Hope all who attended this Year's President's Meet enjoyed themselves. It was another successful weekend. Big thanks to Lee for getting the band to entertain us once again, and congratulations to Lee for being awarded this year's President's Award. Awarded for both his continued climbing triumphs combined with the sometimes thank-less task of keeping the meets diary full and appealing. This has been a really good year on the climbing scene with more routes being climbed at a higher grade than any other year in the club's history. That's unless someone knows better! Well done to all those who participated. Climbs partly made possible by the organisation of a large number of well chosen hut meets, almost all of which were well attended. It’s also been a successful year for introducing "newer" climbers to the pleasures of outdoor rock and lead climbing.

The Current Committee is pleased to report that the Club has had another successful year, with numbers recovering well after the problems associated with Foot & Mouth last year. As the nights draw in, it's time for the AGM. We need bodies at the Railway Hotel for 8.30pm prompt. Be there, your club needs you! Dave G.

49 members past, present and potential attended this year's Annual meet, again hosted by the comfortable and hospitable YHA. There was mixed weather for the event, glorious for those out on Friday and Sunday but pretty miserable for those braving the clag and rain on Saturday.

An op for Annette and a "Training Injury" for Carolyn gave them a perfect opportunity to visit Dinorwic Power Station and have a shopping trip to Caenarfon.

President Brian, Pete L and Lee S ascended Snowdon's summit form Rhydd Ddu, whilst the Ed's (Ian, Sue and her brother Paul) traversed from the Llanberris Pass accompanied by the laden Ackie who had bivied out on Friday by Llyn Bochlwyd.

Ted, Brian and Tracy explored the clag covered peaks of the Moel Hebog ridge. Elsewhere, Richard and his apprentice Debbie made a timely traverse of the Nantle Ridge. Meanwhile, Trowie and his new apprentice, Stuart (Ali's Dad), made a more traumatic traverse of the same "taking in a few outliers" and involving a lively finger tip contouring of one section, resulting in the two being somewhat late for the first course despite the lift back from Ryhdd Ddu! Has new member, Stuart hung up his boots already?

Also, "enjoying" lively conditions on a rather damp Tryfan was a party including Tryfan first timer Dave (Mark & Pete's younger bruv) plus Tryfan/scrambling first timers Andrea, Vicky and Karen. There were some traditional combined tactics on display as the boot prints left on Ewan's shoulders, back and head will confirm! I'm not sure the girls were converted, maybe they won't be back for more of the same again… oh dear!

Other hardy soles did go in search of dryish rock at Tremadog, although it was like a different crag on Sunday. Lee and Kev when in search of steep, hard routes whilst Richard Eand Helen T climbed Poor Mans Peutery while Tracy W, Alison M, Pete B and Andy T explored the upper tier which offered a number of single pitch climbs (VD to HS). All enjoyed warm rock with a fabulous view!

The Saturday evening meal preceded the presentation by President Brian G of the President's Award to Lee L. Chairman, Dave G then presented the prestigious TAT awards (lovingly crafted once again by Phil N) on the theme of "How the Mighty have Fallen" and included:

• John T - explaining himself for yet another potentially "permanently affected" initiation of yet another new apprentice that very day!
• Kev T - grazing his chin whilst training on a treadmill
• Jim P - falling from his roof (helmetless) onto his conservatory
• Ackie - choosing to bivi out on the wettest night for weeks having paid for a perfectly dry YHA bed?
• Helen T - sustaining a fractured ankle on easy ground after a summer trip sea stack climbing in Scotland
• Sue E - bog snorkelling attempt to cross moist ground on an ascent of Moel Siabod
• Helen B - seeking the Bureau de Change for Scottish currency at the Gretna Green services
• Elvyn H - accomplished skier hitting the deck through a chair after a day on the piste
• Alison M - inflicting serious damage to a tent following the careless use of so called "midge repellent" citronella candles on a Torridonian campsite
• Mark H - allowing Alison to possess, light and step into the above!

A big thanks from the club members to Dave G for making the weekend such a success again.

Despite great plans being hatched over the climbing guides before the weekend, damp stopped most of the play! Another full house at the BMC hut (Rockhall cottage) and crap weather. Pete B and Teeth rang me on the mobile from Hinckley to see what the weather was like before setting off for a day trip. Having lied to them, I quite expected to be lynched later that day.

