This year's President's Meet will move to a cracking new venue, the Eskdale YHA, at Boot in the Lakes which is excellently place for cragging (e.g. Brandtrake) and walking (e.g. Scafell/Wasdale). I'll be circulating more details in forthcoming newsletters. Estimated cost for the weekend is approximately £40, which again is still excellent value.

The club has had a really good few months with a series of well attended events culminating recently with a really excellent meet at Coniston. Lots of members doing lots of exciting things in the mountains and socially (thanks to Elvyn and Mary) is great to see. It's also good to see a wide spread of ages and a large proportion of female members on the meets.

I'd also like to thank all those who have worked so hard to make this possible. Whilst obviously the main burden falls on committee members and their close supporters, everyone can help by doing their bit such as paying up for subs and huts as soon as possible. Also if you're on a meet, try do your bit by contributing to the clean up before you leave. We always have to leave them, as we would wish to find them. Apparently, Ted took this to the extreme at Coniston kindly leaving behind a box of beers!

Finally, we have another full calendar of hut weekends and socials this year. I hope you'll find something to tempt you out. Well done to all and let's hope this vibrant atmosphere (and good weather) continues. Dave G.

Just to remind you that your membership for 2003 is now due. To get your new style membership card with a meets list for 2003, the Meets Secretary's mobile phone number and club website address just let me have your £12.00 as soon as possible. Cheques payable to Hinckley MC. Ed.

2003 will herald the end of Brain's Presidency. Thanks to Brian for his contributions during his "term of office". Nominations for future President's should be made in writing to the secretary by 30 April 2003. The signatures of ten current members must support each written nomination. Note any member can be nominated in this way, including former President's or current Committee members. Alternatively, the Club could also choose not to elect a President for a twelve month period. Voting papers will then be distributed to the current (paid up) membership, for completion and return to the secretary by 22 May 2003. It's up to you - use your vote.

Thursday 3 April 2003 is the date for this exciting forthcoming fixture that sees the Warwickshire based club's team returning to Leicestershire soil to defend their trophy. Put the date in your diary and see Elvyn to reserve your place on the team, and your meal too! Remember your club needs you (particularly if you're any good at skittling).

Disappointed at not finding a hut for the New Year festivities, the Eddies headed for darkest Ffestiniog where it slashed it down for four days, before relenting just enough for them to bag the Arenigs. A couple of weeks later and it was up to Pete’s hut in the Gwynant valley, (Ysgubor Bwlch Hut Meet, 10 Jan 2003) this time with superb alpine conditions. The hut was full and I can’t remember what every one did. Richard & Annette took two of their mates up the Miners track onto Snowdon, using crampons as well I believe, whilst myself and Brian scooted up Llwyedd and onto Galt y Wenalt. You could see the Isle of Man it was that clear. Whilst every one was out enjoying the hills, Andy and Dave built Pete's new bunk – ah the joys of owning a hut!

Sunday was cold and as Brian and myself trudged up Cnicht, four climbers ascended around 200 foot of frozen waterfall – you don’t see that very often.

Two weeks later I dragged Trowie and Brian around 16 miles of Malvern hill country on the first "Flexible Walkers" (should that read "Flexible Friends", Ed?) outing. For those of us lucky enough, that’s when we’re skiving off work whilst the rest of you are 'ard at it.

Two weeks after that and we’re off to Coniston. Once again, the weather is fantastic, and some 27 members at the hut, (except Karen & Darren who were "loving it up" in a B&B –well it was Valentines Day). Well weird seeing "La Senza" bags at a Hut Meet too!

'Er indoors, Andrea and Sue’s brother Paul ticked off Wetherlam; Swirl How and the Old Man Coniston where we spent an hour sunbathing and Sue said it was the longest she’d spent on the old man in a long time!

Two weeks later, (is there a theme running here) and Brian leads the Flexiwalkers (including myself, Trowie and Colin Green) on a tough, muddy 15-16 miler around the Peak (Grindon/Manifold valley/Dovedale) and I promised not to tell any one about the FOUR times he went wrong.

For any one interested in joining our Flexiwalk, they tend to take place the last Monday of the month – next one Monday 24^th March to be led by Trowie in Shropshire. No ramblers.

