Ben More and Stobinian– Scottish Highlands

Editorial. (Last Date for Feb edition 27/01/12)

Welcome to the bumper Christmas and New Year issue of the Oread Magazine. I ask myself how many younger members have been lucky enough to see cloud inversion like the picture above? For this to happen, you need to be in the right place at the right time, so just getting out, whatever the conditions, is what‘s needed. I have to say in all my climbing years I have never seen this at a climbing wall!

The Bullstones is with us again and I am sure Pam will do us proud. Then it‘s Christmas, seems to come round quicker each year, I‘ve no idea why, but there it is. The January winter trips will once again be done via the yahoo group, so if anyone out there wants come along, get yourself on the list! Our President is leading a meet at Swanage which I am assured will be sunny and warm. Rob Tresidder is showing us his incredible long trip across the Pyrenees at the Royal Oak and Steve Bennett is continuing his Mountain Bike outings into the New Year.

Have a Wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Winter Lectures at the Royal Oak 6th December 2011

From the Ocean to the Sea! ! ! Rob Tresidder

In July and August of this year Jane and I did a complete traverse of the Pyrenees that included numerous mountains, quite a few swims and hundreds of passes. 800k, 40 000m
of climb and a lot of big meals. In the course of the evening, I hope to cover the idea, the planning, the walking of the five sections with some intercalated reflections on geology, geography, fauna, flora, farming, building and history — especially of the Spanish Civil War. I shall bring guidebooks and maps and be willing to speak with anyone interested in
doing all or part of the Haute Route Pyrenéenne.

If the technology allows I hope to start at 8 p.m. Oh... in the Royal Oak, Ockbrook. Usual admission charges.

The January lecture will be on the 31st and is by Chiz Dakin talking about Penguins, Ice and Huts!

Bullstones 2011 9-11th December

Pam Norris

This year‘s Bullstones will be in the eastern Yorkshire Dales starting and finishing at the village of West Burton.

Meet me on Friday evening in the Fox and Hounds GR 016867, and after consuming a suitable quantity of ale we will venture into the night, to stumble about in the dark en route to our eventual bivvy site on the slopes of Harland Hill.

Saturday will see us heading over Miry Paddock/ Braidley Moor/ Brown Haw and Buckden Pike, before descending to cross the B6160 north of Cray (optional detour for liquid refreshment at the White Lion involves an additional 80m of descent and subsequent re-ascent!). Here we pick up the bridleway over Stake Moss and thence via Stalling Busk to Marsett where I have booked our accommodation for the night (Marsett Barn GR 907860). The barn sleeps 15, has gas lighting and cooking (pots/ plates provided), woodburning stove and shower and costs £9 per person.

On Sunday we will initially retrace our steps to Stalling Busk before heading over Stake Allotments and Heck Brow whence a choice of routes leads to Thoralby and your car at West Burton.

Phone or email me to book your place – final numbers needed by 1st December please.

Tel: ##### ######

Email: #####@######.## Please note that I will be away between 31st Oct & 14th November.

Wed 14th December – Black Rocks.

Rob Tresidder.

THE unmissable meet of the year! We usually assemble some time after work and on the rocks. There are usually some who ignore the dark and dank and manage to climb as though it were midsummer. Others consider a single route deserves the pie and pea supper (about £3) waiting for them at the Rising Sun at Middleton Cross. Donʼt leave it too late. I have advised the publican that most will arrive soon after 8. Come to me for partners, car shares, bus times and encouragement.

! Some go straight to the pub — often by bike.

#####@######.## 07951 625 378

Christmas at Tan-yr-Wyddfa.

Rock Hudson.

The end of another year! Come along for a few days at Tan yr Wyddfa, it‘s an informal meet, you can do whatever you like. There will be a buffet meal on New Years Eve. Please bring along some food and drink. Book your place with me. On ##### ######

Boxing Day "unofficial" gathering.

The Miners at Brassington.

For those not away and needing a bit of exercise on Boxing Day.
Historically many Oread and Derwent members have met for a convivial festive lunchtime drink at the Miners at Brassington.
People make their own way there walking, running, driving cycling. Some have even been known to come via raft on the Derwent, in the Boxing Day morning raft race. Always worth a visit on the way for a good laugh.
Don't forget your head torch, or bike lights, darkness can fall before the last pint is finished, ask Brian West.