The late September sun was an unexpected pleasure for those attending this meet. A foggy start on Saturday developed into a spectacular cloud inversion for those heading into the hills. Dave Pybus mountain biked Around Place Fell. The Edwards', accompanied by Ackie, Ewan and Carolyn made the classic traverse across the airy Striding Edge scrambled to the summit of Helvellyn (more in Ackie's report that follows). Elsewhere Tim, Alastair and Alison made a hairy ascent of Pinnacle ridge (*** grade 3 scramble) to join Mark on the ridge of St Sunday Crag. They continued along the ridge, descending to Grisedale Tarn before making the steep pull up to Helvellyn. All were surprised to see large numbers of mountain bikers on the summit, but were less impressed as bikers and walkers competed for limited space on the narrow, gravelled descent path to Whiteside. Meanwhile, Trowie walked the length of Ullswater returning by the steamer (full account below).

Others enjoyed the sun and the climbing, Kev and Lee on Gimmer Crag (Kipling Groove and others), whilst Elvyn and Neil joined the crowds to climb Bowfell Buttress on Bowfell no less.

On Sunday, whilst Ackie the Autograph Hunter was packing up at the hut he had a visit from Alan Hinkes (esteemed mountaineer who is currently well underway in his quest to climb the world's 8,000'ers). Tim walked the valley Stock Ghyll (a final training before a race over the Welsh 3's on the following weekend), John visited Aria Falls and Kev, Lee, Elvyn and Neil visited Castle Rocks. There was a mass ascent of the Place Fell to return along the shores of Ullswater, via the tea and homemade cake shop was a great way to round off the weekend.

N.B. New members read closely, note the emerging themes and take heed! You have been warned…

I made good time up the M6, coming off Junction 39 for Shap, arriving in the village just after 10.30 am. In a brief half hour stop I looked round the shops, all three of them, and bought a pair of trainers from the New Balance factory shop (worth a visit if you're in the area).

Leaving Shap I headed for Mardale Head at the South end of Haweswater reservoir. I set off to walk a six mile circuit (note, just six miles…) of Harter Fell, Mardale lll bell, High Street returning down Rough Crag Ridge. The walk was extended to 13 miles (doubled it actually, John!), ascending from the car park at Mardale Head up Gatescarth Beck, turning west for Adam's Seat and the sculptured cairns with the metal fencing on Harter Fell. It was here that I extended the walk (really, John!), to pull in Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts. Having bagged the Pike I decided against the Knotts and return on a contouring path below Harter Fell into the Nan Bield Pass and up to Mardale Ill Bell.

Onwards to bag the summit of High Street which had been recently "painted" in brilliant white. A deviation east found the start of the ridge, Long Stile and Rough Crag. This is an outstanding ridge worthy of a visit. Descending steadily it took me an hour and a half, some scrambling required (ie not on a conventional "path") on the craggy bits (New Boy Stuart, take note). I got back to the car park for 6.45pm with 13.5 miles under my belt. It had been an outstanding days mountaineering. I arrived at the hut at 7.45 pm then headed to the White Lion for big eats and ale.

On Saturday I set off at 9.00 am in thick mist to walk the east side of Ullswater to Pooley Bridge. A warm sticky slog up to Boredale House, a left turn up Steel Edge. After further ascent I emerged from the mist into brilliant sunshine. A magnificent cloud inversion developed below me. With the summit of Place Fell in the bag, I pressed on passing several fell runners moving effortlessly up the hill. A steady descent via the Knight, below Mortar Crag keeping Scalehow Beck company down to Sandwick, a picturesque and rewarding walk along the edge of Ullswater followed to Howtown. As time marched on (nearly 1.00pm) I gave the hotel a miss. I took the bridleway which headed higher up the fell, giving superb views over Ullswater.

It was another hot and sticky slog to the next ford near Cockpit, the high point then off with my boots for a delightful paddle in the icy water.

Refreshed, I made a rapid descent to Pooley Bridge for a quick pint. At 4.25 pm "Raven", the steamer, sailed for Howtown and Glenridding from Pooley Bridge with me aboard. With a gin and dry martini and a dash of lemonade in hand, I ended the day with a cosy glow as the Raven chugged back down the lake.

