September 2004  

  At last – the second issue for 2004 of Outside Now. Hope you’ll find an interesting selection of meets reviews and news of forthcoming events. Big thanks to those who have contributed items for this edition as Mark and I have been a bit off the scene but are now the proud parents of Ben. Karen and Darren have also had a special delivery – daughter Isola Madeleine was also born in July ’04. Good news too as Vicky and Ewan await the arrival of their new edition in early December. It’s congratulations time as Emilie and Neil announce their engagement. (‘bout time too Neil! Well done). 70thBirthday Wishes go to Don W in September. Newer members may not realise but Don was involved in the club’s original formation and has remained an active member since then, climbing many a hard route along the way. Hard to believe next year the Club will celebrate 25 Years. We hope to make it a special year for the club and are planning an anniversary dinner and after dinner speaker for February 2005. There are also plans for another lecture evening and we’re thrilled to announce that former local climber Simon Yates (yes he of Touching the Void fame) has agreed to be our speaker. Date/venue to be confirmed. 

Fuelled by the success of the recent trip to Ireland Ed’s been busy putting together a very tempting meets list for 2004/2005. There’s a ski trip for the New Year, many hut weekends throughout the year plus trips abroad to the Italian Dolomites in May and the Alps in July. 

Our next meet is fast approaching and it’s the President’s Meet at Boot again (see below for details). Speak to Dave G ASAP if you haven’t booked your place yet! There will be a short EGM before the meal at the President’s to discuss revision of the club’s constitution. The points to be raised are also listed on the next page so please take time read over the points. If you can’t make the EGM but want to discuss the proposals speak to one of the committee members ASAP. Finally, if you want to be even more actively involved in the club now’s your chance. At the AGM in November officers are elected for the next year. Elvyn has made it known that he will not be standing as Social Secretary so if you want to know more speak to any of the current committee. 

Presidents Meet Eskdale (Boot YHA)

Fri 8th to Sun 10th October 2004. This year we will be having a “special” meal on the Saturday night following requests after last years rather ordinary YHA meal.

Total Cost: £38 inclusive of 2 bed nights, 2 breakfasts and the evening meal on Saturday. Packed lunches can be ordered at the weekend for about £3.50 each. It would be helpful to mention this with your booking. (Self catering kitchen will be available as is free tea/coffee for the weekend).

Staying just Saturday night will be £25, please only do this if you really have to as technically we have to book the whole hostel for the weekend and, whilst there is some flexibility, too many one-nighters will cost the club. Bookings to Dave G ASAP.

EGM to take place before the Saturday evening meal to discuss amendments to the Constitution. Please check out the following article to familiarise yourself with the proposals.

EGM Business for Saturday 9th October 2004

This is an extract from the current constitution. Proposed changes to the original wording are shown crossed through with amended wording underlined. An explanation of each numbered point follows:

 “10 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1.          The Annual General Meeting shall be held in November in Hinckley. A quorum to consist of a third

 of fully paid up  *1 members.

2.         A motion to amend the constitution must be passed by two thirds greater than one half *2 of the paid up and honorary menmbders *1. All other motions may be passed by a majority.

3.         Written notice giving date, time and place of the Annual General Meeting shall be displayed at the club headquarters not less than seven  twenty- one*3 days before the meeting. The agenda for the meeting including duly proposed and seconded items shall also be displayed not less than seven days. Items for the agenda, duly proposed and seconded, must be in the hands of the secretary not later than fourteen days before the annual general meeting. The chairman of the meeting has the casting vote. Only fully paid up members shall have the right to vote at a general meeting.”

11 GENERAL MEETING (EXTRAORDINARY)

…At least fourteen days notice of EGM shall be given by the secretary in writing to each member.” 

Explanation of points 1,2 and 3 as shown above:

*1.        Members are defined in sections 8 and 9. Delete “fully paid up” since “honorary “ would also have to be included to avoid confusion. AGMs are in November, so payment is not then an issue. A member can still be fully paid up until membership lapses in April if subs not paid.