New Year Walk Sun 1st Jan 2012

Clive Russell.

I propose once again stroll up from Ilam, via Bunster, Cave Dale and Stanhope , to the Royal Oak at Wetton There will also be the traditional, slightly fragmented return party directly down the Manifold to Ilam (if we are fortunate enough to have a clear sky, the view from the East bank of the Manifold when facing South is one of my local favourites).

We shall meet on the road in Ilam Village, opposite the cross, in time to move off at 10.45. It would be best to be at the Royal Oak during the prime drinking hours, and to have time for a comfortable walk back during the short winter daylight so a punctual start would be helpful. It would also be helpful to use as few vehicles as possible and so occupy the least number of scarce parking spaces.

In the past I have started this walk from various locations, but Ilam seems to be preferred, we shall try to introduce variety by minor adjustments to the route year by year.

This will be a social walk requiring no serious exertion, and should be an opportunity for different generations to strengthen their ties.

Winter Wander Sunday 15th January 2012

Chris Wilson.

An opportunity to walk off a bit of Christmas pudding and get a bit of fresh air. Most walks need a good pub, and this has several on the way. The plan is to park in Chelmorton (on the main street) and meander down Deep Dale and then Chee Dale to the Anglers for lunch, returning via Taddington. A total of about 11 miles, so a daylight finish could be possible. In recent years a common winter problem has been snow-bound roads. In the unlikely event of deep snow and disrupted transport, an alternative starting point is Topley Pike layby on the A6, which should be kept open. If conditions look dodgy you‘ll need to phone me to confirm this. The alternative start though will probably also mean an alternative lunch stop. Departure time from Chelmorton is 10:30 in the morning.
Chris Wilson, Mob: 0788 169 8758 or home ##### ######

Swanage Meet Sat 28th & Sun 29th January 2012.

Chris Wilson.

The Oread has a long tradition of climbing at Swanage, although sadly it‘s fallen out of favour in recent years. This meet will hopefully rekindle our passion for its unique atmosphere!
During the winter, whilst other parts of the country might be considered out of the question, the area can be surprisingly warm and comfortable for climbing.
If you‘ve not climbed there before, then you‘re in for a treat. It‘s limestone, always steep, usually exposed and invariably dramatic. Most of the climbs tend to be furnished with sizeable holds and good cracks, the rock is rough and the friction excellent. However, many routes are steep, intimidating and given additional spice by some loose rock, especially at the top.
There are over a dozen crags/areas. Some of the more notable ones are:

Cattle Troughs – easy access and sound rock. Lots of V Diffs, and VS‘s. (But it‘s a sea cliff.)

Cormorant Ledge and Guillemot Ledge - Climbs of all standards, but mainly VS and above. Routes include Cormorant Buttress West (S); Quality Street (HVS 4c); Tudor Rose (E2 5b)

Blackers Hole – exciting stuff including possibly the greatest roof climb in Britain, Laughing Arthur.

Boulder Ruckle – What Swanage is all about. Half a mile of formidable rock 120‘ high, where an ascent is an adventure.

Dancing Ledge - Lots of sports climbs

If Swanage isn‘t your cup of tea, Portland is about an hour away. Sports routes galore.
Walking in the area can be glorious and there‘s plenty to keep you going for two days. And the pubs are great.
Our usual campsite is closed for the winter, so instead Herston Caravan and Camp Site (Washpond Lane, Swanage, Dorset BH19 3DJ) offers excellent camping and caravanning. It‘s close to the beach and Swanage. The site has log cabins, static homes and yurts for rent. A caravan/camper-van pitch is from £17 (site + electric) to £25 (all mod cons) per night. See www.herstonleisure.co.uk for more details.
If you‘re interested in coming, let me know and I‘ll try and co-ordinate things. Chris Wilson, tel 0788 169 8758 or email #####@######.##

Sat 11th – Sun 12th February 2012 Tan-yr-Wyddfa

Rowland Smith.

