2007
was a very active year for HMC members. We’ve seen members off to
Back
in May, we elected Harry as our new President, and then in October we had yet
another excellent President’s Meet.
The
week before Christmas we had our nibbles night at the Holywell, which saw a
huge number of members turn up to catch up on the
years events over sausage and chips!
We
have a busy programme this year, so make sure you get your names down early on
any meets you want to go on.
Subs are due
from 1st Jan, they’re staying at £15 for the year - bargain!
Climbers
are still meeting inside for anyone that wants to join them - the Tower was closed
over Christmas, but there were outings to other walls in the area, such as
Also,
congratulations on behalf of the club to Lee and Louise on the birth of their
daughter,
Thanks to all
those who wrote articles for this edition, if anyone has any write ups, please
email me
edwardsandi@hotmail.com
or take it to
the Holywell on a Thursday night.
Trail
Magazine has got involved with Alan Hinkes’ favourite charity, WaterAid, to
create a mountain challenge in order to enable some of the world’s poorest
people to have access to clean water. Teams of walkers will climb one of the
100 hills and mountains in
HMC
have currently entered 3 teams into the challenge, including 1 all girls team.
Let
Dave T know if you’d like to join a team. We will climb Cnicht,
The
AGM in November was in “the big tent” at the back of the Holywell. We had a
very good turn out, and the meeting was short and sweet, due to the sub-zero
temperature of the tent and the dripping condensation!
Thanks
were given to Ed for yet another excellent meets programme, and there was
recognition for Dave P and Pete H for their outstanding achievements in the
club this year.
Subs
will remain at £15 for a year’s membership, and are due from
The
committee mostly remains the same, but Andy T has stepped down from Social
Secretary, with Martin A taking up the post. Brian K also announced that this
would be his final year as Treasurer, so we will be looking for someone to fill
this position on the committee in November 2008.
It
was decided that as the President’s Meet was such a success that we will return
once again to the Chamois Hut, with some kind of entertainment this year.
The
forum and website have been very effective, and there is now a route book on
the website for you to use. Mark H mentioned that if anyone is interested in
helping maintain the website in any way, he is willing to show you the ropes,
just get in touch with him. Thanks to everyone who turned up for the
meeting.
DOLGELLAU by Andy & Bradley C and Ackie
We
woke early on Saturday morning and the weather looked grim. It wasn’t raining,
but the cloud base was really low. It was either a bike ride to Barmouth or a walk
up Cader Idris. I know which Ackie and I preferred, but being his first club
meet, Bradley (7) wanted to climb Cader Idris. We started out up the Pony Track
and after about half a mile, Bradley’s heels started to rub in his new boots. A
quick pit stop to fit some preventative plasters and we pressed on. “We’ll just
aim to get to get up on top of the ridge, and then probably call it a day” we
said, quite relieved, as the weather was getting worse.
We
reached the ridge and I’d made too good a job with the plasters because Brad’s
feet had stopped hurting! Half way along the ridge in rain and wind, we stopped
for a cuppa and bite to eat, hoping that we might be able to turn back if
Bradley’s feet were hurting. But no, he wanted to press on. Not wanting to dampen
his spirits, we carried on. The wind became so strong that we had to hold
Bradley’s hands to stop him falling over. We touched the trig point and found a
sheltered place to rest for a few minutes. We didn’t hang around, as it was
cold. We hurried down back to the car and Bradley was very pleased with
himself!
The
next day saw the weather improve slightly. Ackie made his way home so Bradley
and I headed up to Coed y Brenin to tackle the family route. Brad wanted to
tackle a more severe route, but I told him he wasn’t old enough. Really it was
because my last trip here resulted in me falling off my bike with really bad
cramp! This was a great route for kids and an hour and a half later we were
tucking in to a bowl of hot soup. A great weekend overall and one that Bradley
really enjoyed.
Meanwhile,
Dave P and Brian G started out on Saturday morning at Penmaenpool, and went
into the hills behind, and then down to the coast, followed by a walk back to
the car along the disused railway.
Ken’s
group, consisting of Ewan, Elvyn, Ian B, Ken, Megan and Andy A did the Red
Dragon in Coed y Brenin, with this being Elvyn’s first outing on his new bike -
he was the only one of the lot not to fall off! Ian B had a mechanical
nightmare during the ride, wearing body armour under his clothes to protect
himself! The highlight was half way round, when Andy A fetched out his bread
and butter pudding with double dairy cream for the others to drool over!