*2.        EGMs have same status as AGMs and can be carried out at same time.

*3.        Necessary to allow items for agenda to be added and for giving notice of EGM if to be carried out at same time.                                                                                               

The Railway Children

So, 13 out of a possible 21 managed to battle through high wind, torrential rain, and 30 mile tailbacks on the M6 and still have a fantastic weekend at the Chapel at Capel.    Nuff said.

I gave Trowie, Brian K and Brian “Victor” G a lift to Betws y Coed railway station on Saturday morning and waved them off.  No – they weren’t going home – they’re made off sterner stuff these boys. They were off up the Conwy valley by train to Dolgarrog and then walking back to the hut. Twas but a mere drizzle as I waved them off with a soggy hanky. Meanwhile, Tracy, Andy A, Mark T and “The Beast” chose to attack Moel Siabod and Dave P had settled on a twin lakes walk above Capel.

Elvyn shot off to do a scramble on Lliwedd and eventually myself, Sue, Andrea and Paul B went over Sarn Helen to Dolwedylan. A modest walk with a café half way, the only “incident” was when Sue fell over a flat piece of tarmac. You can’t take these women anywhere. Last time we were here, Bowler and Ewan lured her into a bog. Elvyn completed his scramble and on his descent he managed to assist a couple of people in difficulty by loaning them his mountain shelter. Dave cut short his twin lakes walk to “savour another day” as he put it.

Tracy’s party got back off Siabod in time to do some climbing on the wall at Plas y Brenin and the railway children turned up just before dark. Eh! They’d had an epic. No paths. Swamps. Bogs. Alligators. Everything. The wind and rain had battered them face on all day. John likened it to the Everglades. Brian K wished he’d taken his wetsuit and “Victor” G said “if Wales could have haemorrhoids – this is where they’d be” - “it was “f*******” orrible - it anyone sees me up there again, you have my permission to kick my a*se” and so on. After 16 miles of bog trotting you could tell they’d all bonded really well as they all squelched into the hut together. Perhaps they should have got a return train ticket. I could give the a few tips on this!              Thomas the Tank top wearer.

Some Days are Good, but Others...

The September club meet at The Chapel, Capel Curig, coincided with a forecast break in the good weather we had all enjoyed during the month so far. After a damp start on Friday, Saturday morning promised to be fair with a rapid deterioration.

After parking at the viewpoint on the road to Beddgelert, I followed the pipeline to Llyn Llidaw, and up to the start of Y Gribin. The cloud level dropped to the base of the Y Lliwedd cliff but kept reasonably dry for the pleasant scramble up the ridge. At the col, the wind increased to gale force and rain arrived horizontally. Bell’s words remain true that you have to find the most difficult way up to ignore any discomfort, because all attention goes on the rock. Thus the scramble up the East Ridge was interesting and ended directly at the summit of Snowdon. Tranquility ended as hordes of people jostled for shelter behind the café to eat their soggy sandwiches.

On descending the Watkin path, I came across a curious huddle of people and saw the flash of tinfoil. An elderly man had complained of tight pains across his chest and could not move. Two passers-by had summoned the mountain rescue team. I wrapped the casualty and his companion in my shelter to stabilise the casualty. With three attendants, I could add no further value and continued my descent to the valley, directing members of the team as they ascended in groups. As I returned to my starting point, it seemed as if the rescue helicopter was following me.

On Sunday, seeking the return of my shelter, I heard that the casualty died just as the team arrived and failed to respond to resuscitation. His body was brought down at 7 p.m. for the helicopter, from RAF Kinross, to take away (but still wrapped in my shelter!). There had been three simultaneous callouts in the area, so the rescue resources were stretched to the limit. Incidentally, the two attendants lived in my home town and we had mutual acquaintances.     Elvyn

Not the Railway Children 

After a cheapo Ryanair flight to Gerona, we picked up the hire car and headed into the Spanish Pyrenees, staying at a place called Molli, the scenery was fantastic, the village remote and the culture very Catalan.  After “soaking up” the ambience, we traveled on to Andorra, staying for a few days at the Hotel ** Bruxsells  in Soldue.  Spotless, en suite B&B for twelve quid a night. Bargain and highly recommended. Re-visiting some of the areas from last years trek, we then walked up to the Scotoni Refuge, arriving just in time for a thunderstorm. After half an hour the storm passed and we were able to continue down through the alpine pastures of wild flowers with outstanding views all around.

