Hertfordshire Mountaineering Club
Dear HMC members
Its Halloween, the magical day when spooks, spectres and ghosts take on a more opaque form and can manifest themselves in all sorts of places. A a special HMC update, here are a few scary and spooky mysteries surrounding some of the UK’s peaks and national parks.
http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/ghosts_of_dartmoor.htm
http://www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk/home-page-c101141.html
Have a very Spooky Halloween and stay safe on bonfire night (anyone remember that scary public information advert in the 1980s when the little girl picked up a hot sparkler – ouch!)
Steve Deaville
HMC Secretary
BMC Winter Skills Lectures this November
Are you ready for winter? Neil Johnson and James Thacker (British Mountain Guides) will prepare you at the BMC Winter Lectures. These popular lectures are set to inspire any budding winter mountaineers out there. Sponsored by Lowe Alpine there will also be a free prize draw every night.
Dates & Venues
(lectures start 7.30pm and run for approximately two hours)
Tuesday 25 November University of Manchester
Wednesday 26 November Sheffield Hallam University
Thursday 27 November University of Birmingham
Tuesday 2 December University College London
Wednesday 3 December University of Southampton
Thursday 4 December University of Bristol
Tickets
Tickets cost £5 per BMC member and £7 non-members. Group discount: buy 10 or more tickets in advance for £3.50 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased online from the BMC shop or by telephoning 0161 445 6111.
www.thebmc.co.uk/winterlectures
BMC Rock Climbing Injury Symposium, 2014
15-16 Nov, Park Inn Radisson, Manchester
A full weekend of evidence-based talks and workshops on climbing injuries in adult and young climbers, given by world-leading experts Professors Volker Schöffl and Andreas Schweizer. There will also be paediatricians, radiologists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and nutritionist.
Aim: to improve the understanding of climbing related injuries: their prevention, diagnosis and management.
Who for: Coaches, doctors, surgeons, allied health professionals, climbers, parents of dedicated young climbers, sport and exercise specialists. CPD points available.
Booking & full info: www.thebmc.co.uk/climbinginjury
Dear HMC Members
The club’s most popular event is back for another night of delicious fun with those ever favourite combinations of big bursting bombastic bangers and marvellous mashy goodness all wrapped up in the Herts Snowdonia Hut, cooked and served by the fair hands of the club’s committee (and any other willing volunteers).
The Hertfordshire Snowdonia Hut is now fully booked up. If you didn’t get your skates on in time to get a bed in the hut, fear not as there are plenty of other accommodation options available at the local YHAs so that you can still join in on the Bangers & Mash meal.
The nearest one is Bryn Gwynant YHA with its splendid Victorian building over looking the lake. Or you might want to stay in the Pen-y-Pass YHA and see Mallory’s signature in the old guest book from 1921. You will need to book your own accommodation but don’t forget to book onto the Bangers & Mash meal only option on the website.
For those lucky enough to get a place in the Hertfordshire Snowdonia Hut, this is situated at the base of Snowdon’s Watkin Path (where scenes from Carry On Up the Kyber were shot) and gives access to the lesser trod areas allowing enjoyment of the mountain without too many crowds. Watch out for Gladstone’s Rock.
Of course there are plenty of other mountains in the area to enjoy as long as you didn’t overdo it on the bangers!
All the best
Steve Deaville
HMC Secretary
Dear HMC members
Here is the latest news for the club and event updates.
Some of the membership have asked about the trips planned for 2015. The committee have been putting the finishing touches to the events for next year which are being finalised and are due to be published shortly – keep an eye on the club website and apologies for the delay. We hope that the events we are planning will be something to really look forward to in 2015.
Coming up this weekend we have the Ingleton weekend trip set amid the rolling hills and pitted limestone landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. Got your sights set on the awesome three peaks challenge? Over 40km of walking across various terrain taking in Pen-y-Ghent, Wernside and Ingleborough. Can you take on the challenge and complete it in under 12 hours? Don’t forget to book in at the Pen-y-Ghent cafe in Horton on Ribbleside to officially check in and out.
Does the thrill of climbing draw your attention? Does the challenge of Malham Cove, Gordale Scar or Kilnsley Crag take your fancy as the big three of the area?
Or perhaps it’s racing down the mountain bike track trails, bouncing over rocks and spattered with mud? Whatever your temptation, the Yorkshire Dales have something for everyone’s taste.
On those wet days there are also excellent attractions like the White Scar Caves – delve into the rock caverns under the mountain and discover the natural wonders of subterranean formations, created over thousands of years.
We are staying at Stackstead Farm Bunkhouse, 1 mile from Ingleton, on the south-western side of the Yorkshire Dales. Plenty of spaces left so why not join us for what will be a great trip.
http://www.stacksteadfarm.co.uk/Index.html
This Tuesday is the regular HMC social at the Three Horseshoes pub in Smallford. Feel free to pop in and catch up on the latest gossip and events at the HMC.
The club’s most popular event is back for another night of delicious fun with those ever favourite combinations of big bursting bombastic bangers and marvellous mashy goodness all wrapped up in the Herts Snowdonia Hut, cooked and served by the fair hands of the club’s committee. This is bound to be a sell out event so book your place without delay.
The Hertfordshire Snowdonia Hut is situated at the base of Snowdon’s Watkin Path (where scenes from Carry On Up the Kyber were shot) and gives access to the lesser trod areas allowing enjoyment of the mountain without too many crowds. Of course there are plenty of other mountains in the area to enjoy as long as you didn’t overdo it on the bangers!
Come and join us at our annual slide show and see some of the varied trips and activities club members have undertaken in the last year.
Held at the St. Albans branch of Cotswold Outdoors. Doors open at 6pm, Show starts at 7.30pm. We usually meet up in the pub opposite Cotswold afterwards so a great opportunity to talk about the upcoming events.
If anyone has access to a portable projector and a screen please contact thecommittee@thehmc.co.uk Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thats it for now. Remember winter is coming so make sure you are prepared with extra layers, hats and gloves if you plan to head out.
Best wishes
Steve Deaville
HMC Secretary