Milton Keynes Mountaineering Club

Overall it’s been another very good year for MKMC with lots of activities undertaken across the year and good participation from the club’s members. We’ve travelled far and wide across the UK and we look forward to seeing where next years meets will take us.

Key Events from 2015

January 2015 – Burns Celebration Weekend was in the Ochils Mountaineering Club, Inverardran Cottage in snowy Crianlarich, Scotland.

February 2015 – This trip was to Chester Mountaineering Hut, Llanberis, North Wales. Snowy walks on the Glyders and Carneddau. Getting blown off Snowdon.

March 2015 – Club went to Wayfarers Hut in Langdale, Lake District.

April 2015 – A visit to Rushmere Campsite in the beautiful Wye Valley. Perfect weather and good climbing…..apparently!

May 2015 – May club trip was to St. Petrox Campsite in Pembroke, South Wales

June 2015 – The club’s meet was a return visit to the beautiful National Trust Campsite which nestles under the Scafell mountain range at the head of Wastwater, the deepest lake in England.

July 2015 – A Camping trip to the famous climbing area of Tremadog in North Wales

August 2015 – A first trip for the club to Northumbria to try the crags of the North East of the UK. Alnwick Rugby Club Campsite

September 2015 – A return to Tom’s Field Campsite in Swanage for a spot of cliff climbing. More good conditions, sport and trad climbing, long walks, long bike rides, ice cream, fish and chips.

October 2015 – Second visit of the year to Chester Mountaineering Hut above Llanberis, North Wales

November 2015 – Visit to the Gwydyr MC Hut in Capel Curig, North Wales during a weekend that saw 10 inches of rain fall in 12 hours. Wet and wild, scrambling and walking in the welsh mountains.

December 2015 – Xmas meet at Fallcliffe Cottage nr Hathersage in a very wet and windy Peak District

Interspersed in all of these we’ve had a series of day walks organised to the peaks and local venues which have been well received and well attended. We’d like to thank Steve Scott & Stuart Riches for their efforts on these giving up their free time to organise and lead these walks and also Andy Russell for the same but he’s a committee member so gets little choice!!

There’s been a surge of new members recently which is excellent and they’re already getting on to the meets and being involved in the club. Really pleased to see the email address being put to good use. Just recently 2 ladies got in touch one starting and one re-starting climbing which almost brought a tear to our eyes as that’s exactly what the club and the email is here to do.

It’s been another record breaking year for the club with members up to 97 to date and still a high interest which can only mean good things for 2016. It’s been a great year for our club members who still seem to love there time with the club and promote our ethics of getting out there and enjoying themselves with like-minded people. They continue to spend time with good friends but also find new ones which we wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to do.

The committee can only reiterate the point made at the last AGM that you can only get out of the club what you put in, the club exists for all of us with a valued few trying to pull the strings for everyone’s enjoyment. So it’s worth looking at the website again and the club’s facebook page to remember what a good year it has been.

See you in 2016.

Xmas Meet – December 4^th-6^th

Falcliffe Cottage, Peak District

Myself, Kent, Simon and Andy travelled up to the hut on Friday morning and got settled in.

We decided to take a walk and check out the local area while we awaited the arrival of the other club members, so we took a stroll to the village of Grindleford and found a welcoming bar/restaurant where we had some drinks and dinner and then headed back to the hut. After most members had arrived we sat and chatted in the lounge area where, Dan had built us a fire, and discussed plans for the next day.

Saturday morning saw us all up early to start the day. All but 4 of us decided to plan walks. Sophie and Bob did some bouldering and Thom and Owen took a run out to the Snake Inn at Ladybower and back.

The group I joined, led by Andy, took a 17km walk which started at Grindleford Train Station and went through Burbage, along Stanage Edge (where we all got blown over by the windy conditions) and then we stopped for tea and cake in Hathersage before we finished our route by walking along the river back to Grindleford.

Once everyone was back at the hut, Kent and helpers cooked us all an amazing 3 course xmas dinner, which we sat down together and enjoyed, while catching up on what everyone had done that day.

Sunday morning, Kent cooked us all breakfast. It was a bit of a grey day and most people chose to a drive out to Ladybower to pick up routes to walk and then off home.

A good weekend was had by all. Special thanks to Kent for cooking the very tasty meals.