Following on from the success of Tony‘s curry night at TYW, I have suggested we do something similar on a more continental theme. TYW is already booked for the weekend of 11th and 12th Feb 2012, so why not make it another evening of culinary delight, but this time with French, Spanish or Italian recipes?

There are clearly some very good cooks in the Oread, and I expect some of you are good at more than just curries, so if you fit into that category and you can come along that weekend then please let me know. If you don‘t, but you would like to come along and eat some delicious food, then still let me know.

If you are able to contribute to the cooking then please suggest 2 or 3 recipes that you like to make and we‘ll decide between us which ones would make the best overall meal. I think that is a better way to do it as it won‘t lend itself quite so well to just having a bit of everything on the plate as curry tends to (on an English plate at least), but I am expecting the desert course to be better.

Oh, and I nearly forgot – there is some good climbing and walking nearby.

#####@######.## ##### ######

Membership Renewals for 2012

Reuben Dakin

I hope that you‘ve enjoyed the last year with the Oread. The winter season unfortunately means that I need to ask for your subs for 2012. The good news is that we are able to keep the rates the same as last year:

Ordinary Member £40.00

Senior* Member £25.00*

Prospective# Member £25.00 for first 2 years #, then £40.00

Joint§ (Family) Membership £65.00 per couple

Senior* Joint§ (Family) Membership £42.00 per couple

Family§: one senior*, one youthful £53.50 per couple

* You are eligible for senior membership if you will have reached ―state pension age‖ on 1 January 2012. This applies to:

 Ladies born on or before 5 February 1951

  Gents born on or before 1 January 1947

 §Two ordinary or senior members living at the same address are eligible for joint (family) membership.

# Prospective members who have been in the club since January 2010 will discover that your subs for 2012 becomes the same as the ordinary members‘ rate, so you might as well get on with applying for full membership now. A copy of the (very simple!) application form is attached with this newsletter. If you live at the same address as another ordinary member, you will be eligible for joint membership, which will cost you no more anyway.

All of the above rates include £11.75 (also unchanged from 2011) in respect of your BMC club membership. You cannot opt-out of this arrangement, but you can get a refund from the BMC if you are paying through another affiliated club.

If your permanent address is outside the UK you are not a BMC club member and your subs will be 50% of the standard rate set out above.

How to pay:

  Cheque, payable to Oread Mountaineering Club, posted to me at 14 New Street, Little Eaton, Derby DE21 5AF

  Bank transfer: sort code 05-04-07, account number 45028744. Please let me know if you pay by bank transfer.

 You need to pay before:

  31 December to ensure that your BMC 3rd party insurance remains current

  31 January to maintain your Oread membership

 Receiving your payment promptly helps me immensely.

If you have any queries regarding your renewal, please contact me at #####@######.## , or on ##### ######. Many thanks

Night Navigation

Derwent Mountaineering Club Meets

The DMC are inviting the Oread their Night Navigation evenings. They have 3 of these next year –

25th Jan based from Foxhouses carpark - set by Mike Dowsett

22nd Feb based from Robin Hood carpark - set by Tony Fidler

21st Mar based from The Peacock, Owler bar - set by Mick Biggin

Six flags are positioned on the moors and grid references/instructions given to teams. Usually takes 2 - 3 hours of blundering across the moors in the dark with the only reward being a pint at the individuals expense and being ridiculed in the pub afterwards. Any incompetence in not finding flags is totally down to the teams taking part and nothing to do with the setter getting it wrong. Usually kicks off between 6.30 and 7.30 pm with teams of 2 or more forming and setting off as they arrive at the start. Headtorches, maps, compass and thickskins essential.

Any Weekend – Winter Climbing 2012

Pete Lancaster.

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 assessment 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. Over the past few years, Oreads have had some excellent sport, let‘s hope for a bumper year in 2012. I will act as a ‗hub‘ and try to co-ordinate things for those not connected via the yahoo group. I can be contacted at #####@######.## or by ‗phone ##### ######. Oread Mountaineering Club Newsletter Page 6 of 16

Biking with Bennett.

Steve Bennett.

