Oct 5-6 Golden Oldies:TYW
Oct 12-13 Coniston: Pam Norris
Oct 26-27 Heathy Lea: K Gregson
Nov 3 (Sun) Dovedale Dash: R Tresidder
Nov 9 (Sat) Annual Dinner
There has been a mix-up over the date of this meet. The September date, which has been on the meets list ab initio has T-Y-W booked out to another club. I am therefore taking the liberty of rescheduling this to October 5/6. There is no leader for this meet, but I am confidently assured by Shirley that "one will emerge". Sounds suspiciously like something out of a first year sociology course on groups. As an 'oldy' myself I'm starting to wonder what the goldens get up to. Rob Tresidder
I've booked the Barrow M&SC hut in the Coppermines valley for this meet, GR SD289986 (next to the Youth Hostel). The track up to the hut is rough, but driveable-parking is on the higher level between the hut & the YHA, cost is £5 pppn. The obvious climbing venues are well known; Dow Crag, Wallowbarrow, Langdale etc, but there are also numerous, less frequented crags in the vicinity, all of which offer good routes at all grades - Coniston real ale, brewed on the premises at the Black Bull is an added attraction!
So what's to do at this time of year? Well you could get manic-depressive, start Christmas shopping, think about summer holidays or involve yourselves in a whole host of other possibilities like fixing shelves or replacing tap washers.
However, there is an alternative. The sports plan is informal but will undoubtedly begin in the Robin Hood on Friday evening. One possibility on Saturday would be to climb as many pinnacles as possible on a forage up the edges, followed by sustenance in the Grindleford Café and a gentler stroll back down the river, but I wouldn't wish to cramp anybody's style if other things appeal. We could possibly follow this with a more leisurely stroll through the Park on Sunday to take in the odd Black Sheep at Beeley.
If you intend to turn up for the weekend please get in touch in order to book a bed. If you can't make it for the weekend feel free to join us either day, you'll be welcome.
Rusty and I have no recollection of it actually raining during a race, so this is clearly an event blessed by ye gods. Be there early and help avoid the rush near the start. Gives more time for all those hundreds of old friends you haven't seen since ...er... this time last year! Tactics: most of you will already know what works best for you. On one previous occasion I followed the advice of the then President and ran as fast as my legs would carry me to the Stepping Stones. From then on I had the dispiriting experience of passing no-one and being overtaken by about one third of the whole field. Robin Sedgwick takes the opposite view and starts at or near the back and is passed by no-one. Chris Radcliffe has sometimes kept to the left of the wall: I'm sure that's out of bounds Chris and anyway big fellas like you and me should be mixing it with the best in the bottom of Lindale!
There is usually some sort of adjournment after the race at The George in Alstonefield, now rather harder to get served since they abandoned the bar in the barn. Probably as well to get shot of your excuses early on in the drinking while you can still remember what they are.
Rob will also talk about his walk through Tuolumne Meadows, on the John Muir trail into the Yosemite Valley and then further south to Mount Whitney.
Paul Ramsden of the Gritstone MC is going to run a triple bill covering climbing new big walls in Oman, rigging stunts and pyrotechnics on the new Bond film in Iceland and lastly climbing a big hard route in China on Siguniang with Mick Fowler. Paul is an old friend of mine from Nilkanta in 1990. This promises to be an excellent evening's entertainment. Don't miss! Rob Tresidder
No entries this month
This is to be held at The Green Man Hotel, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
The price is £16 per person. Please make cheques payable to the Oread MC and send [to Shirley] with your completed menu form [enclosed]. Anyone with any food allergies please let me know. Please say who you wish to sit near, and we will try to arrange this.
Accommodation at the Hotel is £55 per double room and £35 per single (discount price for Saturday night only). Members contact The Green Man directly themselves.
Parking at the hotel is limited, but I understand from last year that members parked in the market place or otherwise the supermarket car park at the back of The Green Man.
This year, one of the guest speakers is George Sutton, whom many of you will remember from the 50th dinner. George was one of the few who 'Started it All'. Also Alan Squires and his friends are making music for you to dance to. I need all cheques and bookings by w/e 2nd November
The event will commence at 7.30 on the dot!
The year is moving on and there is just time to squeeze another meet onto the calendar. I will be spending Saturday either walking or cragging, depending on the weather. I will arrive at Heathy Lea about 5.00 O'clock to organise the evening's riposte. After Saturday evening's entertainment, Sunday can be spent sleeping it off.