The following day, it only rained 3 times – morning, afternoon and night, so we did the touristy bit in Andorra town. It was Sue’s birthday so we talked long and hard about the merits of dishwashers and so on. After buying myself a new watch and giving her the birthday card, we both agreed she could have a new pair of marigolds as soon as we got back (there cheaper at Asda).

The weather didn’t look promising so a car tour of the Sierra del Cadi ensued. It was a stunning drive along the southern border between Andorra and Spain. Next stop France – ending up in a small town whose name escapes me, where the Pyrennes dip down to the Med. The fleapit we stayed in cost more than double than the Hotel Bruxsells, and wasn’t worth half of it. Dump.

And so on to Sitges, just south of Barcelona, where I had splashed out on a four star – this being my final goddam beach holiday. Yahoo. The girlies loved it of course. Lazing by the pool sipping their coolies and reading Harry Potter.  I suppose the highlight for me was the train ride into Barcelona.  Fantastic city – go when it’s cooler if you can. It was about 90 in the shade for us, and after a days slog around the city, was I glad to get back onto that air-conditioned train - and I even managed to get us on the right track. Shame it was the wrong train. We went through Sitges at 80 mph. Bugger. We were on the Taragona Express. About 50 miles later, we got chucked off and returned on the local Hornby. Great fun.                                           Ed: The Fat Controller

The Haute Route 21 to 26 March 2004 

The Haute Route is probably the most well-known ski tour in the world. It links major centres of mountaineering exploration in the Alps, Chamonix in France and Zermatt in Switzerland. The continuation to Saas Fee requires a commitment to ski 145km of distance and 10000m of ascent and descent passing through the finest mountain scenery. The development of the ski route is an epic of alpine proportions. The first traverse on foot was made in the early 1860’s and the first ski attempt took place in 1903. Exploration continued for another eight years before the ‘Classic Route’ and many of its variants became established. It is a route not to be underestimated because of the commitment, fickleness of mountain weather and decision-making required. No wonder that the traverse becomes one of every ski-mountaineers’ ambitions.

My third attempt was with the Eagle Ski Club with rather a large party, two guides and an aspirant guide. The first day began promisingly with the sun gleaming off the Grandes Montets and the Drus and a few delightful runs on piste to warm the ski muscles. However, the shock of skiing uphill, with a sack and in cloud soon materialised for the traverse and descent to the Argentiere Glacier (preferred to the descent from the Grands Montets) and climb to the Argentiere Hut.

The uncertainties of the change of weather caused doubt about the choice of route to the Trient Hut, but early-morning low cloud lifted in patches to obtain glimpses of the north faces of the Verte, Droites and Courtes across the valley draped in fresh overnight snow. The abseil from the Col du Chardonnet proved interesting after the long queue had subsided. The first attempt on skis proved difficult because the skis were too long to fit broadside through the narrows. No-one skied the gully that day! The Trient Hut has a splendid location and memories of night visits to the remote outside loo in a snowstorm became reality again!  

Low cloud again hindered visibility the following day, but we dropped out of the cloud for the 8km descent of the Val d’Arpette to Champex. The overnight snow provided powder skiing for much of the way but with gradually degenerating consistency. The decision had been made to take the Verbier option rather than the Classic Route given the bad weather conditions. We missed a coffee in Champex in the rush to get the taxi to Verbier – the Four Valleys ski area. By now, the wind, cloud and snow had all increased so a proper lunch on top of the slopes was much appreciated. Leaving the piste was a wrench, because we wandered onto a smooth slope of powder that camouflaged hard avalanche debris, with various consequences, but none serious. Memories of the journey to the Plafleuri Hut are but a maze of snowfields and cols in bad visibility designed for proving compass and GPS navigation skills. The final descent was a superb powder-snow run. The hut is new, with running water (but no showers in winter) and has interesting three-tier bunks but why do they not include decent drying and boot rooms?