Ang Perrin

MKMC July Meet – Tremadog, North Wales

Friday 17^th to Sunday 19^th July 2015

A damp weekend was forecast, but as it turned out the weather was dry, if perhaps a little blustery at times. First to arrive around mid-day on Friday were Martina and Tim, who quickly pitched their tents and headed off to Craig Bwlch-y-Moch. Alex arrived mid-afternoon, and unable to find the others decided on an ascent of Tryfan. Alan and Jason arrived early evening and pitched next to Martina and Tim’s tents. Next to arrive were Ian and Anna who decided on the luxury of staying in the bunk barn.

Saturday morning and the sun was shining. Craig Bwlch y Moch was the first destination and routes such as The Plum, Meshach, Shadrach, Yogi and One Step in the Clouds were all climbed in excellent style. Sadly Ian dropped his camera in the area below The Plum, and although he did a thorough abseil search, it couldn’t be found.

In the evening Alan, Jason and Alex headed into Tremadog to the Golden Fleece Inn where they met up with Anna and Ian. Also there were Rick, Julia, Richard and Emma.

After a damp night Sunday turned out to be another dry, if perhaps a little chilly, day. Members of the group headed off to different areas to walk, climb and sail. Ian and Anna were the last to leave Tremadog. Alan and Jason stayed on the following week, but that’s another story!

Attendees – Alan, Jason S, Alex T, Martina, Tim, Ian R, Anna, Richard, Emma, Rick & Julia.

Thursday 11^th to Monday 15^th June 2015

For second year running we had great weather for the club trip to the NT campsite at Wasdale Head. During the weekend the clubs members managed a number of ascents of Scafell Pike via both Mickeldore & from Stickle Tarn, while others got out and about into hills doing ascents of Scafell, Kirk’s Fell, Illgill Head – Leo’s first mountain,  plus climbing multi-pitch routes on Great Gable & Scafell Pike, at Buckbarrow and scrambling up various routes incl Lord’s Rake

Several visits to pub to local at Wasdale Head to discuss they our various achievements plus celebrate Andy’s 50 something birthday.

A good weekend had by all despite the clouds of bitie bugs in the evenings.

Attendees – Kent, Ang, Andy, Diane, Steve, Alan W, Alan M, Gavin, Rea, Jason, Connor, Helen, Raj, Mark, Melissa, Dan, Chrissie, Shane & kids plus dogs Leo, Molly & Penny.

Friday 22^nd to Monday 25^th May 2015

The advanced party, Alan and Jason were first to arrive on Wednesday evening.

On Thursday morning, in glorious sunshine, they travelled the 3 miles from St. Petrox campsite to Bosherston to enjoy the climbing at St. Govan’s Head. Old favourites such as Army Dreamers, Front Line and Chieftain were soon ticked. Towards the end of the day, as Alan was topping out on Tactician, Mark and Melissa appeared, refreshments for the climbers in hand. Back at the camp site Frazer and Jason W arrived, having travelled down during the day from Cleveland.

On Friday the weather was again very pleasant. Range East was closed for army manoeuvres, so St. Govan’s Head was once again the destination. Two climbs which both teams did were ‘Rear Wind’ (HVS) and ‘Europa’ (HVS), both routes having bags of ‘character’. During the course of the evening and the following morning the rest of the group arrived.

Saturday, and the majority of the group spent the day in the area between Saddle Head and Stennis Head on Range East. Two potential new members, Hannah and Lisa, joined the group for the morning and climbed a number of routes. More classic lines were bagged by everyone.

There was a break in the good weather on Sunday morning and the group split. One party went to Tenby for breakfast while another went for a stroll around the Lily Ponds at Bosherston. By the afternoon the sun was out again. Crystal Slabs and Mother Carey’s Kitchen were the destinations. In the evening Hannah and Lisa hosted a gathering for everyone in their palatial tent.

Monday was a slightly breezier day, but the sun was strong and those without sun cream on got burnt. Some of the party made an early start back to MK, others stayed on until the afternoon or evening and four members stayed on to climb the following day. Sadly there was a fatal accident at the Crystal Slabs on the Monday afternoon in the area near where Bob, Sophie and Alex were climbing. A reminder to us all not to take our own safety for granted when climbing.

The group: Alan, Jason S, Raj, Mark, Melissa, Frazer, Jason W, Lisa, Hannah, Juan, Martina, Tim, Ian R, Anna, Sophie, Bob, Ingo, Alex P.