Anyone interested in coming along, especially those volunteering to provide a 'dish' please contact me down at the Smithfield. I anticipate making a charge of about £5 per person, to cover the cost of the food.
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).
We are still seeking someone to take on the task of organising the winter evening meets. Rob has been doing this job for several years now, and would like to be relieved of the duty. He is also Meets Secretary. The monthly lectures are very popular, and it would be a pity to see them disappear. However, the Committee recognises that we might have to discontinue them if no-one can be found to relieve Rob of the duty. If there is anyone who feels that he could do this job, please contact Rob, or any committee member. The Committee.
I have received a notice from the Snowdonia National Park telling us of a Tree Preservation Order (No 25) 2002 on land adjoining the Welsh Highland Light Railway at Betws Garmon and Rhyd Ddu. The notice and order is required to be served on the owner/occupier of the land where the trees are situated and to the owners and occupiers of adjoining land. The order took effect, on a provisional basis on the 18th September 2002. It will continue in force on this basis for a further 6 months or until the order is confirmed by the Authority, whichever first occurs. The Authority will consider whether the order should be confirmed, that is to say, whether it should take permanent effect. Before this decision is made, we have a right to make objections or other representations about any of the trees, groups of trees or woodlands in covered by the order.
The only trees, which are affected at Tan-yr-Wyddfa, are the ones on our boundary by the coalbunker & old outside toilet, these have been given numbers T9 Ash, T10 Sycamore and T11 Beech. These trees overhang our property and the railway.
I shall be getting in touch with their Woodlands Officer about some Silviculture so please, until then, no snipping or lopping for whatever reason.
.Chuck Hooley: Huts Custodian & Trustee
The following is a complete list of the meets remaining for this year.
When I entered into my dotage-and some would say that this was long enough ago-I became interested in volcanoes, and I have a yen to visit Fuerteventura and Lanzarote this winter. As fellow members will appreciate, from the fact that in my state of health I need a horse or a mule to attain Himalayan altitudes, I need the support of a "Jeeves" to accompany me on these trips. The terms are: expenses paid U.K.-U.K, but no remuneration. C.V. should include: laid back attitude, interest in food and wine, ability to drive on the "wrong" side of the road, "clean" license, and availability at short notice. This is an equal opportunity vacancy, with no regard taken of race, gender, creed, mores or colour. Prospective candidates should get in touch after I return from the U.S.A. in the middle of October.
Ernie Phillips.
The Oread is an active club, with official meets to a good many places each year. These are usually (or is it 'sometimes') reported in the monthly newsletter, as a record of our activities. However, in addition to this, many members embark on trips of their own - sometimes to very unusual locations. As you already know, I am keen to receive descriptions of these escapades. Chris Radcliffe has provided one on his & Gill's visit to Colorado last year. I recognise that we do not always have time to do this - and yet there is a lot of information that could be useful to other members. I therefore propose to set up a "Register of Members' Activities". This would enable others to develop new ideas on places to go, and could provide a contact within the club, for the 'low down' on what to do, & how to do it! If you are willing to participate, please send me details of the more interesting trips you have been on, within (say) the last 5 years - or further back if you like. These could be far-flung places such as those Rock has been to, or just crags that are good, and not recently visited by the club. For example:
Name Place Year Activity
T Howard Zakopane,Polish Tatra 1996 Walking
Calanques,1997 Cragging
Marseille , 1998 Cragging
Annapurna Circuit,Nepal 2000 Trekking
Restonica, and Gozzi,Corsica,Easter 2002 Cragging
I know that members have been on trips to South America, Kenya, Nepal, Colorado, California and the Caucasus recently. There may be some who have recently been to New Zealand, Alaska, Canada, or climbed in the Czech Republic or the Italian Apennines for example. If so I would like to hear from you. I don't need any more information than above. I propose to award a prize for the 'best' entry. I would probably call this something like the 'Sir Edmund O'Polo' award.
Articles for the November edition should be sent to me. Please do NOT send me floppy discs by post, unless they are properly protected from physical damage. One I received in this way would not eject from my floppy drive! Please ensure that material for the next newsletter reaches me before Thurs 24th October. I would like to hear from Brian West (Bullstones).