The short day to the Dix hut passed uneventfully with light snow and plans were made to abort the tour due to the risk of avalanche conditions higher up. This would allow a lie-in! However, we woke late to an improvement in that we could actually just see some mountains! The tracks on the glacier were a foot deep in fresh snow but eventually this changed and a pitch of Scottish Grade 2 ice led towards the summit ridge and the Pigne d’Arolla (3796m), which is supposed to be a good viewpoint. Descending, one member fell and broke a leg when his Silvretta bindings failed to release. He then had the flight of his life suspended from the rescue helicopter by a rope, all the way to Arolla.

The start to the final long day of 30 km depended on good weather. It arrived! The Vignettes hut erupted into a frenzy as nearly 100 people tried to eat, use the loos, pack, boot up and leave within an hour for the mandatory early start (0700). The uphill sections were steep or long, especially the final ascent of two hours to the Col de Vallpelline but undisturbed powder snow were found on all downhill runs. The final descent of 2000m to Zermatt passing the (barely visible) north faces of the Dent d’Herens and Matterhorn provided the climax to the tour, with powder on the steeper descents, long schusses and pistes leading to the first restaurant and bar we could find in Zermatt.

Thus an exciting trip had finally been accomplished under difficult conditions that may not have been completed without the local knowledge provided by the guides.     Elvyn

The Outgoing Committee 

The current members serve on the committee until the forthcoming AGM in November. There will be a vacancy as Social Secretary as Elvyn will be standing down from this role. We say a huge thank you to Elvyn for his previous work as we’ve had many excellent social events as the result of his hard work.

A Mad Weekend in the Alps 

You can hear the reverberations around the unconvinced as loud as an avalanche: a weekend in the Alps? You must be mad! Time would tell.

Sue H gave Mark H and Elvyn a lift to Luton, departing home 03.45 and then going to work afterwards (an example of a dedicated wife with a hint of madness!). While Sue was beavering in the office, we were sunning ourselves in La Tour in readiness for the ascent to the Albert Premier Hut. Laden with rucksacks, we had to walk up the track, since there were two days to go before the lifts opened (our turn to be stupid). The route led over the pistes, where Elvyn had skied downhill only two months previously (now there’s some sense), and eventually over snowfields to the Albert Premier Hut at 2702m. It was a great pleasure just to be there again, to sit outside the hut in the warm afternoon sun, to listen to the mixture of languages, to gaze over the seracs of the Glacier du Tour to the Aiguille du Chardonnet (3824m), to contemplate our intended route, the East Ridge (Forbes Arete) on this mountain and, later, to watch the sun set over the Aiguille Rouge.  

For the second day, we chose to climb the Aiguille du Tour (3544m) by the South Ridge. The guidebook suggests 2h for the ascent! This should allow us to acclimatise and warm up for a long day on the Chardonnet.

Friday pre-dawn was dark, clear and starry, until the moon rose, giving an eerie glow to sunrise. The air was warm so the snow cover on the glacier was soft and deep, which meant hard work. This state continued up a couloir, which we climbed in three full pitches, to the Col Purtscheller. Our route took us along the ridge towards the Tour, offering delightful scrambling on rock at severe standard and on steep snow patches, all with axe and crampons, to the summit of the Pain du Sucre (3441m). Normally, this is bypassed to reach the Tour but the gap before the South Ridge proper had not been evident. To get to this point had taken longer than anticipated and bearing in mind we expected the weather to change for the worse we decided not to continue to the summit of Aiguille du Tour, so an abseil to the glacier started our return. We were back on soft snow, and any steepness caused concern as demonstrated when a falling stone triggered a minor avalanche nearby. Eventually we returned to the hut, in driving rain, at 15.00, 11 hours after departure!

