Newsletter: April 2008

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Editor: Colm Fitzgerald

Work Meets

Jacobites Engineering and Construction plc will once again be bringing its energies to bear on Inver Croft. Three weekend work meets have been planned during May. The dates are: 9-11th, 16-18th and 23-25th. Volunteers for these meets are requested. The proposed project task list is below. Senior Project Manager Mike Snook is looking for volunteers. Contact him if you wish to offer your services (hutwarden@jacobitesmc.co.uk).
Estimated manning levels for the various jobs require around twenty people per weekend.

Roof:
Various areas of the roof require the slates replacing.
New skylight to be put in to the byre above the new toilet.
The ridge requires a new section of cladding to be fitted.

2nd Toilet:
Complete the toilet room.
Install toilet and wash basin.
Plumb wash basin and toilet.
Dig a trench to connect up the soil pipe to the current sewerage pipe.

Water works:
We need a team of climbers to level out the water pipe in the gorge.
The water pipe inlet will be anchored to the river bed.
Water pipe extra insulation under the railway bridge.
Install secondary filtering.

Sundry jobs:
Change the main entrance door to the byre.
Fit fire exit push bar to the current main entrance.
Insulate and plaster board the old toilet.
Plaster board the byre sleeping area.
Install a window in the byre -- opposite the emergency exit in the sleeping area.
Install a shutter over the new byre window.
Complete the electric light installation.
Complete the emergency light installation.
Spring clean.
A painting where required.

Mike requests that it would be helpful if some club members were to bring a couple of spades and pickaxes to carry out the digging of the trench for the new toilet.

Up and Coming Meets

Our hard-working meets secretaries have been toiling day and night to arrange accommodation for you. Forthcoming meets are:
18-21 April, Glen Brittle, Skye: http://www.gbmh.co.uk/
02-05 May, Mill Cottage, Feshiebridge, Cairngorms: http://www.mcofs.org.uk/huts-millcottage.asp
30 May – 1 June: Carn Dearg Hut, Glen Clova, South East Grampians: http://www.carndearg.org/
13-15 June, Inver.

Tiso Discount Night

You can do your bit and prevent the apparent imminent credit-induced collapse of the UK economy by putting more of your hard-earned pounds into general circulation. Tiso are having a discount night on Tuesday April 8th from 6 to 10 pm. This is at their branch at Ratho climbing wall and NOT at Rose St. The following discounts will apply:
All climbing and mountaineering equipment and rock shoes: 25% off
All boots, rucksacks, clothing and camping equipment: 15% off
All GPS and publications 10% off.
You will need to bring your membership card to gain entry. The club has not had any information about the regular Tiso end of May discount night.

Mid-Week Rock Climbing 2008

The clocks have gone forward and evenings will be getting longer so it will be time to get the rust off the summer climbing gear. Below is a list of venues for the Tuesday evening rock climbing. If you wish to coordinate travel arrangements please contact Adrian Proctor or Guy Wimble who will attempt to put you in contact with someone who will be going. Also see midweekrock2008@jacobitesmc.co.uk.
15 April - South Quarry, Salisbury Crags, Holyrood Park
22 April - Traprain Law
29 April - Rosyth Quarry
6 May - Fourth Quarry, Cambusbarron (– alternative The Hawkraig, Aberdour, if you can’t lead E1, low tide 21.00)
13 May - Auchinstarry Quarry
20 May - The Hawkcraig, Aberdour (low tide 20.41)
27 May - Craigmore Crag, near Glasgow.
3 June - Bowden Doors, Northumberland
10 June - Polney Crag, Dunkeld
17 June - The Hawkcraig, Aberdour (low tide 19.38) [plus Mid-Summer social at Silver Sands]
24 June - Kyloe Crag, Northumberland
1 July - Loudon Hill
8 July - Glen Lednock, Creag na h-Iolaire or Lower Lednock Sports Crag
15 July - The Hawkcraig, Aberdour (low tide 18.30)
24 July - Berryhill, Northumberland
29 July - Auchinstarry Quarry
5 Aug - Weem Crags
12 Aug - Rosyth Quarry
19 Aug - Traprain Law
26 Aug - South Quarry, Salisbury Crags, Holyrood Park Followed by a drink in a local pub to end the midweek calendar)
Alternative wet weather venue is Edinburgh International Climbing Centre at Ratho (£8.25 entrance charge)

Midweek Hillwalking 2008

We are trying a new format this year of four organised and publicised meets in the summer months.
For enquiries about the walks, please contact Fiona Milligan (MidweekWalk2008@jacobitesmc.co.uk).
Transport will be coordinated before the meets in the same way we do for our scheduled weekend meets.
14 May Wednesday - West and East Cairns, Pentland Hills, start Baddingsgill NT126549 (OS LR 65).
17 June TUESDAY - Benarty Hill, to coincide with Mid-summer Social at Silver Sands, with the climbers.
Start at car park for RSPB reserve at Vane Farm, NT 160991 (OS LR 69).
16 July Wednesday - Tinto Hill, start at Falburn NS9643373 (OS LR 72).
13 Aug. Wednesday - Ben Cleuch, Ochils, start at Mill Glen, Tillicoultry, NS914974 (OS LR 58).

Mid-Summer Social

This will be on Tuesday 17th June at Silver Sands, Aberdour, by Hawkcraig. This is scheduled as an evening rock climbing meet at the Hawkcraig, and as an evening walking meet on Benarty Hill. Bring your own barbeque and drinks.

Annual Photographic Competition

The club had a very enjoyable evening of slides of members’ recent activities and the prints for the competition were on display, at the Grange Club. The winners were: Ros Clancy for Mountain Action, Seona Macintosh for Mountain Life, Fiona Milligan for Scenery and Guy Wimble for Mountain Madness. Well done all of you. The prints will be displayed at Invercroft for the next year

Club Gear

The club has a small selection of mountaineering gear which club members can borrow for short periods of time:. These include ice axes and crampons for winter walking, harnesses, karabiners and belay devices for beginners wanting to try climbing. The gear also includes two tents for camping expeditions. Contact gear@jacobitesmc.co.uk for more information.

New Climbing Wall

There will shortly be a new climbing wall opening in Edinburgh. A new wall is being constructed at Edinburgh University's Pleasance Sports Centre. At the time of going to press the opening date was for “late March”. More information can be found here: http://www.sport.ed.ac.uk/facilities/sports_halls/climbing_facility.shtml. According to the website you need to be a member of the Centre to use it.

Expedition to the Karakoram Himalaya

Two places have become available to join a 4 week expedition to climb Cathedral Peak, one of the 6000m peaks close to K2 and Masherbrum this August. Other shorter climbing/trekking routes will be used as part of acclimatization whilst surrounded by some of the highest mountains in the world. There will also be an opportunity to experience some of the local culture. If interested, contact Phil Mack as soon as possible.
If there is other information pertaining to the club or mountaineering in general you are wanting to have distributed please let Colm Fitzgerald know (newsletter@jacobitesmc.co.uk). Likewise if the formatting of the e-mail means it cannot be read plase let me know.