Edge a way was found onto White Edge across frozen ground before moving on to Higger Tor and Over Owler Tor.  Afterwards a return was made via Millstone Edge to the café at Grindleford where there was a welcome cup of tea and some amusement at the proliferation of warning notices.  They’re almost worth recording as collectors items as I doubt there’s a better selection west of the Pecos (or north, south and east for that matter).  Unless of course you know better?

SCOTLAND 22^nd – 29^th October     Colin Green

A blow by blow account could take some time so I’ll focus on the interesting (well in my opinion at least) and skip some of the rest. Edzell in the south-east Cairngorm was the base but is a bit off the beaten track for most hillwalkers.  A cottage with friends Trevor and Sue and easy access for Glen Esk and the other Angus Glens meant there were plenty of hills for the week.  The journey up was 430 miles from Nuneaton and there was even time for the small hill of Dumyat near Stirling on the way.   

Mount Battock 778m was climbed on Sunday.  The first snow of winter covered all the main tops and the summit at just after 1pm meant it was my 600^th Marilyn hill.  I won’t go into Marilyn’s here but take my word for it that 600 different hills is a lot.  The next day it rained steadily from dawn till dusk.  It would have been easy to stay in but we went out into a forest to test the Paramo, and all in all it proved to be a great success. Mind you it’s surprising just how wet you and your rucksack can get in 3 ½ hours, even if it is only on the outside.

Hunt Hill was a very interesting day.  The sun shone and it was quite warm as we walked for just over an hour down an estate track.  Then a stalker pulled up in his land rover and having established where we were headed announced that Hunt Hill was closed for hind culling.  There followed a very interesting discussion.  Being regulars in the Highlands we knew that the main stag stalking season finished on 21^st October which is why we chose this week. He countered with the view that hind culling could continue until 21^st February.  We mentioned the new Open Access.  He said OK but that’s responsible access.  We enquired whether responsible open access meant on the second Monday of each month provided it wasn’t a leap year.  After all this estate claimed stalking from 1^st July to 21^st February.  You only have to raise the issue of lambing, bird nesting and a bit of tree felling and there’s not much left.  We asked what if we went anyway.  He said there were men with high velocity rifles on the hill who would not be happy to see us and though there would be no violence, unless we were accidentally shot, forthright words would be exchanged.  Disappointed we promised to adopt Plan B and he moved on, but with the recent rain this was much restricted as the rivers were in spate. Interestingly 15 minutes later as we were still pondering what to do he returned with the news that it was OK and we could continue.  How refreshing and we thanked him but this kind action by a gamekeeper is about as common as a convoy of tractors and caravans pulling over on the long and winding road.  It was well worth it as the gorge of the Water of Unich was wonderful in full spate with blue skies and warm sunshine for the ascent.

Wednesday I went to Brechin, the nearest town.  Even visiting the cathedral with its interesting Irish round tower, an hour was more than sufficient for the sights of Brechin. The next day we went for Mount Keen, a Munro we last did in 1989 (how time flies) having already established from the man in the land rover that there would be no men with guns on the hill. On top it was misty and positively blustery but Trevor’s wind meter only registered an average of 28 mph with gusts of up to 34 mph.  We then did a Trevor, Sue and Colin which is basically to turn a reasonable day into a trawl for extra tops and summits all of which are a long way from each other and surrounded by heather and bog.

On the final day we did separate hills.  T & S can’t be doing summits they’ve already got on consecutive days, so I went for Hill of Wirren 678m by myself and they went to get wet elsewhere.  On the summit of Wirren my boot got hooked on the top wire of a fence and I couldn’t get my leg over in time (as Aggers once said to Johnners about Beefy) so I fell flat on my face and got covered in peat.  In misty and blustery conditions there was no going on so I descended into the rain.  A young Golden Eagle not too far away brightened things up and there was even a cheery conversation with a local farmer, though to be honest I didn’t quite catch all he said. 

