Reports & Newsletters

(Not so) Recent Reports

An Interesting New Year in the Hut

Washing up before the night's outdoor activities

Seventeen members enjoyed a superb dinner at the hut on New Year’s Eve then, as midnight approached, the party split into four teams A, B, C, and D.

The D Team bravely volunteered to stay inside, stoke the fire and play silly games. The C Team successfully reached Boredale Hause and wisely did not linger long in the dark and rain. The B Team almost climbed Place Fell but could not actually find the summit in thick mist. The A Team ascended Helvellyn via Striding Edge and then, due to a slight navigational error, were very surprised to arrive at Thirlmere at 2.00 am. They then yomped 20 miles back to the hut via St John’s in the Vale, the A66, and Dockray, arriving back at 7.00 am to the intense relief of the rest of us.

It has been suggested that this tour over and around Helvellyn in the dark, rain, and mist, should become an annual event to be known as “The Three Presidents Challenge”.

The usual large donation was made to the Patterdale Bottle Bank and an entertaining New Years Eve was had by all.

Roger Stapleton

Richard Waterson receiving the fell race cup - yes he can run too

The Annual Dinner

A good time was had by all, as usual.

Even Older News

Stoney Wicks (and Pie and Peas…) – 16 October 2007

The traditional end of the summer Thursday evening meets was greeted by some very non-traditional weather — the sun shone and the crag was bone dry.

Everyone appears to have had a good time on the crag and all the 30 pies that had been pre-ordered at the pub were consumed with gusto.

Naturally Dave and Chris were last back to the pub in Swainby so they could consume all the remaining pies with a clear conscience.

Many thanks to Andy Lake for the very prompt delivery of the photos.

Hut Maintenance Meet 22nd/23rd September.

Just a quick note about this. A good list of jobs was accomplished over the weekend and included:

Cleaning/painting the lounge area. We even have freshly washed curtains now!
~~Sandblasting~~ Cleaning the ovens
Lots of outside work including tree pruning, shower waste pipe secured to wall, gutters cleaned grass cutting etc.
Washing-up area made good after work earlier in the year
Storage heater installed in shower room
Some neat new woodwork to fashion a new cover for the cables where they come through the wall of the member’s dormitory
Men’s toilet (cleaned!) and painted

Thanks to all who helped – they included Pam and Peter Shawcross, Alf and Lyn Smith, Glynis Johnson, Vic Tosh, Stu Jarrett. Apologies if I’ve missed somebody!

Other Hut news is that we’re obliged to meet a 1/8^th share of the cost of a new soak away system for the septic tank. The current system that we share with seven other properties isn’t doing the job and a new set up is urgently required. The B&B owners opposite the Hut are co-ordinating this, for which we should all be very grateful, it would be a nightmare if they weren’t. The expected cost is now expected to be in the order of £9000 of which the Club will be required to meet 1/8^th i.e. just over a £1,000.

Don’t shop for it Argos it – An Argos delivery van bashed the corner of the guttering on the Hut last week. I’ve just got the replacement section so it will get fixed in the next week or so.

John Price
Hut Warden

News Archive

Dentelles de Montmirail – Easter 2007 (1st two weeks of April)

First mention of the trip has to go to Vic who in the space of just five days managed to get himself a loyalty discount card at one of the local caves (wine warehouses).

Was this the 1st CMC Easter meet on the continent? Whatever, it seemed a good idea at the time because UK Easters can be… well, a bit wet and cold. Of course, the inevitable happened – record temperatures at home, the best Easter for years etc.

However, it worked well. – a dozen CMC members, a superb campsite at Beaumes de Venise, an attractive area, a variety of climbing, a guidebook (Jingo Wobbly) with lots of flattering overgrades, brilliant cycling (off road stuff as well) and superb, highest quality local red stuff to gargle with.

What about the area? The Dentelles is a series of parallel limestone ridges partly wooded and with great views in all directions. It has lots of climbing sectors with the most popular probably being the Chaine Du Clapis giving single and multi pitch climbs – all grades. Chris and Karl explored this extensively. Dave and Stu as well. Pam belaying at the Chain de Clapis

Several guidebooks caution against trying to climb there if the Mistral is blowing which is fair enough in respect of the ridges but there are in fact several sheltered areas also.

However, another area that also earned high marks from everybody was half an hour from Beaumes and called Combe Obscure – a very attractive and friendly crag which several people went to two or three times.

The Dentelles is also in easy driving distance (1 hour?) of Buis les Baronnies which is another superb area.

The cycling was good as well – quiet roads, interesting villages and hilly or flat options. One outing distinctly not flat was a CMC velo ascent of Mt Ventoux guided by Vic with everyone getting up and down in quite respectable time.

So overall it worked well, the campsite atmosphere was very relaxed and although Beaumes was apparently lacking in nightlife (what?), it was a good base. Extended lunch in the French Sun

At the the end of our stay a Provencale lunch was put together – everyone contributing something. Mark and Jules came up with a fondue prepared on a trangia stove, some incredible salads and savouries were prepared and a deadly serious game of boule, (or was it petanque?), followed.

Easter next year, 2008, is very early and a bit of a risk for a camping trip but the following year I know where I’m going at Easter – and its not North Wales.

At the Dentelles were Vic and Glynda, John and Glynis, Stu, Mark and Jules, Chris, Karl, Dave and Sue and Peter and Pam.

Anyone else thinking of going out there give myself or any of the above a call if you want more info.

John Price

Newsletters

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