Welcome to the first edition in a new format. I hope this meets with everyone's approval. I have moved the "Forthcoming meets" bit to the end for reference. If anyone has any idea's for other changes please let me know. You should also have the final version of the meets list for 2009 as an Excel doc attached. I shall be starting my "Corbetting" trips to Scotland on the 21st of January all being well. If anyone would like to join me, perhaps to bag that missing Munro, please drop me an email or give me a ring. A Happy New Year to you all. I wish everyone health and happiness in the hills for 2009.
If the colder temperatures are putting fire in your heart, dreaming of ice falls, gullies and snowy ridges, then read on. During the coming winter there are a series of weekends pencilled into the meets calendar, for which an appraisal of winter climbing and weather conditions will be made during the week preceding. A communication by e-mail will be made, notifying of any proposal to travel to the mountains in the pursuit of winter climbing the following weekend. Accommodation will be hut,hostel or bunkhouse. All possible climbing locations will be up for review, including Scotland, Wales and The Lake District. Those members not on the e-mail circular can obtain further details nearer the day by telephoning or texting the meet leader for the specified weekend. Last year we experienced a fine days climbing in The 'Gorms following just such a strategy Steve Christian for January and Simon Pape for February.
This should be a good time of year for Wales' best winter conditions, for which the hut is ideally placed. Beware that the dry rot, if not mild weather, may put the meet in jeopardy! Please let me know if you would like to come.
The weather during the day was a pleasantly in the mid 20deg C. Palm trees swayed gently in the tropical breeze as we drank some premium ales while watching the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. But that's enough about my recent trip to Florida, this report is on the Bullstones meet. Being a relatively short distance away meant that several Oreads were able to join in for the parts/ bits of the weekend that they could manage. A total of 11 people took some part in the walking, but only 3 completed the 'official' route (although John Green had done the Sunday walk on the Friday).
The cold clear weather of the preceding week was replaced on Friday night with rain & wind, so some time was spent in the Ladybower discussing different routes. After enough ale had been drunk to make it seem an attractive prospect we headed out to the car park to get ready for the walk. This time everyone had waterproofs, I certainly checked twice that I had mine, not wanting to make an early bid for the 2009 bent ice screw award. 9 of us set out onto Derwent edge and once on top went at a fair pace to the Wheelstones to bivvy. Saturday morning was wet & misty. Somehow Simon Pape & Mike Hayes had managed to stay dry despite the huge deep puddle in which their tent was now pitched. However, Wim hadn't been so lucky and with everything wet he decided to head back to the Ladybower Inn with Brian & Chris who had planned to go back due to other commitments. Thus there were 6 left for the walk.
Kev Fidler suggested heading down to Fairholmes for some bacon butties and the idea met little resistance. While at Fairholmes enjoying the butties & coffee an up to date weather forecast was found. It said what we had feared, that the rain all day would only be replaced with snow high up. Bleaklow was abandoned and a route to Crookstone Knoll & the south side of Kinder was decided upon. The walking was pleasant, but damp. I'm sure that most Oreads have spent such a day on Kinder so I won't try to explain what it was like. I was told however that the walk was notable in that it was the first time that anyone could remember on the Bullstones where all the party did the same route, walking as a group. There being little reason to stay on the hill any longer than necessary we got to Edale at around 2:30 and went straight to the Nags Head. After being suitably rehydrated we headed to the campsite. John took Mike back to Ladybower so he could bring his van round. A little later, Mike provided hot tea in his van as we sat drying and warm listening to the football on the radio. Everyone complimented Mike on the comfort & organisation of his van. The 6 were joined by Chiz & Reuben in the Rambler Inn for our evening meal. The food was very good, though one of the beers was off (one of the bar staff tried arguing with John that it was fine, but John has drunk enough good beer to know when it's not right). So after the meal we returned to the Nags Head for more beer. James Fidler dispensed advice on the variety of Scotch whiskey's available and several were consumed at the end of the evening.
On Sunday morning Kev & James Fidler left early as planned and John Green (having walked from the campsite to the Ladybower on Friday) went home, leaving 5 for the walk. The weather was much better, generating several comments along the line of why couldn't it have been like this yesterday? We were able to stick to the planned route of Hollins Cross, Lose Hill & Win hill to end up back at the Ladybower Inn for about 1pm. Mike bought the drinks which tasted all the better with the annual pleasure of having completed & survived the Bullstones for yet another year.
It was the end of an era! After approximately 10 years of sleeping on God's floor - or at least the C of E's in Coniston - we slept our last celestial sleep! Thanks to the property developers we were the last ever to do so: the Church Hall will be converted to housing! I did not know this when I set off on Friday lunch time with Nick. Plucking Dave from Sheffield on our way, our intent was to lay down our beds in 'heaven' & set off for the Black Bull where we would thoroughly dispel our 'morbid fear of dehydration' on as many pints of Bluebird as we could. Seats were available despite the crowds of 'petrol-heads'. The food was flavoursome, and plentiful. We drank copious pints of beer throughout the evening - which was punctuated with the arrival of the other Oreads. Even Roger had been drawn from his northerly course to attend.