November:  A good gathering of eager bikers awaited my arrival at Heathy Lea. After a cool start things warmed up and we enjoyed clear skies and strong sunshine for much of the day. We steadily made our way to Eyam for a belated lunch stop via the superb double and single track bridleways around Baslow Edge before the highlight of the day: the descent from Top Riley to Stoney Middleton and then a relatively early return to Heathy Lea. Many thanks to Gill, Mike, Pete, Chris and prospective members Aiden, Linty and Non for your company.

December: I am hoping to cover a little more ground this time; the route will begin with a cruise north from the railway station and after crossing the Goyt at Taxal there will be an option to return to Buxton from Derbyshire Bridge before we begin a circuit from the Cat and Fiddle over possibly the best sequence of biking trails that the Peak District has to offer; don‘t miss this one!

 

 Sunday December 4th, Buxton Railway Station Car Park, Grid Ref: 058737. Meet at 9.45 for a 10am start.

 Sunday January 22nd, Cannock Chase Visitor Centre Car Park, Nr Rugeley. Meet at 10am. ( Easy access from the A38: Directions next month).

 Sunday February 26th, meeting place to be announced.

 Sunday March 25th, meeting place to be announced.

For further information or possible car sharing please give me a call. ##### ###### or ##### ######

#####@######.## Oread Mountaineering Club Newsletter Page 7 of 16

News, Articles and Reports from Meets.

George Fowler – an Appreciation

Simon Pape

I‘ve known George for as long as I‘ve been climbing. When Maggie and I first went along to the Derwent M.C., it was George (amongst others) who took us under his wing. A lot of my early milestones were passed with George: my first severe lead was on a trip to Ireland; my first VS at Burbage North with George holding the rope. My first Oread meet was with George – the 3 of us drove down to the Ardeche one Easter – my first experience of bolted climbing.

At that time, George was always keen to get out. Wednesday evenings on his favourite Wildcat. Sundays on the gritstone edges, weekends in North Wales or the Lakes. There was his fiftieth birthday in Cornwall, long weekends in Pembroke, Easters in France.

It wasn‘t just the climbing. Walks on Lake District meets invariably ended up in a pub, normally in a different valley resulting in a walk back in the dark. There were skiing trips, mountain biking, even some running. When I started running fell races, I‘d often see George, out for a walk, but offering his support at the same time.

My last memory of George, before his illness, was of my first AGM as President. George was sat there at the back, directly in my line of sight, gently supporting as ever. It was no coincidence that he proposed or seconded most of the motions that evening.

Au revoir, mon vieux canard.

Ernest Henry Phillips -1922-2011

John Fisher

At Ernie‘s recent funeral the speaker described him as the ‗man who could put 2 and 2 together and never make 5 or 3‘. The arithmetic emphasises his precise mind and the ‗man who‘ reminds one of the characters in the Bateman cartoons of the 1920‘s who Ernie resembled – an obscurity worth looking up.

Ernie was born 89 years ago in Burton-on-Trent, the son of a science teacher at the Grammar School where he excelled in science. He left school to work at the GPO/BT until he retired. In the late 1940‘s he married Veronica (Ronni) Lee, herself a most competent climber and skier.

In adult life his intellectual rigour and dislike of loose and woolly thinking made him seem a bit daunting but he was in fact a kind and companionable man and often amusing in a wry sort of way. Ernie‘s demeanour always made him, appear senior and the word jolly was never an appropriate description – amiably lugubrious would be more fitting and you can add to that a tendency to mild pessimism.

Ernie was regarded as extremely bright. He not only had great knowledge of science and engineering but also a great understanding of them. There is a difference. Curiosity about how things worked was for him a passion and not just limited to the physical sciences. He had an analytical interest in medical science too, being one of the first people to note how serious B.S.E. would become and suggesting the use of air filtration to treat hay fever, a process taken up in medical research as recently as 2009 for the management of asthma.

In his job he became a senior engineer with no ambition to remove himself from the front line of practical affairs. These were his forte and his skills were called upon to solve problems, not only in his own field but by other firms, for example Rolls-Royce where he had personal contacts. He was keen on gurus, people who had special skills and those who were particularly good in their own field. He had a number of them for consultation. Ernie though was the guru of gurus.