Eddie Bonnington.

Around 27 members and friends of the Club gathered in the Black Bull, Coniston on Friday evening to hatch plans to scramble, climb, walk or cycle. The temptation of an International Rugby match viewed from a fine pub with fine beers was pushed aside when a fine frosty day dawned with glorious winter sunshine - this was the setting for Saturday's adventures.

Several parties opted to walk the various circuits close to the hut taking in combinations of the summits Weatherlam, Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag. Others opted to cycle - a solitary cyclist taking a long ride to link several of the areas scenic passes, whilst another couple opted for a circuit of Coniston Lake and a ride to the viewpoint.

Sunday was still frosty again but more overcast, misty and cold. For many, a staggered mass ascent of Jack's Rake on Pavey Ark, Langdale provided sport.  Dave's report of his adventure follows:

"Elvyn and I drove up to Patterdale and left the car around 10.00 am to set off up the Striding Edge path. The weather could not have been better. My only problem was trying to stay in Elvyn's slipstream as he stormed off up the hill. The Edge was in good shape with full summer conditions on the south side (you hardly need your gloves) whilst the north side was in full winter shape. In fact one chap was in crampons.

At the end of the Edge there were good layers of hard snow in anything resembling a gully and big banks of snow with double cornices long the rims of the corries. Elvyn donned crampons and vanished to the right to take a close look at something "interesting" whilst I thought I could manage without going straight up. This was a mistake and instead of donning my crampons comfortably on the col, I did it hopping from one foot to the other on a steeper incline!

Lunch on the summit was part of one of those great hill days when its crisp and cold, and the features of the surrounding hills are picked out in the snow and the visibility is just excellent. We wandered south along the rim of the corries, a little wary of parts of the cornices where cracks were already beginning to form as the weight of the snow was pulling them back down the faces. We descended as the far end of Nethermost Cove to play on the snow, then went on to Grisedale Tarn and back to Patterdale.

On the following morning mist had crept in as we went up Weatherlam Drifting moisture was forming hoare frost on the rocks. A passing couple claimed the temperature was -16 degrees C. There we met up with Sinc, Karen and Carloyn with whom I descended to the hut whilst Elvyn continues over the Old man to claim a brocken spectre on the summit. A great weekend".

At the request of those at the AGM, Elvyn rapidly organised a great pre-Christmas skittles night for our club members at the Red Lion, Huncote. There were around forty taking part in this "boys against girls" challenge. (Isn't it fantastic that there are sufficient girlies out there to make a team - it's a bit different to times past when I may have been the only one some nights - Alison). In time honoured tradition Mark handed out the Christmas Quiz sheets and Ed sold the raffle tickets, and I'm sure there was some creativity on the scoreboard. I'm not sure what the final score was but then no one really cared much by then.

After an evening of skittle bashing and feasting (and maybe even some creative accounting) the boys were declared the winners by the tiny margin of just one point! Dave G won the raffle, Ted won the quiz and Tracey won the booby prize. The proceeds of the raffle have gone to the Braemar Rescue Team via member Debbie  who has been raising funds over Christmas whilst successfully climbing Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. (Hopefully a write up to appear in the next edition). If anyone wishes to make further donations to Debbie's very worthy cause, Eddie will ensure they are passed on to Debbie and the Braemar Team.

Oh yeah, and if that wasn't enough excitement Kev and Lee posed topless, whilst Helen (not topless) hung Tracy's "prize winning" top from the rafters.... If you weren't there where were you? you missed a fun night ..... Well there's always this year...

As the bargain hunting crowds headed off to the shops and DIY stores, Trowie was off to lead his annual pud walk around "Stiles R Us"! This 6-mile walk began from the carpark of Lisa and Tim's (former of the Black Horse) pub in Hanbury, Staffs. After the recent rainfall going was good to soft, but negotiation of the stiles and ditches made this more like a circuit of the Grand National. Fortunately all "runners" made it out of the blocks together. There was some hesitation and a near refusal at the first stile, a particularly sloping and slimy obstacle. This was a forerunner of what was to come. There were single slopers, doubled slopers, half sloping water traverses, slime covered long slopers, leg trembling see-saw rockers, wobbly post sinkers and the inevitable sunken rocking slimy log. Each was interspersed by the flats, hill and gallops of the surrounding countryside, including a view over the famous Hanbury crater (see next Newsletter for full report).