Saturday started fine, dry, white & sunny. As meet leader I suggested a walk over Wetherlam and vaguely somewhere else, but Tim and Nick had a better idea & most of us followed them. We hit the grass slopes above the Coppermines valley road soon after leaving the village and scrambled via Long Crag Buttress to reach a plateau at about 400m altitude. The mist enveloped Coniston, but left the white fells bathed in the pale autumn sunlight. As the clouds rose the scene was like that from an aircraft window; mists obscuring one feature, then another. We talked of electricity, geometry and rice! The remaining nymphs joined us on Wetherlam before we all continued towards Swirl How. Roger led me astray and off the beaten track to re-emerge on the ridge to Great Carrs. Dave was waiting for us: dispatched by the President to ascertain whether or not we were safe, or to suffer our fate after we were abandoned by the rest. We three trudged through fresh snow over Brim Fell & the Old Man, into a beautiful sunset before descending via Low Water to the Sun Inn. After a fierce struggle with ourselves we went in and were joined by the others a pint later. Victory in a second struggle brought us to the Black Bull for dinner. It was quiet! The petrol heads had all gone home because the weather had been cloudy & dull all day! But what a day we had had: it truly had been the bees' bollocks - or at least the dogs' knees!
The gurus were consulted again on Sunday and a scramble on Raven Crag Yewdale brought us to the top of Holme Fell. Once again we were treated to the beautiful sunshine, snowy hills and low level cloud that comes from a temperature inversion. I love the Lake District in autumn - but we'll have to find another venue for next year. Tony HowardThe day dawned fine for this ultra traditional occasion on the Oread calendar. After dark, Oreads arrived to find the rocks as dank as ever but at least with some of the litter removed. We didn't do it all ourselves: a party from the Anthony Gell School had been there a few days before but had struggled to find litter under the snow. Ten days before we had managed to fill five bags from the top and bottom of the crag as well as the principal gullies: glass, cans, crisp packets, barbecues.
Many thanks to John Green, John Gresty, James Tubby and Brian West for their sterling endeavours. Jane, Michael and Simon arrived in time to inspect, approve and congratulate! After dark and within an hour of folk arriving to climb, it had started to drizzle but nothing daunted, ascents of Birch Tree Variant, Birch Tree Direct and Lone Tree Groove were made on the cleaner W face. Round in the dank of the N face, a pair struggled up Black Crack and the usual trad ascents of Queen's Parlour Chimney were made.
I recently picked up the inspirational BMC leaflet "Crag and Habitat Management" and have since been in touch with Guy Keating, the access officer at the BMC. The leaflet details some astonishing clearance work done at Brimham, Bull's Hollow, Helsby, High Rocks. Money may be available through the Access & Conservation Trust and the Crag Care Fund. Details on the BMC site here: thebmc.co.uk If you're interested in being involved, please let me know and I'll try and keep you informed. Rob Tresidder
This is a special year for the Oread Mountaineering Club, and your committee thought that it might make sense to ask the membership for some idea's as to what venue we should use for our 60th dinner. Would you let Neil Weatherstone have your thoughts please, so that he may take them into consideration before booking the meal. John Green.
Those of you not at the annual dinner may not know of the endowment of a new club trophy, awarded to the Oread who in the preceding year has displayed the greatest degree of mountaineering incompetence. Had I not been completely caught on the hop, I would have said a few words at the dinner as I reluctantly held the screw in my hand. I think it is customary at awards ceremony for the honoured recipient to modestly disclaim any credit for the honour bestowed. I am no different: I really do not deserve this. The other tradition is to claim no responsibility for the actions that have attracted the award, but instead to say that it is accepted on behalf of "my fantastic team". I have cast around for someone to blame/credit for my absent waterproofs on the Brecons Bullstones last year. Alas I can find no-one. I am only slightly mollified by the exceptional workmanship of the trophy. Derek Pike has crafted an ice screw with a left hand thread, bent and mounted in a perspex holder. A handsome piece of work to stand alongside the fell race trophy and two photo competition cups. Somehow I fear this new prize is more likely to be awarded every year than any of the others! Rob Tresidder
Michael Bate was elected a full member at the December committee meeting. We wish him well in his climbing with us.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE T.Y.W. WILL BE SUBJECT TO CLOSURE ONCE DETAILS WITH THE DRY ROT CONTRACTOR HAVE BEEN FINALISED SO WORK CAN BE CARRIED OUT. THERE ARE STILL MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT PAID THEIR HUT FEES PLEASE DO SO NOW.
Would those members who have boxes of the 50th Anniversary book please let me know how many they have left?