An interesting aside is that during World War 2 he was interviewed for a technical post in the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge by Max Perutz. Perutz won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1962 for his work on haemoglobin. Ernie did not take up the job for reasons which are not clear but to be interviewed by Perutz was an accolade in itself.

At last we get to his outdoor activities. Ernie began climbing in the 1940‘s mainly in North Wales and Derbyshire. He showed early promise – indeed more than that when in the last two weeks of World War 2 he, with Arnold Carsten, climbed all the Very Severe routes in the Lakes, apart from those on Pillar including Deer Bield Crack and Central Buttress which Ernie led after being rebuffed the previous day. A formidable effort, then and now.

In Derbyshire and North Wales Ernie joined up with Peter Harding, Moulam and others to do hard climbs. With Harding he did the first ascents of Spectre and Ivy Sepulchre in Llanberis. Ernie, of course, took an interest in engineering and climbing producing home- made pitons and had one of the first nylon ropes. Naturally he had a good camera and his shot of Joe Brown doing the first ascent of the Right Unconquerable has been reproduced in every Stanage Guide Book since. He became a member of the Climbers Club in 1946 – a most exclusive outfit at that time. If you wish to see Ernie in action in his youth look at Milner‘s ‗Rock for Climbing‘ where he appears at least twice.

Via the Stonnis and the Valkyrie Clubs, which closed, Ernie with Ronni, Pete Janes, Ray Handley and others joined the Oread in the 1950‘s. Apart from his climbing efforts he was active in the club on various committees, a hut trustee, an excellent newsletter editor and eventually an honorary member.

His interest turned to caving in the 1960‘s and with Ronni, Chuck Hooley, Geoff Thompson and others explored caves in South Wales and the Mendips. This really marked his movement away from rock climbing. Alpine mountaineering was not a main interest though he did climb the Matterhorn with Peter Janes and others. In much later life he undertook two treks in the Himalaya, including one on a horse.

Skiing was a long term interest which he and Ronni shared; both downhill and serious high ski-touring. In the 1950‘s/60‘s the latter was rarely done by British skiers and their companions were usually Germans.

In his 90th year, Ernie was re-elected Vice President of the Canoe Club just before he died. When active his main efforts were in river/white water and coastal trips. He took the trouble to train the uninitiated in Derby Baths. A typical technical contribution to this sport was the invention of an adjustable ‗skeg‘ which, when lowered allowed the canoeist to proceed in spite of side winds.

Ernie was a remarkable man in a variety of ways, highly competent in science and engineering, a good and loyal servant of the clubs he joined and in his job a contributor to the welfare of the wider public.

Tan Yr Wyddfa Curry Meet: 29th – 30th October 2011

Tony Howard

We‘re British. Well most of us are, and the British know how to enjoy themselves regardless of the weather! It‘s a good job really. The weather was; by an appropriate British definition 'good‘. It was a re-run of last year; very wet & fairly cold.

On Saturday an enthusiastic team of climbers with a truly ‗British‘ attitude set off for Holyhead Mountain. They visited pubs, cafes and the President‘s camper van in Ogwen! Two environmentalists visited the centre for alternative stuff in Aberystwyth. The Resident Runner ran in the rain. The miners went 'caving‘ in mines. A Saxon & three Anglo-Saxons squelched round Cwm Bychan & the Aberglaslyn Pass. Tim went climbing somewhere. Others claimed the 5th Amendment.

All were back in good time for the communal curry & relaxed to the smell of wood smoke & Indian cuisine in the lounge. There were lamb & beef curries, chicken tandoori and lots of vegetable dishes; fresh fruit salad, Indian sweets & cheese & biscuits. In place of raucous & drunken behaviour there was sober debate about future meets, the hut and other constructive and/or cerebral topics. Well I never!

On Sunday it rained less. The Saxon went off to ―climb the hill on the other side of the valley‖ leaving her English associates to walk into Cwm Pennant & wade out.

