Ty Powdwr working meet Thurs 15th to Sun 17th

Ty Powdwr Summer working meet report June 2023

Members: John Castick, Andy Stratford, Duncan Lee, Mark Garrod, Michelle Harvie, Christine Beeston, Jared Kitchen, Gowry Sisupalan, Rory Marsden, Kate Harvey plus Emily Thompson who was not working but on a recce for an ultra race.

Prospective Members: Mimi McNaull, Pete Attwood.

The KMC are lucky indeed to have members who are skilled tradesmen and women who are prepared to give up time to help on Ty Powdwr, and so, after a callout for painters and decorators was published in the last NL meet promo, I was rather relieved to get a call from ex-President and long-standing club member Duncan Lee aka the demon decorator of Rawtenstall….

I asked Duncan’s opinion about a colour block wall:

‘’Oxford Blue’’ he said, without hesitation – I was impressed with his strong sense of colour! I later found out it was a cancelled order from another job, but it was rather fortuitous as everyone at the meet agreed it looks rather good!

Duncan and I both separately ended up in Ogwen Valley on Wednesday soloing routes or dashing up Tryfan, then with John, we prepped the kitchen and sorted out scaffolding on weds evening. Thursday was an early start with the removal of pictures and fittings and intense degreasing and cleaning of the walls and cooking areas. Once completed John and I had a mad dash to hire a mower as the KMC one has sprung a leak from the fuel lines. Once back the mowing was a full-on affair in the relentless sun, and John cracked on with the strimmer. After work Duncan and I headed to the quarries and through the tunnels to California, climbing out (in approach shoes and sandals respectively!) via The California Express link to Serengeti where Duncan led Seamstress. We moved down to Never Never Land where Duncan kindly offered me the onsite of a route he didn’t know the name or grade of and wasn’t in the guidebooks

‘’It looks about 6a’’ he pronounced, confidently.

I took a brief look. ‘I wouldn’t want to deprive you of the onsite Duncan, it looks like yours’’.

10 minutes later. ‘’watch me here Andy, everything’s sloping the wrong way, might be a bit stiff for 6a’’. Of course, he finished the route cleanly, then waltzed over to the Fresh Air lower off. I seconded Fresh Airete (the new route up the arete left of fresh air) with just a tiny weeny sit on the rope, then top roped fresh air straight after. We got back about 9.30pm, checked UKC and discovered that Fresh Airete was, in fact graded 6b+…….

Friday morning and with Christine Beeston to assist Duncan, the painting went even quicker, and we put the kitchen part back in order for the evening arrivals. I finished the mowing and John did a load of strimming (no surprise there!). Sadly, climbing was out due to rain showers – and Duncan headed home for a family weekend – job done.

Saturday, the main working day had some great contributions from everyone – John, Kate and Pete did track repairs first then Kate and Pete moved on to start a long-term project to build steps to The Knoll. Pete has some serious experience in stonework and step building in particular and was able to provide solid expertise and direction to get the project off with a great first footing.

Rory, Jared and Gowry worked for a session on the bench and table installation then moved to deal with the muddy areas by the old stub blast wall (now removed) and sort out the ground levels and drainage ditch. Inside and in the kitchen, Christine finished all the gnarly painting jobs, and Mark refixed things to walls whilst Michelle and Mimi cleaned and re-organised. The dorms then had their usual clean. Mark, Michelle, and Mimi headed off to swim and an hour or so later Rory and I headed to Bus Stop managing to grab Equinox before the rains came in heavy.

It was a great meet with an awesome amount of work completed over the 3 days. Thanks to everyone who came, and a final thanks to Michelle and Mark who organised the great lunchtime catering. Please do read the promo for the October meet and get signed up – this will include a bonfire on Saturday night – an early Guy Fawkes night – and a day out on the mountains or crags on Sunday.

Andy Stratford, Hut Manager.

Andy Stratford