On Sunday I rounded off the weekend with a walk to the Aira Force waterfalls. The scenery was poetic as I walked by several falls of a river in full spate in verdant woodland. I carried on to Dockray for a pint at the local before beginning the journey home. John.

As usual I made thorough preparations for my holiday, booked the ferry two weeks beforehand and changed my car the day beforehand. Mistake, the little brake problem I had pointed out to the garage (no names no pack drill - but a local garage), turned out to need more than the little adjustment they made after I had collected it. So I spent three days in Caen, Normandy waiting for a proper Citroen garage to fix it. It was of course Le Weekend.

That done and we were on our way via the excellent French toll roads and arrived at the village of Lescun at 2886 ft. A beautiful village, surrounded by the 8000ft mountains of the Cirque de Lescun. Although the centre of a walking area the village was hardly touched by the trappings of "the tourist industry", it had a bar, a restaurant, a post office and tiny shop and most of all, an excellent camp site. The view directly in front of our tent was of the La Billare, 7600 ft and La Petite Billare which a few days later we were to fail to climb.

Our first peak was the Pic d'Anie, at 8215ft, the most westerly peak to exceed 2500 metres and situated in extraordinary lunar like limestone landscape. Unlike our friends in Snowdonia, an excellent, but narrow road took us to a (free) car park at 4592ft. And the well-marked and signposted path took us at first through woods and pastures then into a waterless limestone dessert for the final contouring ascent to the summit.

After a rainy day, we tried for the peak that overshadowed our campsite, the Pic le Billare at 7605ft. Following the guidebook we went totally off course, ending up scrambling up a cwm with loose scree and very slippery grass with an impossible ridge between our objective and us. The mist descended so we beat a retreat, traversed across the lower slopes and then found a cairned path, which would have taken us in the correct part of the ridge and the summit. Too late now to continue so we descended to the supply of grape juice at the tent. HONEST! THE GUIDEBOOK WAS WRONG. (They always are when I'm lost too!)

Our final day in Lescun saw us ascend into Spain via the Col de Petrageme 6828ft where Carol had her lunch in Spain and I had mine in France, but we shared the flask. It was here that we watched the antics of two danglers on the Petite Aiguille de Ansabere, a least 800ft of vertical rock. After lunch we crossed into Spain to ascend the 1000ft to the summit of Pic D'Ansabere 7742ft, a bit like the final part of the Watkin Path. Although we had met a few people at the col, the summit was as crowded as a Welsh peak at the weekend (it was Saturday) particularly by the Spanish who we could now see had had a fine ridge walk from their side. Bonjour, Bonjour! The greeting on French mountains of course.

As we descended we met two very attractive girls as they toiled upwards, Bonjour they said, Bonjour I replied. As they passed one said to the other, seeing the two climbers still edging their way upwards on the Petite Aquille, "Bugger me, can you see those silly f***ers on that rock over there", I said nothing.

We left Lescun travelled to the very tourist village of Gavarnie 4510ft. We pitched the tent in a storm which continue all night, we found later that we were on the edge of a storm which flooded parts of southern France and claimed 26 lives. Here is the Cirque de Garvanie an amazing amphitheatre that rises 4500ft from the valley floor to the 9-10000ft mountains above that form the frontier with Spain. Here is also the Grand Cascade, a 1200ft waterfall (apparently Europe's biggest).

The following day was fine so we did the alternative walk to the cirque via the col at Hourquette d'Alans at 7970ft (Hourquette means "bloody steep") and then via a magnificent path partially cut into the rock down to the cirque bottom. A splendid but long day.

Final day saw us leave, but first with a fully packed car we drove to the car park at the Col de Tentes at 7242ft and took the short stroll to the Pic de Tentes 7618ft and a short ridge walk with magnificent views of the Cirque and the mountains and glaciers only a few thousand feet above.

Highlights of the hols, cheap wine, cheap beer, great food, roads and car parks in the mountains, Snowdonia take note. Apart from a couple of days of rain, the weather was sunny and warm. Downside, it's a long way away, and the delay while the car was fixed. As General Douglas MacArthur said "I will return". (Check out website for scenery photos). Ted.