A team of climbers this time driven from the outset by the determination & resolve of the President set off for Canyon Rib in the Aberglaslyn Pass. They found it to be surprisingly(?) green, lichenous & fluorescent! Being left with no choice but to wrest leadership from the President, the Grumpy Engineer revealed his fondness for waste discharge engineering: ― "I‘d rather wade through a sewer than climb that" he exclaimed! This timely political exclamation won the day & they changed course for Tremadog. Some went home early, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. After all we had healthy exercise, a thoroughly enjoyable Saturday night and 'good weather‘! What more could you ask for?

 

Verdon – Easter 2011

Simon Pape

It was getting dark as we arrived at Nice airport.  The lady at the car hire desk advised us to get the bus to the car park, so we did.  The bus took us all round the airport before depositing us about 100 yards from where we got on it.  That‘ll teach us to be lazy!

It was dark when we left Nice airport, but we had Derek‘s trusty satnav.  Derek‘s satnav seems to use Pikeware software to navigate by.  Three hours later we finally completed the journey to St Laurent-du-Verdon.  A journey that should have taken us 90 minutes!  We obviously went via several bramble patches, dead ends and all the other things normally only encountered on a Pike Bullstones.

It was very dark in St Laurent, a two street French village with one streetlight.  We drove along both streets, both ways, twice, looking for the chateau.  Eventually Maggie spotted a gateway.  We drove up the drive to find a large chateau at the end.  By now uncertainty had set in and doubts were aired.  Was this the right chateau?  I was sent in to check.  It was, we had arrived.

Saturday probably dawned – it was a bit later when the 4 Oreads woke up.  In contrast to the sun and heat at home, it was raining.  A quick stroll along both streets didn‘t reveal a boulangerie, although there was a pizzeria (shut).  So it was back into the car to find the nearest town and something for breakfast.  Breakfast soon turned to lunch, in a restaurant overlooking le Lac de Sainte Croix, which is at the bottom of the Verdon gorge.  We spent the rest of the day exploring the surrounding area – by car, as it was still raining.  The chateau lay a little west of the lake, which in turn was west of the gorge.  The gorge was a good hours drive away, although there were some crags near the end of the gorge.  The main climbing in the area was at Chateauvert, an hour‘s drive to the south.  The website had said it was nearby!  Still the chateau was worth it.  Built in the seventeenth century, it boasted a heated swimming pool, tennis court and boules pitch.  Inside, the main feature was the grand sweeping staircase.

We did manage a little climbing.  We drove down to Chateauvert a few times.  For those who haven‘t been, the crags lie on the north side of a pleasant little valley in the Provence hills.  There‘s a road through the valley, so walk-ins are limited to about 5 minutes!  The rock is steep, pocketed limestone, with routes of all grades.  Despite the easy access there isn‘t too much polish.  On our first visit, Derek and I contented ourselves with a few fours and fives.  Later in the week, I followed Roland up some 6as and 6bs, which seemed hard for the grade.

Roland and Angela had joined us part way through the week. They had driven down in their van, having taken 3 weeks off work to celebrate Angela‘s 21st birthday. They obviously took occupancy of a wing of the chateau when they arrived.
We also visited some of the local crags, which provided some sport but nothing really of note. The weather in the Verdon was unsettled for our whole stay. We got very wet once, and most days had to dodge heavy showers. We certainly weren‘t tempted to try any of the routes in the gorge. Those will have to wait for another visit.
Many thanks to Derek, Joan, Angela, Roland and Maggie for an excellent holiday.

Tony Howard

Tissington Trail car park was awash with Oreads & their camper vans on a cool & misty Sunday morning after an excellent dinner the night before. Twenty eight of us set off promptly at 10:30 for the first leg of our journey through the village and northbound across the fields to join the trail a mile short of Alsop-le-Dale. On approaching Alsop, we encountered on the road a runner; still strange despite being familiar to us all!

On leaving the village we took a footpath on the north side of the road, over a hill to bring us back to the tarmac just short of Parwich and our appointed hostelry. We reached the Sycamore pub about 12:30, where we were joined for lunch by another half dozen Oreads. Much beer was consumed as is right & proper for such an occasion. One Oread entertained us by shamelessly exhibiting both his cycling & diving skills in a determined effort to mutilate himself, and in so doing present his first bid to win the 2012 bent screw award, only hours after receiving it for 2011.
We left the Sycamore at around 3 o‘clock and returned to our vehicles in an hour via the Limestone Way and Tissington Trail. I‘d like to thank everyone who came along and made this such a convivial day out, despite the dampness & poor visibility.

