In line with the new approach of providing early notification of meets one month ahead of the newsletter month, I have provided information on meets in February as well as January.
James and Neil still have beds available for this meet. If you wish to attend please contact them - details below.
The plan is to stay at the Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel at Glenmore, Aviemore, PH22 1QY. For more details see last month's Newsletter.
Once upon a time in a damp and misty land far, far away, a group of grumblesome gnomes lived in a cosy hut at the base of a mighty mountain. They dined from huge pans of spicy food, and drank wine and ale far into the night. Some even managed to get out of bed the next morning and climb the mighty mountain to look for icicles and roll boulders down upon rival gnomes. If you would like to join them at - Tan-yr-Wyddfa on 17th and 18th of January, ring Nick to book your little bunk.
A few diehard luddites have been going to Scotland for a week in Feb for several years now and contrary to the usual stories have got quite a lot done, and in confirmation of the usual stories have drunk quite a lot as well, assisted by the Clachaig beer festival. Six days on the hill last year including 2 on Meggie, the Ben, Aonach Mor, Ben Uli and Glencoe. We stay at some chalets just down the road from Ballachullish overlooking the loch. The chalets sleep 4, we have one booked for Feb. I think the chalets have to be booked for a week. Last year there were several vacant when we were there. If anyone is interested give me a ring and we can co-ordinate booking more chalets if there are enough takers.
The winter indoor slide lectures will take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 8:00 pm in the Royal Oak Ockbrook.
Jan.6 Eyes to the Hills and Beyond Gordon Stainforth
Feb. 3 A World of Sport and Ice Climbing Simon Dale
Mar. 2 Vintage Films + the Dolomites Chris Radcliffe
Gordon Stainforth's talk on 6th January will be focusing on the Himalayas and beyond.
Simon Dale gets too many weekends away, and a lot of trips abroad. On 3rd February his talk will tell us about his experiences both home and abroad.
Chris Radcliffe will talk about his recent trip to the Dolomites on March 3rd, and would also like to show, as the second half of his evening's entertainment vintage 8 mm films. However, he needs an 8mm projector. Any offers??
This list is only correct at time of going to press. Members are advised to check availability with the hut booking secretary Colin Hobday before going to either hut. Note that hut booking dates refer to nights (e.g. Fri/Sat for a weekend), whereas meet dates refer to the days e.g. Sat/Sun).
What is your typical Scottish winter climbing experience? Is it a week, pre-booked and longed for in a Roy Bridge chalet that turns into maybe one good route in an otherwise wet week? Or is it a weekend meet in a cozy hut? A rushed departure from Derby on Friday night, laden down with food and kit for every eventuality, traffic jam on the M6 and staggering into the hut at 1 a.m. Struggling out of bed in the morning... Need I go on to describe further ghastly Scottish experiences? Try 4Up! I plan to help those who want to get some good climbs under their belt this winter by organising a scheme to help you keep in touch with the people you need. Here's how it works:
1.let me know the weekends in Jan, Feb and March when you think you will be free - sort of default climb dates and whether you have a suitable vehicle
2.I will draw up a list so that we can all see who is available when
3. on Wednesday a provisional go/no go decision based on forecast is made, firmed up on Thursday
4. This is the Fowlerish bit: leave Derby late on Friday with four drivers in a 1.5 litre minimum car, dressed ready to climb (well you can leave your crampons off). Take turns to drive and aim to leave the roadside at or before dawn on Saturday. Saturday night is more problematic, but I suggest bivvying, bunkhouse, maybe camping but mountains of cooking gear will slow everything down.
5. Sorry, but I believe I can only manage this if you have e-mail. Phone and mobile would help me too.Rob Tresidder
Illustrated Lectures at the Fishpond Matlock Bath on Wednesday evenings 8.30 pm for a prompt start at 8.45pm.[Note that the Derwent has moved from the old venue at the Princess Victoria' Ed.]
Jan. 21 (Wed.) 'Mountaineering in Greenland'. Dave Wilkinson
Dave, a member of the AC, CC, FRCC, and Wolverhampton MC has decades of experience of climbing in Britain and the greater ranges. He will describe recent exploratory trips to the mountains of East Greenland.
Feb. 25 (Wed.) Geology of the Peak District. Geoff Williams
Climbing and walking in the Peak will never be the same again after Professor Williams of the British Geological Survey has spoken to us.
Mar. (Wed) 24 My Life and Times.Mark Vallance
Mark, current president of the BMC, comes to talk to us with a long climbing pedigree ranging from base camp commanding in Antarctica through the ascent of 8,000m peaks, alpinism, and rock throughout the world.
Just turn up and bring along interested friends and acquaintances; we have to cover the cost of hire of the upstairs room at the Fishpond so small charge. Judy Scott or Peter Scott
As you will be aware, the Committee has decided to raise the fees for membership of the Oread Club for 2004, including the mandatory incorporation of BMC club affiliation fees (£6.25) with Oread membership fees. The reasons for this are as follows.
The BMC ruling for affiliation by a club includes a subscription fee from the club of £140 for the first 20 members plus £6.25 for each additional member. There is no suggestion in this that specific members of any club have a choice regarding this levy - we all have to pay. However, it is understood that if an individual club member has paid this levy more than once, through membership of more than one BMC affiliated club, he can recover the additional levies directly from the BMC.
The Oread Committee feels strongly that the Club should wholeheartedly support the BMC. We are affiliated to the BMC, and they have helped us with legal issues in the past. There is increasing concern over litigation threats in sports and the BMC is fully engaged with this and with liability issues. With these views in mind, the Committee decided to levy the BMC affiliation fee of £6.25 on all Oread members, not merely on those who were members of only the Oread Club - as had been the intention in the past. This will avoid confusion and ensure that the club pays the BMC the full fee levied upon us in regard to our entire membership.
In addition to the above, the Committee decided to raise the annual subscription contribution that goes directly to Oread Club funds. This was increased by £2.75, to cover general inflation of costs to the Club.
As a result of these changes the Oread Club membership fees are as outlined below.
Ed. - for the Committee.
If anyone still wishes to upgrade to full BMC membership, please ask me for a form. Please make all cheques payable to Oread Mountaineering Club. Thank you.
At the December Committee meeting, Steve Christian was accepted as a full member of the club. Welcome to the Club Steve.
An application for membership was received from Maggie Pape. If you have any views on Maggie's application, please make them to the Club Secretary, before the end January
Please ensure that material for the next newsletter reaches me before Monday 26th January. I would like to hear from , Derek Pike (Little Langdale), Daryl Kirk (Cairngorms), Rob Tresidder (Glen Etive), Colin Barnard (Patterdale), John Green (TYW).