BELL COTTAGE, LAKE DISTRICT 11^th-13^th November

Seventeen members made it to Bell Cottage which is at about 270m above the village of Glenridding on the Greenside Road.  Firstly, many thanks and congratulations to Eileen who organised not only the weekend but also an excellent Saturday evening meal at the cottage.  With the bar set so high it’s to be hoped that others don’t get put off from taking on the responsibility of organising future weekend trips.

The tradition of consuming copious amounts of inexpensive whisky seems to be establishing itself, while for those who like their pubs; independent research established that the Travellers Rest is 18 minutes on foot from Bell Cottage, though on the return you do have to walk uphill.  The pub of choice for most members however was the Lakeside Inn where several had a Friday evening meal, some saw England beat Australia at rugby (how New Zealand did is still a mystery) and others saw England beat Argentina at football.  Yipee.  The open fire was also a hit with only minimal conflict between those who wanted more wood on the fire and those who were too hot.  Killjoys.

David Foster adds.  Bell Cottage was a really good find from Eileen who organised everything to perfection. The meal she and Debra cooked was very well received.  It was nice to have a real fire adding to the atmosphere. Sleeping on the stone floor for two nights was acceptable except for Keith Hilton’s snoring.  Next time I will take a spare pillow to smother him and put him out of my misery.  Otherwise a very successful weekend.

Friday                                    Generally very wet and windy

David Foster writes.  Matt, Les, Mo and David travelled up on the Friday morning.  The weather forecast was really bad, with strong winds of a constant 50 plus, gusting to 90 mph on the tops.  As we drove towards Ullswater the lake was white with waves heading towards us lapping over the road causing local flooding.  We wisely decided to abort any thought of going ‘high’ and instead stopped at besides Ullswater to walk to a waterfall (Aira Force) which was worthwhile as the stream was in spate with good photo’s being taken.  We proceeded to the top of Gowborrow Fell and Great Meldrum in increasing wind.  It was too windy on top to take a photo of the trig point for Colin, as this is one that he had not ‘bagged’.  Continuing for a short distance we contoured around the hill back to the car and had a drink in Glenridding.  4 hours, 650m.

Or try this version from Matt Liggins if you prefer. Driving through Pooley Bridge looking out on a very angry Ullswater with waves from the lake adding to the floods caused by the torrential rain, it occurred to us that today would be a good day for waterfalls. Aira Falls seemed to fit the bill as the high tops were out of the question with winds gusting to 60 mph.  After taking in the falls we headed off to Gowbarrow Fell followed by Great Meldrum and Little Meldrum returning via the contour path and snatching some great views of Ullswater on the way down.

Meanwhile upon arrival at the cottage it wasn’t raining so Colin, Richard, Keith and Michele set out for a stretch down the valley. Needless to say the rain only held off until we got a mile away and with the dusk approaching we walked back to the cottage in the rain.

Saturday                   Blustery cold wind with mist higher up

Colin, Eileen, Richard, Keith, Michele, Rachel and Lynette set off for Swirral Edge in the hope of improving conditions.  Above Red Tarn only some of the aforesaid hardy souls detoured to Catstycam before rejoining the others for the ascent to Helvellyn where there was some mist and a purposeful breeze.  Moving on northwards Lower Man was taken in with some fine views to Thirlmere and Ullswater.  On the ascent of Whiteside we met the other group southbound before continuing to Raise and Stybarrow Dodd.  Turning east the wind was now behind us as we descended above Glencoyne Head and on to Sheffield Pike.  Needless to say it now rained and we returned to the cottage wet but in time for Rachel and Lynette to head off to Ambleside in an attempt to spend some money.

Matt Liggins writes

Matt, Mark, David, Debra, Alastair, Kimberly, and Keith H set off from Bell Cottage and took a path up the side of the old lead mines following Sticks Gill to Sticks Pass.  From here a steady climb took us to the summit of Raise our first peak of the day.  After stopping a little too long for our first break, a few of us realised just how cold it was up on the ridge and had to stop to put on extra layers with numb fingers.  We then took in Whiteside and Lower Man before reaching the misty summit of Helvellyn.  After a short break at the shelter we set off for Dollywaggon Pike taking in Nethermost Pike and High Crag on the way.  David then split off and did St Sunday Crag solo.  He had developed that ‘look’ during the latter part of the walk so this came as no surprise. 