 

 

The item below is from the September 1961 Newsletter. Sent in by Jack Ashcroft.

   About fifty Oreads and friends congregated in and around Tan-yr-Wyddfa for the weekend to celebrate the safe return of fellow Oreads from the “high hills”.
   Saturday was a day of very high winds, although the weather remained dry. Parties left for Tremadoc. Yr Aran, Moel Elio, and the “Goat” in Beddgelert. All were back early from an evening of grand celebration with two barrels of beer and plenty of eats. The lounge was packed to overflowing and when Panther and friends arrived the party had to expand into the hall!
   Sunday was fine and warm. Groups were soon off to nearby crags (soon being about mid day, which is soon enough after such an evening). Cloggy, Cwm Silyn, Llechog. Yr Aran, Craig-y-bera, had at least one party of Oreads performing on their rocks, in fact the Eastern Arete of Y Garn had four. The Meets Secretary had to have his special way of celebrating the welcome home – a wall ran into his motor on the Friday night, anyone wanting an A35 offside wing will find one in a field by the side of the road in Capel Curig. (Rubbish! Ed)
   The chap with the “Vice Job” will be continuing his professional activities at the Winter Series of Lectures for the M.A. in London, having priced himself out of the Nottingham Winter Courses.
   Dez Hadlum and Beryl Turner recently made what appears to be a first ascent of a peg route on Willersley.
   Although the Boy Scouts in the club may not agree, there will be more “Oreads in Shorts” in the next months newsletter.

Dovedale Dash Results.
Rob Tresidder.

We all enjoyed the customary excellent weather at this year‘s Dash. Some good runs here. Radders and Rusty nudging 70 now. Who is going to endow an over 70s
trophy?

[95 Kyya Morroll]
252 Clive Russell (3rd O60)
287 Chris Radcliffe 39mins (5th O60)
[489 Gwen Tresidder]
596 Tony Fidler
652 Ola Stepien 45 mins
766 Esther Bott
809 Victoria Mawer
893 Rob Tresidder 49 mins
1055 Jane Tresidder
[1159 Claire O'Reilly]
[ ] for ―loosely associated non-member!‖ Kyya is Victoria‘s son; Gwen is my
daughter; Claire is John‘s wife.
Winners were Ian Phillips in 27:43 and Christine Howard in 34:38 (both Matlock
AC)
Field was 1540

Waste at Tan-yr-Wyddfa
Tony Howard.

People,
We now have a new arrangement with Gwynedd CC for the collection of waste. They require us to put certain VERY SPECIFIC recyclable material in CLEAR plastic bags for collection. The rest is to go in black plastic bags as before. Two green bins outside the hut have been labeled appropriately for the receipt of these bags.
In addition to this I would like to explain that our contract with GCC is for the collection of only 5 bags per week - & even that costs £250/year! Therefore we need to put the full small black bags from the kitchen bin into larger black bags, so as to minimize the number of black bags that the bin men take away on a Monday.
According to GCC we are entitled to put glass in the recycle bags. However, I am concerned that if we put all our beer & wine bottles in these bags we will exceed our quota of 5 bags per week, either immediately or next year when they re-appraise their pricing structure for the collection of bags. SO I AM ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO TAKE GLASS BOTTLES & JARS HOME AS AT PRESENT. They are clean & therefore easy to take home. This also avoids us putting broken glass in plastic bags – which the council would certainly not remove individually by hand (& this is what they have to do for TYW).

The new notice for the kitchen will say the following:

To meet the new council waste collection policy as well as our specific contract with them:

Please take home all glass bottles & jars.
Metal cans, clean plastic containers and clean paper & cardboard, should be placed in the CLEAR plastic bags provided & then placed in the appropriate green bin in the front garden – as indicated.
Please place only uncooked vegetable matter – e.g. potato peelings - in the compost vessel next to the coal bunker.
All other waste, including cooked food should be put in the kitchen waste bin (which is lined with a black plastic bag). So as to keep to our weekly quota of 5, these bags should in turn be put in the larger black bags provided & then placed in the appropriate green bin in the front garden – as indicated.
I look forward to your cooperation.