After a very pleasant circuit in the winter sunshine, the party returned to the inn for a welcome hot meal and celebratory pint or two.

If the organisational feats to plan and execute previous events was not enough work, Elvyn and Marie hosted another tremendously successful "Members Slide (and Video) Show" evening plus dinner. An exceedingly reasonable entry of a mere £3.50 unbelievably covered a welcome drink, three course meal and the slide shows for the twenty seven attendees. Slides and videos were brought by club members and friends of the club covering a variety of topics. There were slides from Egypt, Elvyn's mountains 2002, Carolyn's images of Skiing and France, Pete's latest wildlife shots, Mark and Alison's Scotland 2002, Dave's classic climbing shots, Lee and Kev's Deep Water Soloing video, Ted's video of the President's 2002 and Trowie's boats and weddings (apologies to anyone missed out in the credits).

With full respect due to the new carpet, Vicky was deemed to be the outright winner of the fancy sock competition with her stunning hand-created cat socks. They were a true sight to behold, long whiskers and all. An enormous "Thank you " to Elvyn and Marie for there efforts above and beyond the call for planning and hosting the event. Let's hope the carpet survived its initiation...

The well equipped K Fellfarers hut was the weekend's base, so with fine visibility on Saturday morning all twenty odd "Hutees" were tempted onto the hills.

A small group (the Eddies, Carolyn and Sinc) headed, via the waterfall to Base Brown, onto Green Gable over windy gap and a descent from Great Gable before returning to base.

Meanwhile a larger party (Mark, his brother Dave, Alison, Ken, Tracy, Kev, Lee, Helen, and Karen) headed for Sty head before following the Corridor route towards Scafell. With a rather large and delicately poised boulder apparently blocking the ascent of Lord's Rake, coupled with a very foreboding sign at the start if the gully, the group took the hint, had a vote and opted for a detour.

This unwelcome obstruction actually resulted in an enforced deviation onto what became a thoroughly enjoyable alternative - the atmospheric West Wall Traverse that leads up onto the summit of Scafell. A variation, which Wainwright mentions, but recommends for climbers only.

Taking a careful descent route by the Foxes Tarn, the group avoided Broad Stand then ascended onto Scafell Pike where the views over to Isle of Man were superb, as was the sunset and cloud inversion that followed. Moonlight was a welcome companion as the group returned to base.

Brian, wrestling with backpain, had also made a lone ascent of Scafell Pike's summit but via a traverse from Glaramara and then up on along the main ridge to the summit. Meanwhile, Annette (recovering from an op to the leg) accompanied by Richard preferred a long and low route from the hut over Watendlath and on around the shores of Derwent water to the flesh pots of Keswick.

After a revitalising tea stop the return journey took in the opposite shoreline as their route returned them to Seatoller and finally Seathwaite. 

After her leg op last year, Annette somehow managed to convince Richard that joining a ski trip organised by Emilie and Neil could be considered as recuperation. Nice one Nettie!

The jammy group of friends, members and associates of HMC hit the slopes of the French Alps just after a big dumping of snow. Allegedly, James couldn't make the full trip so he just flew in for a couple of days!

Conditions were good, but proved almost too wintery at times, with access to the snow clad hills being restricted on a couple of days by high winds, which limited the lifts. However, wind did not stop play. Plus the "all inclusive package option" helped cushion (or should I say lubricate) the blow.

There's so much coming up. Club-wise see Ed to pay your subs if you haven't managed to yet. Secondly, get the meets dates into your diary then get in touch with Lee to secure your places. Don't forget Presidential Elections and the Skittle Night's Battle of the Clubs. There's still a core of members climbing at the Tower each Thursday night, and the forthcoming outdoor show at the NEC could give you more ideas for getting out and about. The website's still being (fairly) regularly updated. We now have the power to put images on from photos, slides or even negatives so there's no excuse. Let me have some new stuff to keep it interesting. Same goes for articles. All articles gratefully received!