Tea, food and the chance to dry out were welcome. Several people had attempted the Tour, but none had succeeded in the poor conditions. We made friends with an Irish team and others from a French army mountain group. Plans changed for the rest of the weekend! As there was no point in climbing on unconsolidated snow and in the cloud, we descended to the bar and cable car, both now open, and returned to Chamonix for gear shops and recuperation.

Cloud still dominated on our last day, so we took the delightful journey on the Montenvers Railway to the Mer de Glace glacier, and, after descending many steel ladders, spent the day ice climbing and practising crevasse rescue. A taxi, flight and Sue returned us home at midnight after an exciting weekend. 

Will you be mad and join us next year?

QUICK TRIP QUIPS

·         (Descending deep soft snow) Elvyn: “Are you happy?” Mark: “Yes.” Elvyn: “Are you enjoying yourself?” Mark: “No!”

·         (On falling neck deep in snow for the umpteenth time) Mark: “Censored!”

·         (On leaving the traditional French hole-in-the-ground loo) Elvyn: “My sock was gradually feeling warm and wet!”

·         (On finding his new 60m shocking pink rope missing from the drying room and seeing a pink rope on an Irish lad’s rucksack way down the hill) Mark: “Hey, you’ve stolen my rope!”

·         Passer-by in Chamonix to Mark: “Have you seen Touching the Void?” Mark: “Yes.”  Passer-by:  “You’re him, Joe Simpson, aren’t you!”  Mark & Elvyn look at each other in amazement.

·         French steward on return flight intercom: “England have scored one goal, but in injury time, France have scored two goals.” Other French stewards: “Hooray!” Passengers: “Boo!”

Elvyn H and Mark H 03 to 06 June 2004

West Highland Way Aug 2004

With the summer holidays rapidly ending, I decided with five days preparation, to walk the West Highland Way with wife Carol and friend John. In the true tradition of Sir Edmund Hilary and many other world wide travellers, accommodation and baggage transport was arranged with local sherpas and porters. Her name was Audrey and she organised bunkhouses and hostels and collected and dropped off our overnight baggage. Most efficient she was too.

First night we stayed a Glasgow Youth Hostel, Would recommend this hostel for anyone needing to overnight on their way to the Highlands, overlooking the city centre, a magnificent building recently refurbished and with a pub, the Uisge Beatha, two minutes away which boasted stocking more than 200 varieties of whisky. (a challenge for Pete M). Highlight for me (apart from the pub) was a trip on the Glasgow Underground system. 

The first day, we met our sherpa and porter Audrey, who took our bags, showed us where to leave the car at Milngavie Railway station and we started with the obligatory photo at the official start in the middle of the shopping precinct. Warm and sunny all morning and here we meet the first group of our fellow walkers, three guys from Aberdeen who had travelled south to do the walk which they were doing to raise funds for a bothy in the Cairgorms. I must admit that it took several days of chatting to understand a word they were saying. 

We met them again for a refreshing pint at the Beech Tree Inn which set us up for the afternoon, or so we thought. The first drops of rain should have warned us to be prepared as we entered the woods, did we take any notice, of course not, until it was too late, then the heavens opened, the thunder thundered, the lightning flashed, the lightning flashed more, the thunder thundered more and then it was lash, bang, flash bang with no gap between the flash and the bang, we were right in the middle of the storm. 

Nowhere to shelter apart from under the trees, not a good idea, so we hurried on, debating the use of metal trekking poles in a thunder storm! We reached the road and a found a bus shelter for a few minutes of relief from the road. Finally we reached Balmaha and the shores of Loch Lomond. The storm abated and the two pubs were visited for dinner and drinks. Met a guy in one of the pubs I knew from Hinckley, he was fishing.

The following day in bright sunshine we continued along the shores of the Loch getting good views across the water towards the Arrochar Alps. Meeting the Scots again who had had a miserable night in a camp site, far away from a pub and drying room. Then it rained again, another storm, this time the storm centre was a few miles to the east and caused the landslide blocking the A84 at Lochearnhead. 

Not quite as wet for us as previous day, we had a bunkhouse for the night (a converted chapel), with a bar, stained glass windows and good food. The Scots did forgo their camping that night and joined us in the dry, for good food and a bar.

