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(THREE WRITE_UPS)

NATURE THROUGH THE CAMERA LENS

 presented by Alban Wincott.

This Thursday night event proved to be a great success. Colin knew of Alban through bird watching and invited him to do a slide show for us. Not knowing what to expect we took our seats in front of the screen and were suddenly shown the immature way in which we, as a mountaineering club, go about taking our photographs... It was obvious that Alban knew a few things we didn't!

Moving up through the British countryside through the medium of photography, Alban spoke eloquently and explained the changing countryside; how plants that were one time common were now endangered; how the bird populations in the UK had altered dramatically over the last few decades. His slides were, amazingly detailed, portraits of British wildlife in their natural habitat; from the Downs to the Western Isles.

Afterwards he spent a while answering our questions, both technical and general.

As Alban was an invited guest and provided his show free of charge, a donation from the club funds was made to his desired cause. Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve

NUNEATON MOUNTAINEERING CLUB  AGM 2003

Every year in October we hold our AGM. A time where the old committee may take a back seat, or if they aren't as lucky, be re-elected to stand for a further twelve months. It's also a time to reflect upon what we have achieved in the last twelve months.

Changes from last year within the committee have occurred this year, but no  problems were brought to light and the overall opinion was that ... 2002-3 was our most productive year yet. We started out with a seven point plan highlighting the aims of the year and... to a lesser or greater extent succeeded throughout; Numbers are up, training has been given to those wanting it, Money has been raised for ourselves and others (Mary Ann Evans Hospice) and the programme looked after itself to a large degree (IMO).

Here are the changes...

BACKPACKING THE HIGH STREET

11th- 12th OCTOBER 2003

We set off quite early really. Ann came to my house then we headed across to David's to meet up with Tony for the drive up to Kentmere village in David's car. There should have been nine of us but five people dropped out for... whatever reasons...

It's a long way to the Lake District but we arrived safely and found we had to park a fair way from the tiny village of Kentmere. we kitted up and set off, down through the village then out onto the hills. The weather... at least it wasn't raining, but it was pretty dismal, no real sunshine just hints that it was up there somewhere.

The ridge we walked along would take us over Ill Bell (ill) to High Street and hopefully to a flat level ground we might call home. Walking wasn't too difficult and we all took our turns at the front of the pack, changing chatting partners with regularity. Lunch came none too soon as I was definitely feeling knackered; no energy existed to propel my little legs and I wasn't feeling too great, possibly not helped by the dose of flu I was recovering from. I wished I'd stayed at home at this point, but with so few going I thought I had better go too, and anyway... I'd been looking forward to a night in the hills with this crew.

After dinner we decided to try and find a select little campsite for about five o'clock. As we dropped down into a valley beneath a common the ideal spot quickly became apparent. An old building once stood on this flattened spot, the remnants of its walls still visible; we were afforded some shelter by the walls, by the valley itself and... only three steps to a fresh water supply; what more could we ask for?

The tents went up (Tony's and Steve's) and the Bivi bags were lain on the ground (Anne's and David's). Water was gathered and a brew went on then dinner in those wonderful little Wayfarer packages. Pudding later, Scotch first, although in Anne's case it was something like Drambuie or Baileys. We sat the night away drinking, telling stories, talking about things that we would never usually talk about to each other. At nine something we turned in to see what tomorrow would bring.

My Flu-like symptoms were worse; remission was over. After breakfast the walk up the first hill had me seeing my breakfast for a second time and then every ounce of energy I had accumulated just disappeared. I struggled behind the others as they disappeared into the distance and I couldn't give a monkeys that I was being left behind. Down the other side of the hill, eventually, even downhill I was slow, I decided I wasn't going to be able to finish this route so I ended up going to the Haweswater Hotel, all on one level, while the others continued on to the cars to pick me up later via the top route.

A £4 pint of Cider then onto the cheaper £2.80 beer and I had to leave, I couldn't afford to stay so I went outside and put my warmest clothes on then lay on the grass near the hotel and went to sleep after a quick cigar. For three hours I slept fitfully trying to maintain warmth. the others arrived and we set off home.

I wished I had finished the route but I just wasn't well enough... Still at least it was a good excuse and the part of the walk I took part in was bloody good.

Steve Ward