Gwent Mountaineering Club
NEWSLETTER Number 12
 April 18 2001

Compiled by David  Bingham

FOOT AND MOUTH 

Unless you’ve been on a trip to the moon over the last two months you will be aware of the Foot and Mouth outbreak and the distress it has caused to farmers and to the those in the tourist industry.

Although the summer programme was published, it is clear that the events will not be possible for some time. However as time does go by it may be possible that certain areas may open for walking or climbing. Indeed, a few parts of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path and Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower have opened recently.

The situation will be discussed at the next committee meeting due shortly. 

If you have any ideas for walks or climbs based on information you have found from websites, press adverts, magazines, information ‘hot lines’ etc, then please pass these on to a committee member as soon as possible. From these ideas new events may be created as part of a brief emergency programme. Your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated by the committee.

INFO FILE

From Peter Salenieks:

1.        The Government is promoting visits to the countryside, especially through their site, www.openbritain.gov.uk .
 However, even where Councils are saying that paths are open, they may still remain closed at the discretion of the        Landowner.

 2.     British Waterways, www.britishwaterways.co.uk, is opening more canals but still generally for boating.

 3.        The Forestry Commission now has an extensive list of forests open for business. See  www.forestry.gov.uk 

Also (from Dave B)

4.   The BMC site:                                    http://www.thebmc.co.uk

5.    Pembrokeshire County Council:                      http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

6.    Brecon Beacons National Park:                   http://www.breconbeacons.org 

 FROM THESE THERE ARE MANY LINKS TO OTHER SITES


T SHIRT FOR 25th ANNIVERSARY

T shirt or sweat shirt to celebrate the 25th Anniversary 

A logo or badge design is still required for the T shirt or sweatshirt. 
If you would like to submit an idea or sketch of an idea, please do so to Robby Crocker. 

POSTERS

Several months ago I did a A4 size colour poster to advertise the club. If anyone would be willing to put one or two of these up (for example at the Bargoed climbing wall – yes the present one disappeared during some building work, or at outdoor shops etc) then please contact Dave Bingham (029 20852771) or Linda Samuel (number on the programme) and a poster will get to you.

SOME FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Thursday nights

Given the Foot and mouth crisis problem, watering holes were chosen as meeting points for Thursdays at 8pm. 
These were released with the summer programme and are reproduced here for your convenience.

April 19 The Horseshoes, Mamhilad 171-307047
April 26 The Buck, Abersychan 171-271033
May 3 The Goose and Cuckoo 161-291073
May 10 The Star, Mamhilad 171-305033
May 17 Maen Llwyd, Rudry 171-201866
May 24 The Traveller’s Rest, A469 171-158843
May 31 The Foxhunter, Nant-y-Derry 161-332061

In addition members are meeting at the Welsh International Climbing Centre at Bargoed.


Kirkby Stephen Youth Hostel weekend – NEW DATE

Because of the Foot and Mouth outbreak the weekend was postponed to Friday 23rd November.
£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.

WHAT’s NOT HAPPENED

Since the last newsletter plenty has NOT happened because of the foot and mouth. Things that have NOT happened include a strenuous walk in the Blacks (NOT led by Mark Balch), and the recent Easter weekend which did NOT happen at Cadair Idris. There has also been a bout of evening walks and evening/weekend climbing NOT happening either. It also appears likely that the forthcoming May Bank weekend to Snowdonia will NOT happen, including the option of doing the Welsh Three Peaks, unless of course there is a major change in the foot and mouth situation.

So what is this Welsh Three Peaks thing that didn’t happen ? Well it wasn’t the welsh 3000 footers and it certainly wasn’t around Abergavenny. It was (or was NOT) a walk up Pen Y Fan, Cadair Idris and Snowdon within 18 hours. Hugh and I were going to start at about 4am at the Storey Arms, climb Pen y Fan, drive to Ty nant, north of Cadair, climb Cadair and then tackle Snowdon from the Llanberis or Pen y Pass. And then collapse in a heap at the campsite just outside Beddgelert at around 9pm. Then go scrambling and climbing over the next two days!

If there is interest in such a crazy idea then please express this to Hugh Woodford so that it may occur on future programmes. Otherwise it won’t happen (again).