Welsh Mountain Meet

Members present: Vicky Alderton, Duncan Lee, Bob Kelly, James Hoyle, Kasia Hoyle, Dave Wylie, Pete Walker, Joe Flynn, Dave Bish, Katie Horgan, Colin Maddison, Ann Sanderson, Trish Cranston, Al Metelko.

Guests: Steve Waters, Roisin Maddison, Alison Dixon, Katy Flynn, Alex Vidoris, Geoff Hibbert, Andy Blakely (CMC), Deirdre Collier (CMC), Dick Winslow (CMC), Chris Vernon (CMC), Ann Cheualien (CMC).

 

Looking out of the window of the hut I watched the rain bouncing off the floor and pondered what a wash out the last few months of summer had been. Reading the hut book did nothing to cheer the mood as every recent entry seemed to mention torrential downpours. So, it was lucky that this was the weekend before my meet?.

All week I had a feeling the weekend could only bring miserable weather, which would mean scrambling up Tryfan in the wind and rain?not something I was looking forward to having already had that pleasure recently on Dave Bish's meet! As the weekend got closer, the forecast improved, and a chat with Dick from the Craven Mountaineering Club assured me that Duncan and I would not be the only people at the hut. Things were looking up?

Saturday brought sunshine and with it lots of KMC members and guests, eager to enjoy the fine weather. Most headed to Tryfan to climb and walk and a few headed to Snowdon.

Climbing mainly started on Milestone Buttress (well for those of us that could find it, mentioning no names Ann). Routes climbed included Ordinary Route, Rowan Route, Superdirect and Direct Route. Roisin enjoyed her first mountain multi-pitch route with Colin via Rowan Route.

Al had decided to do his usual trick of soloing but then bumping into Andy from the CMC, who was in a 3, they decided to pair up to do Munich Climb. Shame neither of them had decided to bring a rack. Not letting a small thing like lack of gear defeat them they trawled through their sacks and managed to find a handful of nuts, a few slings and about 4 or 5 quickdraws. Perfectly acceptable amount of gear for a slightly wet VS! Adrenalin was mentioned afterwards?

Second Pinnacle Rib on the east face of Tryfan was also a popular choice with Bob and Alison and Dick & Deirdre all making ascents. Duncan and I continued up Tryfan via North Buttress and Belle Vue Bastion. Trish and Dave continued up the appealing looking slab above Milestone and then up the North Ridge.

Arriving at the summit we were greeted by the sight of a slightly shaken and bloody Al! No, he'd not fallen off Munich Climb, but instead had thrown himself backwards off Adam whilst attempting a two footed jump from Eve. Unfortunately the newsletter's in black and white otherwise I'd have sent in the picture to prove it. As I'm sure you can guess, he received sympathy all round!

And so it was back to the hut for food (or in Al's case a plaster on his fat lip) and good company followed by well earned rest? for those of us not mad enough to set off around midnight to run the welsh 3,000ers after a days climbing and several pints of beer. We next saw Geoff and Dave about 5 pm on Sunday!

Thanks to everyone who came and made it such an enjoyable weekend.

Al Metelko