Milton Keynes Mountaineering Club

21^st to 23^rd March 2014

The Parish Hall at Kirkby Malham is “Basic” group digs, comprising a large main hall, which serves as the shared sleeping area, a bit like camping indoors plus a large kitchen, toilets, showers, storage space for bikes, gear, etc.

Friday – Alan, Andy & Dan arrived at the village hall first, had some lunch and then went for a walk up to Malham Cove, watched the climbers there and then had a look at the limestone pavements above before returning via the Pennine Way to the hall. This was followed by a couple of pints with fish & chip dinner at the local pub in Kirkby Malham while waiting for the rest of the party to turn up during the rest of the evening.

Saturday – Emma, Andy, Steve Simpkins, Cheryl, Dan, Shane & Jenny went on a circular 12 mile walk along the valley to Gordale Scar, scrambled up the waterfall at the back up onto plateau, across to Malham Tarn and then up onto Kirkby Fell before returning to Malham. After that a visit to the Cafe for tea & cakes and the pub for a pint or two both they return to Kirkby Malham.

Alan, Tomasz, Stuart, Gilly, Gavin, Jason, Michael went climbing at Eastby but after a morning of cold fingers and biting wind drove to Malham and walk to Gordale Scar & Malham Tarn where they meet Steve & Birgit Scott who had taken a rail journey to Horton then took a linear walk along the Pennine way from Horton in Ribblesdale over Pen-y ghent. They all then returned to the tea shop in Malham for cream teas.

James joined the team on Saturday Evening.

Saturday night saw nearly everyone headed down across the road for drinks & food at TheVictoria Inn in Kirkby Malham.

Sunday – Emma went for a walk around Kirkby Malham to explore the village, while Alan, Andy, Dan, Cheryl, Jenny and Steve Simpkins went for a walk up the The Weets, down to the village of Airton and back to Kirkby Malham via another part of the Pennine Way.

Steve & Birgit Scott walked from Ribblehead viaduct along a little dale (Whernside) to Blea Moor. Before retreating to the village of Hawes and having more cream teas.

James, Shane, Tomasz, Stuart, Gilly, Gavin, Jason, Michael went off climbing at Almscliffe, after they drove through rain all the way there but it actually stayed dry, and even sunny at points!

Thanks to all that attended : – Emma (Organiser), Alan, Andy, Tomasz, Steve Simpkins, James, Cheryl, Dan, Stuart, Gilly, Gavin, Jason, Michael, Jenny, Shane, Steve & Birgit Scott.

The March meet has been successfully completed and its time to think about the upcoming events for the rest of spring.

April 18th to 21st 2014 – St Davids Head, Celtic Camping, Pembroke – Mark is the meet organiser so if you need more information you can contact him at Mark@mkmountaineering.org

At Celtic Camping you have space to breathe, space to play and space to relax on our Pembrokeshire camping site. Set in 250acres of open farm land, you can enjoy knockout ocean views, our own little beach of ‘Aber Pwll’,  easy access to the ‘Pembrokeshire Coastal Path’ which runs directly through the farm and a wealth of stunning local activities. www.celtic-camping.co.uk

With such glorious weather it must soon be time for our first camping trip of the year and that trip will be to Pembrokeshire’s St David’s Head. Lots of great climbing to be had on this small peninsular in South Wales to suit all abilities, so why not break the habit of the North Wales mountains and come and experience the excellent South Wales Sea Cliffs.

May 16^th to 18^th 2014 – NT Campsite Wasdale, Lake District, Kent is the meet organiser so if you need more information you can contact him at Kent@mkmountaineering.org

The Wasdale campsite nestles under the Scafell mountain range at the head of beautiful Wastwater, the deepest lake in England, with its distinctive Nordic character and the pyramidal peak of Great Gable reflected in its waters. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1356395570326/

Selection of pictures from March added to Galleries.

Destination – Caseg Fraith, the University of London Mountaineering Club hut, situated in the Ogwen Valley about about 1 mile before Tryfan.

The first to arrive were Ian and Anna on Wednesday evening, followed by Chris, Martin and Stuart first thing on Thursday morning. With calm weather, this group set off for a scramble up the North Ridge of Tryfan.