Andy
T and Jane went on a bike ride to Barmouth along the disused railway, followed
by a ride on the beach - “It was hard work, but good fun” said Andy.
On
Sunday, possibly still inebriated from the previous night, Dave G, Jane and
Elvyn decided to run the Precipice walk - three and a half miles which,
according to Dave, was ‘absolutely brilliant’ despite feeling very ill
afterwards due to the big breakfast he had consumed just prior the run!
At
the end of the weekend, Ackie was conned into collecting the fees for the
weekend and...as he had just been promoted to Prison
Officer, nobody dared to try and avoid coughing up...
In mid November Peter H and I went to
Monday
saw us on an acclimatisation walk up to a col (or tizi) at about 2,520 metres
and then return to our gite for lunch. Tuesday was a much harder day with a
climb from Aroumd at 1,920 metres up to the Neltner refuge at 3,207m. We passed
the holy shrine of Sidi Chamharouch at 2310m where legend has it that a holy
man lies entombed under a large white painted boulder. Here we enjoyed one of
the many glasses of sweet mint tea that were becoming a ritual on this trek. Later
at 2700m we passed a shop (or at least a shack clinging to the hillside full of
souvenirs). The Neltner refuge, operated by the Club Alpin Français, was
completed in 2000 and can accommodate up to 80 people. There were no signs for
the toilets but in fact you just have to follow your nose. After lunch some of
us went further up the valley to Tizi Ouanoums, at col at about 3,650 metres.
The total ascent that day was over 1700m. Although this trip was advertised as
a winter ascent of Toubkal unfortunately no one had informed the snow to arrive
on time. The hills around the refuge were still clear of snow and in fact there
was very little snow anywhere.
Wednesday
was the day we were to climb Toubkal itself. We left the refuge at dawn for the
climb up a steep scree and boulder slope. The route took us up to Tizi Toubkal
and on to a ridge that eventually came to the final ridge to the summit. The
views were impressive even though the weather was closing in. Neither Peter nor
I were happy with the amount of graffiti on the triangular steel structure and
boulders. During our return to the refuge the weather deteriorated and started
to snow and a good covering was on the higher parts of the path.
We
were up early again on Thursday morning with the intention of climbing
Our
final day in the hills started brightly and we all agreed to climb up to Tizi
Ouanoums – the col some visited earlier in the trek. Fridays walk was
substantially different to the trip up to the same col a few days earlier. The
snow now covered the boulders in the valley and up to the col. After a time for
photographs at the col we returned to the refuge for a mug of mint tea and a
sardine butty, before the long trek down to the Gite at Aroumd for lunch and a
final dinner in the hills.
On
Friday evening wet snow started to fall at the gite at about 1900 meters and it
continued to fall throughout the night. On Saturday we had to walk through good
old British wet snow down to the road head and then we denatured to a very cold
and wet Marrakech for our last day in
Overall a very enjoyable, and at times quite challenging
trip.
In
early December, Chris G, Stacey and Richard went to
Friday
started at
Sunday was a washout so a quick trip to Bournemouth Uni wall
(not a patch on
On Manoeuvres 3 (SG led, Rich & CG 2nd)
Charity Work Mate 3 (Rich led, SG & CG 2nd)
The Great Hamburger Disaster 4+ (CG led SG 2nd).
There
are still weekly trips to the wall, so just contact Rich, Chris, and Tracy etc
if you fancy going along.
Around
a dozen of us turned out on a mild and dry morning for another cracking pud
walk, devised by John & Dave, from Shipston on
Talking
of birds, now, I’m not one to gossip, but have you heard the one about Brian &
Liz G’s Christmas Turkey?
Well,
they had a goose this year, and put a turkey in the oven for later (for turkey
butties etc). After stuffing the turkey and themselves, they put there feet up
on the new settee - one of those with the automatic foot rest and er….nodded
off!
Well.
I’ll leave the rest to Brian.
Anyway,
back to the walk. After dropping off “Gillett Hill” (no lie) we then plodded
over one of those fields where the mud sticks like glue and you weigh several
pounds more on the other side.
We
finished off with lunch, Old Hooky and Adnams at the White Bear in Shipston.
Nice
one John/Dave.
There
are many reasons for returning to the same old haunts, year in year out, but if
you like area and there’s a great pub serving great food, why not?