 

Last winter we found that the internal walls in the front bays at TyW were sodden up as high as the window sills. In heavy rain the three drainpipes at the front of the hut were not working & water was overflowing the gutters & running down the outside surface of the walls. Unlike the other drainpipes in the hut which are plumbed into the sewer, these three were intended to release their water to a soak-away via a French drain. We found that even a week or so after the worst rain these outlets to the French drain were essentially blocked.
Consequently the Hut-subcommittee & the Committee approved the installation of a new drainage system at the front of the property; at a cost of £1100 + VAT. This was installed in early October, and consists of a pipe system to carry the water from the three down-pipes into the sewer; plus a modern French drain system in the same trench to allow the drainage of ground water away from the area in front of the hut.
During the steady, but not torrential rain of the Curry Meet weekend this system was seen to be working well. The front bays, that dried out in the summer are so far, still dry. The real test will be, are they still dry by the spring of next year.

 

Membership applications have been received by the committee, from Alan Monks, Brian Rodgers and Kevin Fidler. They will be accepted unless anyone has any objections. We would also like to extend good wishes to David Martinez Majo who joins us as a prospective member.
Esther Bott and Ola Stępień are now full members of the club and we sincerley hope they enjoy their time with us.

TAN-YR-WYDDFA			HEATHY LEA
Dec, 2/3rd	Lichfield MC	16 beds.	Dec. 2/3rd.	Birmingham Wayfarers cottage
Dec. 9/10th.	Rock & Heather	16 beds.	Dec. 9/10th	G. Jones (guest P. Storer)
Christmas / New Year	Oread		Oread	cottage/barn
Jan. 13/14th	Barnsley MC	16 beds.	Jan.	No bookings
Jan. 20/21st.	Wrekin MC	16 beds.
Jan. 27/28th.	Croydon MC	16 beds.

 

Forthcoming Meets

December	Sun 4th	Mountain Bike ride	Steve Bennett	##### ######
	Tues 6th	Evening Meet at Royal Oak Ockbrook	Committee
	Sat 10th Sun 11th	Bullstones Meet.	Pam Norris	##### ######
	Tues 13th	Committee Meets Royal Oak Ockbrook
	Wed 14th	Black Rocks Meet	Rob Tresidder	##### ######
	24th Dec  – 1st Jan 2012	Christmas at Tan yr Wyddfa	Rock Hudson	##### ######
January 2012	Sun 1st	New Years Day Walk	Rusty Russell	##### ######
	Tues 10th	Committee Meets Royal Oak Ockbrook
	Any Weekend	Scotland/Wales Snow & Ice	Pete Lancaster	##### ######
	Sun 15th	Winter Walk	Chris Wilson	##### ######
	Sat 28th Sun 29th	Swanage	Chris Wilson	##### ######
	Tues 31st	Evening Meet at Royal Oak Ockbrook	Committee
February	Any Weekend	Scotland/Wales Snow & Ice	Pete Lancaster	##### ######
	Sat 11th Sun 12th	Tan yr Wyddfa	Rowland Smith	##### ######
	Tues 14th	Committee Meets Royal Oak Ockbrook		Tues 14th
March	Tues 6th	Evening Meet at Royal Oak Ockbrook	Committee
	Tues 13th	Committee Meets Royal Oak Ockbrook
	Any Weekend	Scotland/Wales Snow & Ice	Pete Lancaster	##### ######
	Sat 10th Sun 11th	Patterdale	Stuart Haywood	##### ######
	Sat 17th Sun 18th	Tan yr Wyddfa	Tony Howard	##### ######
	Sat 24th	Mountain Bike ride	Steve Bennett	##### ######
	Sat Eve 24th	AGM at Robin Hood, Baslow	Committee

 

 

Copyright – Oread Mountaineering Club.
Editor: John Green, Ivy Cottage, Church Lane, Morley Derbys. ##### ######
Email – #####@######.##