The annual President’s Hotpot and Photographic Competition was again held at The Globe in Glossop. Twenty five people sat down for the hotpot and apple pie and another five joined us to see the photographs. After the competition we were treated to a short film by Paul Evans of his ascent of the Old man of Hoy with Jim Symon and some spectacular time-lapse photography of the Aurora Borealis, again by Paul Evans.

Folk had been busy with their cameras this year with 144 entries with many great shots for Dave Dillon to judge. The results are below and you can view the winners and runners up on the KMC website.

Earlier in the day a number braved the weather forecast for the climbing or walking options. Four of us made it to Castle Naze for the climbing. The Met Office forecast rain and there was a bit, but in the event it was the Patagonia like wind that curtailed activities early. After three routes, with just walking along the crag hard work and boots and helmets being blown away, we beat a retreat to the Beehive for beers and coffees. Later James Williams, Mark Pilling and Pablo headed to the Winnats for a scramble up Matterhorn Ridge. An afternoon walk led by Mark Garrod took a few more past Castle Naze en route where they later confirmed the winds still raged.

Thank you for all who entered photographs and to all who ensured a good turnout on the night. A special thank you to Dave for judging the competition with expertise and humour, to Paul for the subsequent film and time-lapse photography and to Mark for leading the walk and for providing the necessary technology to show the photos and film.

The Walk (Mark Garrod)

Kate Harvey, Michelle Harvie, Christine Beeston, Dave Wylie, Bob Kelly, Mark Garrod, with a cameo appearance by Dave Shotton.

We did the advertised walk in reverse, in true KMC decisive-style, due to the strong winds that I thought would be better on our backs along Combs Edge. The rest of the weather was almost kind, except for the rain that hit us as we enjoyed our lunch stop at 3pm under Castle Naze, wondering where all the climbers were (long gone – as it turned out). Dave W must have been hungry – he was a dot on the horizon on the lead-in to lunch along the edge, or maybe his height meant more wind-assistance than the rest of us.

Perfect timing as ever for the pre-hotpot walk – back to the cars just before 6pm, allowing a breezy change of clothes by the car, and a ponder on how on earth to best get from the Goyt to Glossop. We earned our nosh.

The annual President’s Hot Pot and Photographic Competition will once again be held at the Globe in Glossop. During the day Colin will be leading a climbing meet at Castle Naze and Mark will lead a walking meet in the same area; see below for details.

The Hot Pot

The Globe will be serving the usual veggie hotpot followed by apple pie and custard. The meal will start at 7.00pm sharp and be followed by the photographic competition.

Cost is £6.00 per head. Please book with Colin direct no later than Wednesday 10^th April. Contact details: 0161 707 3307 or email Colin.maddison@naturalengland.org.uk

For those that haven’t been before the Globe is on High Street West in Glossop; see map

Photographic Competition

The competition will be for photographs in digital format. All photographs must have been taken in the last twelve months. Those that want to bend the rules should remember that brightly coloured tights, dodgy moustaches and long lapsed KMC members are a dead giveaway! The usual four categories will apply:

• Mountain Action
• Mountain Landscape
• Rock Action
• Human Interest/Digital Fun

We’ll accept up to three entries per category. Please give details of which category each photo is being entered for and the subject matter. Deadline for entries is also Wednesday 10^th April.

The Climbing (Colin Maddison)

Earlier in day the climbing meet will be at Castle Naze. This is a fine little gritstone edge that dries quickly and boasts plenty of good lower and middle grade routs as well as a few harder ones. Classics include Scoop Face (HVS 5a), Nozag (VS 4c); The Crack (VS 4b); Belladonna (E2 5c). I should be there by about 10.30am. See above for my contact details are above.

From Doveholes on the A6 (Buxton to Chapel-en-le-Frith) follow signs to the railway station. 200m past railway bridge head left (Cowlow Lane) for 1 mile to small layby (on left opposite footpath sign to Chapel). The crag and approach are obvious. Grid Ref: SK 054785.

The Walk (Mark Garrod)

For those not sunning themselves on Castle Naze (sorry - I meant climbing), how about a brisk half day walk to get your appetite up for the Hot Pot, and to visit those rufty-tufty crag rats en route.

Start at 1.00pm from the Errwood Reservoir carpark (west side - 013756 ). Provisional route will head down past Fernilee Reservoir, up past Overhill Farm to head past Long Edge plantation and down to Combs. Then up the hill to Castle Naze – pausing for a mid-afternoon cup of tea and distracting the belayers, before heading along Combs edge and dropping back down to the car park past White Hill Centre. Very approx. distance 18 kms – back for ~ 6pm and ready to head off to the Globe for that well-earned drink.

Contact Mark on 0161-654-7705 and 07887-696003