This is my final newsletter before Stephen Bashforth takes over. If you have been reading over the last couple of years, thank you for your indulgence: I hope you feel I have kept you well informed about Oread goings on. I've enjoyed editing and have a certain sense of having been wrenched away!Keep climbing! Rob Tresidder
As noted in the last newsletter, the meet that should have started tonight is leaderless. Of course the hut is still booked out to the Oread, so this could be freeform and rewarding! RT
The camping is at Camping Pic Saint-Loup close to the village. Chris and I arrive Saturday, April 8 and depart Monday, April 17. So far 12 people have said they will be coming but arrival dates are staggered over this period. St Martin-de-Londres is about 15 km northwest of Montpelier and therefore tends to have reliable weather at Easter when other sport climbing venues in the south of France can be cold and wet. It also tends not to attract the same number of itinerant climbers from colder climes of northern Europe. Those who have visited have all been impressed.
The Birkett guide to French Rock lists two main climbing areas: Hortus, St Guilhem le Desert close to St Martin but there are others fairly nearby, such as Le Caroux and Seynes. There is more information on the web eg http://rockclimbing.com/routes/listArea.php?AreaID=6572 As ever a useful site is http://www.cosiroc.org/
The village is small and medieval with typical bar life. To get a general impression see http://www.multimediaphoto.com/pano360/stmartin_eng.htmlIf you can, please come and help, if only for a day. There's plenty to be done, and plenty of time to talk and get to know what's going on. If you intend to stay at the hut please contact Colin to book a bed space. Hut fees are zero rated!
I will be staying at the Cae Du campsite, Rhosllefain, Tywyn. Map ref 568060. Entrance to the site is on a steep bend and is easily missed. I will be in the field on the left after the farm, near the cliffs.
The campsite is on the coast with fantastic views, and a small climbing crag on the beach!!! We hope to have a campfire and barbeque on the beach if not snowing. It is within reach of Bird Rock with it's "dragons", and both sides of Cadair. Sand castle building and dolphin watching for families.
This area of Yorkshire does not seem to be visited by the Oread very often so here is your chance to walk the moors, cycle, or climb on some of those well known and some not so well known gritstone or limestone crags. For the tourist amongst us there are the well known hotspots of Malham and its tarn, Bolton Abbey, and for those who have had a taste of steam on the W.H.L.R. and would like some more there is the Embsay Steam Rly.
Personally I am hoping to do some climbing, probably at Crookrise, (gritstone) if I can actually get off the ground. For the short and not so short a box to stand on to help get over the hard starts would be useful. We shall be camping caravanning or campervanning at Masons Camping site in Appletreewick. G.R. SD 047602.
The village boasts two pubs, the New Inn and the Craven Arms which is only a few minutes walk to the east of the campsite where I shall be on the Friday evening. I hope you will all join me there. Unfortunately as this is a very popular area the campsite requires firm bookings and I have to let them know some two to three weeks in advance how many will be attending so anybody who wishes to come along would they please give me a ring to book their place by the 24th April.
Thanks to everyone who has helped out, presented slide shows and of course who have attended this winter's evenings. The 2006/2007 winter lectures will be my final year as organiser so I will again be looking for people to talk and more important someone to take over the job for 2007/2008. There will be no lecture in January as the first Tuesday is a bit too close to New Year so I will only be needing 5 volunteers/suggestions fo next season. So come on down all you folk with digital cameras, you've got no excuses now. Tim Cairns
March 4th & 5th - Patterdale
A total of 23 Oreads massed at the GS hut during Friday evening and Saturday morning, many with stories of travel difficulties caused by the inclement weather and resultant travel problems - Chris Radcliffe for example suffered a total loss of traction!
Near Alpine conditions on the higher summits led to a frenzied search on Saturday morning for crampons and axes, while Chris and Gill held earnest 'technical discussions'. By Saturday evening a number of gullies had been climbed on Helvellyn and the surrounding area, along with winter traverses of Helvellyn,Fairfield and High Street to the south.
Everyone enjoyed the superb conditions but Brian did discover that years of under investment eventually have a cost and I understand that his trusty ice pick has now been relegated to home DIY projects.
Sunday - much of the same but over a wider area as many members 'pulled something in ' on the way home. Thanks to everyone who came along, especially Roy and Chris and Chris and Gill for helping with 'domestic arrangements'. SH
The AGM rumbled along much as AGMs do. The retiring president, Tony Howard, gave a brief resume of the Oread year. The treasurer opened his books... and there were elections. Some musical chairs here that have left the committee almost unchanged.. Michael Hayes departs to devote himself to mountaineering; Neil Weatherstone and Reuben Dakin join as meets secretary and assistant secretary respectively.
Tony then handed over proceedings to the incoming president, Rob Tresidder, who was faced only with the inocuous sounding AOB. Not so. This proved a baptism of fire (solar powered, in the conservatory, with a hatchet) in the form of a sometimes heated discussion around Malcolm Padley's legacy and the Janes/Ashcroft/Williams proposed conservatory for Tan-yr-Wyddfa. The meeting closed after Dave Weston's proposal (that the HSC be asked to investigate the desirability/feasability) was defeated. RT,/P.
But he has not, however, made them run in the right direction. Obeying orders, we boarded the Trans Peak Derby stop Y1 08.55 GMT only to find that it does not go via Topley Pike SK 103723 11.15 BST. Now to be ejected from a vehicle in some unlooked-for spot and told to find ones way back is,I am told, one of the character-bulding ploys dear to the military mind.
A character-building began somewhere north of Chelmorton as we found ourselves marching backwards towards the starting point. Not marching backwards literally, you understand, although I do feel that this would have added quite a picturesque touch to the proceedings. Gosh, I'm over the limit already, dumpkopf that I am. More ist verboten. executed I shall be if continue I do. anyway, I must Nikwax my jackboots pretty damn schnell, I've just heard mein president outlining his plans for this year's Bullstones - something about an invasion of Poland.....BW
As many of you know, some of us organise our mid-week (and weekend) activities electronically. If anyone wishes to join us, please get in touch and I can add you to the e-mail group. Alternatively, if you are technologically challenged, but still want to find out what's going on, feel free to give me a call and I can keep you informed. SP
Landscape photo competition. Big prizes. Closing date for all entries is Friday 12th May. More details here: www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk
This year's alpine meet will be based at the Nationalpark Camping Grossglockner in the village of Heiligenblut. Situated at the foot of the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain, the area offers all the usual entertainment to keep us all busy.
From the German guidebook (all 697 pages of it) there looks an endless amount to do from hut to hutting, easy walking, snow clad peaks, short icy north faces and sunny southern rock climbs
If that is not enough and the thought of relaxing in the valley does not interest you then the area is also close to the town of Lienz and the Dolomites. My Tre Cime guide book will somehow find its way into the van!
The campsite looks out across open fields towards the Glockner (http:members.aon.at/nationalpark-camping/content.html) and looks to be fairly large and open. I asked about booking but they insisted it was not necessary and they would have space. However, depending on numbers I will probably call them in June. If you are interested in joining us out there then please give me a call.