NEWSLETTER Number 11
15th February 2001
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Gwent Mountaineering
Club NEWSLETTER Number 11 15th February 2001 |
Hello everyone.
Quite a long newsletter this time around!
Many thanks to everyone who has sent me information to be included, Hugh,
Robby, Ian Tucker, Peter Jackson, Jeff Hunt, Susan Dyson and others who gave me
news of what took place at the Club Dinner.
I hope the spread of information is helpful and will benefit the club.
Keep the news coming!
Thanks once
again,
Dave Bingham.
SOME FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Advance information of weekends and Holidays
(Information from Hugh)
The line-up on the forthcoming summer programme subject to last minute change is as follows: Nuttings Farm, Cadair Idris (Easter, Apr 13-16); Bosherton, Pembroke (Apr 21-22); Beddgelert, North Wales (May Bank Hol, May 5-7); Dewerstone, Devon (May 19-20); Skye (May 26-Jun 2); Swanage (Jun 9-10); Bosigran (Jun 30-31); Dolomites (Jul 14-18); Baggy point, Devon (Aug 18-19); Beddgelert, North Wales (Aug Bank Hol, 26-28); Lundy ( Sep 22-25) –see information later St. David’s, Pembroke (Sep 30-31).
The following weekends have been placed in the draft programme but Hugh requires leaders for them: Langdale (Jun 17-18); Stannage (Jul 21-22); St. David’s, Pembroke (Aug 4-5); Bosherton, Pembroke (Sep 1-2). If you are willing to be down as leader please contact Hugh as soon as possible.
Beginners’ Climbing – Apr 8 2001
Your mentor this year will be Vaughan Dugmore and the venue will most probably be Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower. Vaughan will be able to confirm this nearer the time. Many climbing routes from Diff grade to VS (and probably harder) make this an ideal venue for novices and for experienced climbers.
Kirkby Stephen Youth Hostel weekend - Mar 3/4
£14 for two nights. Travelling by car from the hostel will take you to a number of good areas in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the South Pennines. For example: the Howgills ( 8 miles ), Swaledale ( Keld village, 11 miles), Wensleydale ( Hawes village, 18miles), Cross Fell area (Dufton village, 20 miles). The Youth Hostel itself is located near the centre of the town and it’s facilities, i.e. pubs. Peak-bagger alert!, peak-bagger alert! - 7 2000-foot tops can be knocked off in one great day in the Howgills from The Cross Keys Hotel on the A683, Nuttalls book, walk 11.1, 12 miles, 4300ft of ascent.
Map and Compass for Beginners – Thursday evenings
(Information from Peter)
Following the success of the Navigation day held in
January, Peter Jackson is very keen to hold navigation evenings on a Thursday
for beginners. The 4 evenings will
start from the basics of map reading and develop from there, building upon each
other and will therefore make a 4 stage course. Numbers are limited to 12 persons so that Peter can give the
best possible instruction.
April
26:
The Map
Session 1:
Information, scales, grid, contours.
Session 2:
Practice includes contours & map alignment.
May TBA :
Compass & Route Card
Session
3:
Compass bearings, route cards.
Session 4:
Practice includes bearings., timing & pacing.
June 14:
Route Finding
Session 5:
Revision / assessment of sessions 1 – 4
(Test Paper)
Sept 6:
Evening Walk
Session 6:
Micro navigation.
Session 7:
Return of test paper
Course open to 12 club members only on a first-come first-served basis.
Names to Peter Jackson by April 8th 2001
Kit
required:
Explorer map No.152 and
Landranger map No.171
Silva compass
Watch
Pencil, rubber & paper
Rock climbing on Lundy Set 22-25
Colin
writes: Colin Powell will be leading
a meet to Lundy in September. The
island is 3 miles long with most of it lined by fine granite cliffs like those
in the far West of Cornwall. The
routes fill a whole guide book. There
are bird bans in some areas until the end of July, August is bound to be the
most crowded, so September has been chosen for a long weekend form Saturday Sept
22nd sailing form Ilfracombe on the MS Oldenburg at 11 am, and
returning sailing form Lundy at 1900 on Tuesday 25th.