Mean while, Andy R, Kent and Alan were enjoying a late breakfast in Montford Bridge Cafe (a.k.a. Kent’s Cafe), on the A5 near Shrewsbury before continuing their journey, arriving at Caseg Fraith just before mid day. It was at this point that Alan realised that he had left his MKMC wallet containing all the details of the trip, including the 2^nd hut key, at Kent’s cafe. After a number of frantic calls contact was made with the Cafe, and yes, they had got the wallet and would keep it safe. Gareth had not yet left MK, and arranged to drop in at the cafe later that afternoon. With the key situation under control, but unable to gain access to the hut, Andy R, Kent and Alan went for a walk up The Glyders.

The rest of the group (+ wallet and spare key) arrived safely in the evening.

A dry but cold start was forecast for Saturday, so most of the group decided to do a circular walk over the Carnedds – Pen yr Ole Wen, Dafydd & Llewelyn. Martin and Chris opted to do a walk up Moel Siabod, and Anna, Ian and Gavin decided on doing one of the classic climbs on Tryfan.

The Carnedds group made steady progress, but it was cold on top and the large fields of snow were frozen making them into ice sheets. Crampons were soon donned by those who had them and ice axes made ready. Having reached the high point of the walk, Carnedd Llewelyn, a steady and steep descent was made south east towards the reservoir. Those without crampons needed to take a different route down, but the group all returned to Caseg Fraith at about the same time.

The Tryfan group soon realised that with the rock covered in verglas it was not going to be an easy ascent of Pinnacle Rib. Instead they decided to continue to Bristly Ridge. Here further drama unfolded and the group retreated, slightly disappointed but all in one piece (just) back to base.

Martin and Chris’s walk was not without it’s share of excitement. At one point Martin took a tumble, and it was not until the evening that his knee started to seize up.

In the evening most of the group share a meal of chicken stew prepared by Alan.

During the night the wind became hurricane force and the hut seemed to vibrate to the lashing of the storm. By Sunday morning the weather was just as ferocious as it had been the previous night and most of the group opted for a more relaxed day rather than heading out into the storm. Never-the-less, Gareth, Steve, Thomas, Jason, Gavin, and Andy W opted to do a walk around Llyn Cowlyd Reservoir starting from Capel Curig. The outward stage of the walk was OK, and it was not until they turned into the face of the storm that the full effects were felt. As Andy W put it “Sunday was interesting, the forecasters got it just right – gale force winds and torrential rain!!!!  Think I was drier in the shower!”

Once again, another successful club trip. Emma hopes to see you all in Yorkshire (without any drama’s this year!)

Selection of photos added in the gallery section.

The participants:

Anna, Ian, Martin, Chris, Stuart, Alan, Andy R, Kent, Gareth, Steve, Thomas, Jason, Gavin, Andy W

This year Burns meet was at Fylde MC Hut, Lake District, Stair which is in the Newlands Valley. Several people travelled up early on the Friday, unpacked checked the hut over and then went out for a walk up Catbells & Maiden Moor to stretch their legs. This was followed by a visit to the local pub at village of Swinside called the Swinside Inn for drinks and food.

On Saturday the party split into two groups one going down the Newlands Valley to walk over Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson and the other smaller group going around to climb up Combe Gill on Glaramara. For both parties the weather started off okay, but soon turned much worst as the wind and rain swept in. After several of hours of being battered by the weather everyone returned safely to the hut.

Upon the return to the hut Alan & his assistants pulled up their sleeves and helped prepare dinner of haggis, tatties and neeps (mashed together to make Orkney Clapshot) and vegetables.  After a quick visit to the pub for a few rounds of drinks everyone returned to the hut for dinner and a dessert of Raspberry cream with shortbread and then everyone attempted to read a Burns poem.

On Sunday the weather seemed even worst so the group broke into several groups; some people head straight home, some went off to the climbing wall at Kendal and a brave few headed off to climb one more peak – Barrow before also heading off home.

Thanks to Alan for sorting out all the food and for everyone joining in for another excellent weekend (despite the weather).

MKMC members attending:  Alan, Andy, Jay, Kent, Dan, Ian T, Steve Sc, Constanza, Liam, Ian R, Anna, James, Fiona, Mark, Melissa, Steve Si, Tomasz, Gavin