On the third day we did extra mileage to Crianlarich and got a lift back to the MacGregors Landing, the bunkhouse at Ardlui at the top end of Loch Lomond. 

The following morning, leaving the loch and the trees behind, we caught the train from Ardlui Station back to Crianlarich, nice to see it was quite busy, most passengers having rucsacs and trekking poles. 

From now on, the weather was fine, no more rain and no more woods. Most of the walk for the first two days seemed to be in woods, wet woods at that. Now the landscape opened up, the walking was better on broad tracks, and the views superb, This day we met Canadians, some Germans and Austrians and a young American from Georgia and the Scots again.

Third night at the bridge of Orchy Hotel bunkhouse was spoilt by having a great meal of steak and pie with loads of gravy but no bread to dunk in the remainder of the gravy, they did offer a “platter” of bread for £1.50 and then took 15 minutes to deliver it, I sent it away, cold gravy is not my cup of tea, if you see what I mean….

Up at 6.00am for the longest day, across the edge of Rannoch Moor on the old Drovers track to the Kinghouse pub for a pint and chips, joined by the Scots and Canadians and then over the Devils Staircase to Kinglochleven. Twenty one miles and at the end the best bunkhouse of the trip. Right at the side of the WHW on the site of the old aluminium works, en suite rooms with four bunks and a TV. Large kitchen downstairs etc. Camp site and The Ice Factor on the same site. Mini supermarket three minutes away and a pub and chip shop five minutes away. What more to you need!. It was a good night in the pub (The Tailrace) with the Scots, Canadians and Germans.

Our final day was over to Fort William, a gentle stroll with finally a good view of the summit of the Ben before dropping down into Glen Nevis for a rather boring walk along the road to the official finishing point by a roundabout and tourist shop. An anticlimax really after 95 miles in 6 days….but the real finish came  a few hundred yards later on when we arrived at the first pub in the town, The Alexandria Hotel where to our surprise we were greeted by a cheer as we walked into the pub grounds, yes, the  Scots, Canadians, Germans had got there first, by about half an hour, although we hadn’t seen them all day. Needless to say a few beverages were taken, email addresses exchanged and for most, farewells made. However Kati, a German girl who was an experienced Alpine trekker wanted to climb the Ben. So she stayed, we met up in the evening for a meal and a treat for her, haggis, with tattie neaps etc.  

Final day, Carol decided not to join the trip but instead took the train (s) back to Milngavie to collect the car. The three of us set up the Ben, by, I must admit, the Tourist track, weather was usual for August, fine at bottom and quite chilly on the top. John and I were used to this but Kati, although well equipped couldn’t believe how cold, damp and almost freezing it was at such a low altitude, I mean at 4500ft in the Alps there are villages and small towns. 

Reunited with Carol and car that night, a final curry and farewell to Kati ended the trip. Great fun, great camaraderie and a good walk. Home, then 24 hours later, the three of us and John’s wife went of to Paris…but that’s another story.     Ted C.

AGM Thursday 18th November ‘04

It’s that time of the year again. The date for the 2005 AGM has been set for Thursday 18th November. As always, we hope the evening is well supported by the members, new and less new, as we need to be quorate before the meeting can proceed. Doors open 8.15 pm, meeting starts 8.30 pm.

Helicopter Rescue Improvements 

New multi-million pound heat-seeking equipment that enables RAF search and rescue helicopters to detect people faster has come into service.

Two Sea King helicopters have been fitted with the equipment and will be installed in the remaining fleet during the next 18 months. The multi-sensor system comprises a thermal imaging camera mounted alongside a daylight TV camera in a gyro-stabilised turret mounted underneath the helicopter. Pictures are displayed on monitors in the cabin where they can also be recorded. Temperature differences as low as 1oC can be detected from more than 1km away. Sea Kings are used in air/sea rescue work and also in the mountains and are based in Kinloss. It’s still better to avoid being lost.     Elvyn.

Source: Professional Engineering 23 June 2004