The ferry costs £40 and the camping £6 per night, making a total of £58
for the long weekend. Colin will
stay for longer if anyone is interested, but discussions with some of the
climbers suggest people are not prepared to give up more than 2 days of holiday.
Please contact Colin after he returns from Spain on March 22nd if you
want to join the trip, or want more information.
Many of the other summer climbing weekends involve a lot of travelling for 2
days climbing. If anybody is
interested in extending any of them and staying on for some extra days, as some
did for the Bosigran meet in Cornwall last year, Colin will usually be pleased
to get some extra days climbing in – the advantages of being retired!
Colin is not prepared to be official club training officer but, for any
members who wish to gain extra experience of climbing outdoors, Colin will climb
with them at almost any time during the week and perhaps occasionally at
weekends when there is nothing else on.
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A Winter’s Day in the Beacons – Jan 21 2001 6 people enjoyed a snowy day in the Beacons
starting from Cwm Gwdi on the northern side of Pen y Fan.
Although it was misty all day, it was nice to have a day in the
snow. After ascending Pen y
Fan by Cefn Cwm Llwch, the group continued to the peaks of Cribyn and Fan
y Big. |
The Club Dinner at Plas y Brenin – Jan 27/28 2001
People had a great time at the weekend thanks to
some good food, good weather and some snow.
Many climbing and walking routes were done and it’s impossible to know
about everyone – so can I apologise now!
Our guest, David Hamilton accompanied by partner Claire, gave an
entertaining speech as did Chris.
A large party led by Chris did Y Lliwedd from near Pen y Pass then descended to
the Gwynant valley via the beautiful Watkin path and then climbed back up to the
cars. Others in another party, Ian
and Chris Tucker and Robby did Snowdon and Y Lliwedd
A number of people on different days did Tryfan via it’s north ridge including
John Moore, Elli Mauser, Susan Dyson, Colin Powell, Julie Wassell, Geraint
Davies and Terry Delbridge to name just a few.
Colin’s ascent might be a first, a first using wellington boots that is
!! No doubt the guide book writer
for the area will know whether this has been achieved before.
It must be stressed that this approach is not to be endorsed under all
conditions!
Other ascents were made in the Carneddau by Hugh, Dian and many others.
Dian completed her last two 2000-foot
Carneddau tops on the Saturday and then completed the whole Welsh list
with an ascent of Moel Cynghorion in the Snowdon range. She
followed the Nuttall’s list of tops.
Some members went further south on the Sunday, Ian and Chris Tucker and Robby
making an ascent of Arenig Fawr near Bala in lots of snow and cloud.
Also on Sunday, Colin and Judith Powell, Terry Delbridge, Roy
Silverthorne and Susan Dyson did Cadair Idris
All in all it was one of the most successful Club Dinners and credit and thanks
are due to Chris, David Hamilton and Plas y Brenin.
Of course everyone joined in to create a good friendly atmosphere
Mountaineering on the Trinity face of Snowdon
On Saturday at the Club Dinner weekend 8 members
and David Hamilton plus friend Ken climbed on the Trinity face of Snowdon, the
cliff face which towers over the Glaslyn lake.
Most people did Central Trinity gully which is graded at I or II and
others did Left-hand Trinity gully which has a similar grade.
Parties met up at the summit and then descended via the PYG track.
Members included Dave Bingham, Trevor Flint, Trefor Beese, Adrian
Parsons, Martin Passingham, Keith
Anderson, Dennis Pickett and Vaughan Dugmore on a number of ropes or climbing
solo.
On Sunday Dave, Trevor, Vaughan, Richard and Trefor returned to the face to do
Left-hand Trinity followed by Julie Wassell and Geraint Davies. Close to the
summit we met Trevor Williams, Alison Rothwell, Ted and Mark Balch ascending via
the PYG track.
It was great to get some winter climbing in, and in decent weather!
Canine ascent of Central Trinity!
A notable ascent of Central Trinity on the Saturday
of the Club Dinner weekend was that made by a small dog following his owner
unroped! (I kid you not). At one
point I understand that the dog fell 4 feet (presumably trying to re-enact a
scene from the film Vertical Limit)
and was thankfully caught by a member of another party. I assume dog was re-united with grateful owner (Not a club
member I must add). Please note: If you really must lead your dog on graded snow climbs, paws for a while and ensure that he or she is suitably equipped with
ice axe and crampons. Otherwise
there’s no point getting hot under the
collar if accidents happen.