Our
third December meet at Ingleton Youth Hostel turned out to be one of the
wettest, but the weather still didn’t deter our 16 members from getting out.
Harry,
Stef, Ash & Alex completed the direct route up Whernside, had blizzard
conditions on the top, and were glad to be off early and into the pub. Teeth
& Jane set out to do some mountain-biking, and cut short after some 8 miles
of battling with the elements and Elvin & Ian B pulled in Ingleborough,
arriving back around
The
Glens & Waterfalls walk, perhaps one of the best of its type in
Meanwhile,
whilst the rest of us were getting soaked, Brian C, Sarah, Richard and Tracy
opted for some indoor climbing at the local wall, followed by the usual teashop
traverse. Stuart & Dave had also cut short their walk and were in danger of
overdosing on tea back at the hostel.
As
it was Christmas, Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe in the village took a hammering and
after this extensive shopping expedition, well, you can’t beat sitting in front
of a log fire with a pint of Black Sheep and a gale blowing outside. Snug.
Having
booked a table at the Old Hill Inn, we weren't disappointed. The meal was
excellent, but the heating could have been cranked up a bit as poor Harry had a
job playing the piano with his numb fingers!
Sunday
arrived and hey presto, no rain. A mass ascent of the Glens
& Waterfalls walk for some and a trip to Malham Cove for the rest.
It
doesn’t matter how many times you go, Malham is terrific and impressive.
So,
on to next year...I have pencilled in a Yorkshire meet for December, utilising
a Youth Hostel again as numbers can fluctuate wildly. Do we go for Ingleton or
do we try somewhere different? Let me know and I’ll get it booked. Plenty of time.
OUR CLUB….Your History….
2000
The 2000 Xmas
Pud Walk was from The Cock at Hanbury (wasn’t this where that streaker was
caught?) and included a visit to the Fauld Crater: the scene of
It was noted
in the February newsletter that Ewan had been spotted in B&Q. Seven years
on, married with two children and guess what? He’s still at it.
During the
spring, the Foot & Mouth outbreak was the worst experienced by
At least Dave
Pybus had found something else to do. He’d discovered art, and was busy
sketching and painting and sold quite a few pieces at the club.
1991
Held
at the Helvellyn Youth Hostel, 55 members enjoyed a 3 course meal, ably
prepared by Jackie Crockford, Val Ward & Debbie Lee.
Richard
Ellis was overall winner of the photo competition and home grown entertainment
included some dodgy “dance”
from Val W, Anne S, Delith J and others and a sketch by Andy S, Steve O &
Ed.
November,
and Monty Pybus had cobbled together a walk from Edge Hill, on the edge of the
Cotswolds.
The
tower at the Castle Inn, Edgehill marks the spot where, on the afternoon of
365
years later, after battling over hill and dale, on a sunny Monday, The Saga
Louts took refuge in The Castle, raised their pints of Old Hooky and proclaimed
“beats working, eh lads”.
At
the beginning of December, they travelled to Winster in The Peak for a 10 miler
combining wild unspoilt woodland with Stanton Moor and Robin Hoods Stride -via
The Red Lion at Birchover. Having put my gaiters on “the wrong way round” -
according to Brian, I thought nothing of it until, crossing one of those four
bar stiles (without a plank) I got my footing all wrong and...Ooh, it was
painful - made me eyes water, I can tell you.
Make
sure you put yer gaiters on the right way!
PS.
Monty Pybus has now clocked over 2800 miles.
YOU
COULD BE HERE….
JAN
18/19 Clyngwyn Bunkhouse is situated in the Brecon Beacons National
Park, and very near to the famous caves & waterfalls of Ystradfellte. About half an hour away is
The Glyncorrwg Mountain Biking Centre, which has superb facilities and is the
trailhead for Whites Level and the Skyline mountain biking trails. There
is also a bike shop, café, lounge area, open-air deck, changing/shower rooms,
and a bike park.
The
Bunkhouse has a fully equipped kitchen with full gas central heating, which
ensures a nice cosy stay and also heats the drying area.
In
February, we have a cottage booked in Glencoe for some real mountain stuff,
followed by a weekend at Borrowdale Youth Hostel. Same format as last year-if
you can’t get to
March
sees a welcome return to the Chapel @ Capel where we may even get some outdoor
climbing, weather permitting!! It’s also a superb venue for walking on the
Carnedds/Tryfan or even MTB in
Busy bees
aren’t we!
Let
me know where you want to go.
See
you there! ED