St Sunday Crag was the best hill of the day according to David but isn’t that always the case when everyone else has just gone down! 8 hours, 1,490m for David. Also perhaps it was just a cunning plan to get out of preparing the spuds and sprouts.  Calling in at the pub was all very well but he missed Colin and Keith K peeling and slicing for 17!  There might even have been time to join in otherwise! Ed.

The rest of us headed off down Grisedale at a steady pace arriving at a very serene looking Lanty’s Tarn just as the light was fading. We then crossed into the next valley for the last couple of miles back to Bell Cottage.

PINNACLE RIDGE, ST SUNDAY CRAG   Tony Charles writes

Pinnacle Ridge is a grade 3*** scramble which leads on to St Sunday Crag.  This was the objective of Les, Mo and myself (Tony).  Concerned by the reports of difficulties in finding the start of the route I had preloaded my GPS with relevant waypoints and this proved very successful in leading us to the final scree ascent. 

The weather on the Saturday ranged from very windy, to windy with rain, to heavy rain, to brief sunny spells.   Consequently when we reached the starting point the rock was fairly wet and greasy and not too conducive to feats of derring-do etc.  Initially all went well and the initial slabs were ascended using reasonable handholds and questionable feet placements.  We arrived at a fine looking slab up the centre of which ran an inviting crack line.  Having inspected the greasy rock we decided to decline the invitation and leave the crack for another day and instead concentrate on the even greasier corner crack but which offered the possibility of one or two marginally more secure handholds.  As they say in the guide books - this was ascended with some difficulty and then followed some easier rock.  We were then confronted by the pinnacle, the descent of which required some back climbing down a near vertical face, again on dubious holds.  Discretion overcame us, so we avoided this by a slight detour into the side gully.  Back on the rock, our progress upwards continued steadily and without any further major problems.  Finally we reached the main path leading to the summit which we followed. Continuing onwards, we eventually reached the descent path leading to Grisedale Tarn from which we retraced our route back along the valley floor.  Overall, a good outing which we all agreed would be well worth repeating in better conditions. 

Sunday                                 Sunshine and clear blue skies with hardly any wind

Keith Michele and Colin parked in Patterdale and set off for St Sunday Crag.  On the summit of Birks the two minute silence was observed before we moved off to St Sunday Crag itself.  In excellent conditions we continued to Deepdale Hause before dropping down to Grisedale Tarn.  On the return along Grisedale we picked out Pinnacle Ridge high above us and Keith even managed to find us a Red Squirrel in the woods after Thornhow.

Meanwhile Eileen, Debra, Richard, Mark, Keith H, Alistair and Kimberley took the ferry on Ullswater to Howtown (£4.50) where they had a superb walk enjoyed by everyone over Place Fell and eventually back to Patterdale. 

Matt Liggins writes.  (Matt, Les, Mo, David, Rachael, Lynette and Tony.)

The weather was perfect.  Cold and clear with blue skies and very little wind.  Whatever we had chosen to do today would have been fantastic. We chose to go up Stony Cove Pike and Hartsop Dodd from Hartsop.  After a steep and rocky accent the views from the summit plateau were breath taking. We hung around the summit for a good while making the most of the glorious weather. We then descended via the broad ridge to Hartsop Dodd and then continued down the steep and slippery path to the car.  Wonderful day!

David’s version adds.  A good day, with views, little wind and sun. A day for taking it easy, as the Lake District does not look as good as this except on a few times each year.  4 hours, 690 m.

And finally from Eileen

I am pleased that everyone enjoyed the weekend at Bell Cottage. I certainly did.  As well as a great weekend Bell Cottage was also a financial success.  We even made a small profit of £7.29.  A big thank you to everyone for the great cleaning job.  I think that the cottage was cleaner on leaving that when we arrived.

Answer to Andrew’s poser: The weather station on the top of Cairngorm.