Entries of achievements into GMC Tables
Recent
achievements: Miriam Griffiths enjoyed a 10 day version of the Annapurna circuit
in Nepal during January. In December Richard Bradford notched up his first
Munros and in winter conditions too (and hence enters the mountain tally table
for the first time). Dian Anderson
completed the Welsh 2000-foot tops at the recent Club Dinner (see above).
Well done to everyone.
Thanks also to Keith Anderson for providing much information on ascents of the Classic
Rock routes made by himself, Vaughan Dugmore, Dennis Pickett, Eric Jones,
Trefor Beese and Stephen Smith over the years. Thanks also to Roy Carr for his
entries.
T shirt or sweat shirt to celebrate the 25th Anniversary (Information from Robby)
Robby
Crocker wishes to find out the level of interest in either a T shirt or a
sweatshirt to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the club.
Apparently we can obtain one or the other, but not both, so please
indicate a preference to Robby before we go ahead.
Also the suggested colour is black with a logo being a small pair of walking
boots and text such as “GMC 25th“ or “GMC 25 years” or perhaps Gwent
Mountaineering Club written in full. Opinions
on this are welcome.
It
has been 4 years since the last T shirt was created to mark the 21st
anniversary! The committee hopes
that another T shirt will interest people who were members then and the new
recruits since! Clearly it is a
handy way to advertise the club and we should be proud that the club continues
to operate after so many years.
Ideas to Robby please.
Your feedback is very important to help Robby and the committee get this
right. Many thanks.
Training Officer required – apply within
At the AGM Chris expressed the wish to have a training officer in the club. My understanding is that the person would report to the committee and be responsible for co-ordinating training days such as beginners' climbing, navigation, snow and ice skills etc - the person would not necessarily run these events but call upon the resources within the club to carry them out e.g. a willing experienced climber, an experienced hill-walker and/or someone with a Mountain Leader qualification to do the navigation, someone to do snow and ice training etc. It was felt that teaching people extra skills was an important role for the club to carry out. Please spread the word on this and if anyone is interested please contact Chris - thank you
Fancy a caving trip?
(Information
from Ian/Robin)
I have heard through Ian Tucker
and Robin Scammells that the Cwmbran Caving Club at their AGM decided to offer
our members the chance of a caving trip and that they would be glad to take us.
The event would be nothing too serious and probably reasonably local.
They have a few Petzl lamps we could borrow if needed.
Also they have plenty of helmets and boiler suits.
There will be a £2-50 charge for insurance, and also £2-50 for a Petzl battery
if needed (which we can keep) to make sure we're not left in the dark !
At the moment the Caving Club would like to determine the level of interest from
our members.
Please contact Robin Scammells (01633 863055) or Ian Tucker (O1633 400685) for
further details.
Fancy the GR20 High-level Route on Corsica? – Why not join Jeff Hunt?
Jeff writes: "I am planning to walk the GR20 High Level Route
in Corsica sometime between 1st Sept - 18th Oct 2001. The GR20 is 110 miles long
with a reputation for being one of the most challenging (i.e. interesting) of
the GR routes. The route includes plenty of opportunity for scrambling and to
climb some of the highest peaks in Corsica such as Monte Cinto (2706m) and Monte
Rotondo (2622m). The route takes between 10-16 days depending on the weather /
number of layovers / excursions to bag a few peaks etc. Most of the time will be
spent in the tent although the winter rooms in some of the huts may be open. Not
many re-supply points (unless you fancy a long walk !) so need to carry at least
6-8 days food. Anyone interested in joining me on the trip please call me on
01360 770579 to discuss details."
Useful website addresses
The
following may prove useful:
www.sais.gov.uk
SportScotland Avalanche Information Service
www.snow-forecast.com
World-wide snowfall prediction and estimated accumulation,
(including Scotland in
detail.)
www.sportextreme.com/climbing
Climbing magazine type thingy with lots of info (and cyber-shop,
surprise, surprise!)
Freedom
to Roam Legislation – see The Ramblers Association