June 4-6/71

HUT DEVELOPMENT WORKMEET (1)

9 members and 2 guests turned out to support Pete Smith and Lyn. The main aim was the destruction of the old outhouse and clearance of the ground to enable the builders to "get stuck-in" as soon as the go-ahead is given.

Mr Mc Kinnon supplied a tractor, trailer and driver - Alwen Jones - who did a tremendous job. Many tons of boulders and rubble were removed, a fair number of fingernails disappeared also. Additionally a few other jobs were tackled.

Tea and food were served with regular frequency by the ladies - Nick Jones conscripted his boat trailer for transporting boulders until the tractor arrived.

Saturday evening saw energies replenished at the Royal Victoria. Finally the hut was cleaned up in preparation for a visiting party next weekend.

F.A. Smith.

June 19/20

A weekend of bad weather, enlisted the help of Jim Kelly and son Ian to clear loft in preparation for workmeet of July 2/4. Also trenched ground near path to aid drainage. Arranged delivery of sand, cement, gravel and concrete mixer. Also discussed the draft lease with Mr Mc Kinnon. No climbing but otherwise a useful weekend.

F.A. Smith.

July 12th (Monday) (D. Salter)

Arrived at Caer Fran about 2pm after a reasonably pleasant drive out from the Land of Mordor (Liverpool!). Hot and sunny, but with some cloud floating about the tops. Spent remainder of afternoon pottering about the hut, sunbathing, etc. This is the life - yer can stuff yer Paraquat up yer watering can.

13th, Tuesday

Fine and sunny again apart from some cloud which formed around the tops during the late morning and afternoon. Early morning mist soon cleared. Motored round to Ogwen after a leisurely breakfast. Ascended Tryfan via North Ridge (with various variations), then up Bristly Ridge, over the Glyders, down by Devil's Kitchen and back to Ogwen. Apart from a few herds of lesser spotted Boy Soldiers the mountains were fairly free of traffic. After quaffing tea at Mervyn's, drove to Trefor by a strange and circuitous route of mind boggling complexity. Unfortunately the persistent breeze had built up a choppy sea, so had to content myself with a quick splash in the shallows. There were at least 6 other people on the beach - when are they going to do something about this overcrowding?

14th, Wednesday

A layer of low clouds covered the mountains for much of the day. Yesterday's breeze had slackened somewhat. Drove down the Lleyn Peninsula to Abersoch. Pottered about the headland at Mynydd Cilan. Ended up on the beach at Llanbedrog. The sea was quite warm so had a good swim (tide was in at the time - at low tide there was loads of seaweed and other such lurkers along the water's edge - not so good). Sun managed to shine through most of the afternoon. Got back about 7.30pm.

The two builders came came up later in the evening to have a look at the site.

15th, Thursday

Along the tops to Snowdon then down the Tourist track. Low cloud early on cleared quickly, but later, a stiff breeze built up and the higher peaks were wreathed in cloud - rather chilly round the knees.

16th, Friday

A fine sunny day apart from a breeze. Started off with intention of visiting Cnicht and the Moelwyns. However, took a wrong turn somewhere and drove past. Thought the Rhynogs might be worth a visit but a few more wrong turns found me in the car park by Harlech beach! The water was lovely - warmer in than out, because of the wind. In between swims, gently roasted in the sand dunes.

17th, Saturday

To Ogwen again - over the Carnedds and down via Craig yr Ysfa. Once again fine and sunny - rather sunburnt around the knees!

18th, Sunday

Drove to Croeser (took correct turning this time) and did Cnicht and Moelwyn Mawr. Then down to beach at Harlech for a swim. Another fine day, hot and sunny. Back to work tomorrow - doom and despair.

Dave Salter.

July 2-4

2nd Development Workmeet.

The objectives of this meet were in the main destructive - and the 16 members and guests who attended were just about as destructive as you could wish.

Their consciences got the better of them before long and the floors that were ripped out were in part replaced and the wall above the back door that David Robinson so happily took to pieces (in the pretence of finding a rotten lintel) was made temporarily safe.

Saturday was a fine day - we heard later about the floods at Abergele - and we worked mainly indoors covered in dust and dirt. Sunday was wet so we worked out of doors mixing concrete for the saner members to lay indoors.

Dave Clarke kept the mixer working - most temperamental; Freda Clarke kept the wheelbarrow working; Bett Smith and Christine Robinson kept cookers and kettle working and Fred - being meet leader - kept everyone working.

Saturday evening saw a huge meal laid on followed by beer but the hard labour and good food created a state of languor that prevented a drunken orgy developing.

By 3pm on Sunday all objectives were achieved and cleaning up commenced. It was a highly successful work meet thanks to the efforts of :-

Liz Smith; Dave Robinson; Christine Robinson; Dave and Freda Clarke; Dave Salter; John Craig; Ian and Betty Ailditch; Chris Meaulay; Chris Shawnn; Keith Bowen; Colin York; The Younger Smiths; Mr Mc Kinnon loaned us a tractor again and his man Alwyn drove it with great skill.

Our thanks to all - look forward to seeing you on the next workmeet, when more making-good will take place under the gentle hand of Peter Smith.

Fred Smith.

16-18 July

Came out for a quiet weekend. Weather glorious - spent Saturday on Lleyn Peninsula. Builders arrived on Sunday to commence work so spent most of day sorting things out with them.

The first sod for the development was cut by the JCB at 12.46 while cameras clicked.

Fred Smith.

July 23 (Friday)

Arrived about 11.30pm with rest of my meet (Jim Murray and Paul Hunter), having travelled up from the climbing deserts of the South East. We were greeted on arrival by Fred who walked all the way up from Caer Fran to the cars in the pitch black, which we thought was a rather nice gesture until we noticed the pick axes and shovels he was carrying. Fred had arrived a few hours early with John Baker so that they could be up at the crack of dawn on Saturday to acquire the elusive signature for the 30 year lease on Caer Fran.

July 24th (Saturday)

Woken at the crack of dawn (or was it 7.15am) by Fred and a cup of tea. Got up at 8.30am. As weather in pass looked pretty doubtful, Jim, Paul and yours truly decided to put off our proposed assault on Main Wall and Cloggy and went down to the Nevin "Quarries" to do some real climbing. A good decision as the weather wasn't too bad on the coast. Being meet leader I was forced to lead the first assault. Rapid progress was made for the first 50ft however Jim then decided he desperately needed practice in giving top ropes, so being a good fellow I consented to let him give me one and returned to the foot of the crag, to be met with cat calls and jeers from Paul.

Eventually we all managed to complete a route and returned to the hut at 8.30pm with our fish, chips and peas bought in Llanberis. We were joined back at the hut by Pete Brook and fellow Yorkshire men and women who were getting in some training before nipping off to the Alps.

July 25th (Sunday)

Joined early Sunday morning by Colin York who had started from Stoke at 6am (keen, very keen). Paul and Jim departed after breakfast to do some routes on Pen yr Ole Wen before returning to London. Colin and I drove round to Llyn Cwellyn and walked over Mynydd Mawr and down to Castell Cidwm. We completed the day with a swim in a marvellously clear quarry pond at the foot of Castell Cidwm.

July 30/31

3rd Hut Development Meet

Despite an undersubscribed meet we managed to complete most of our objectives ie painting the kitchen walls and fixing the soakaway drainage.

Aug 14th

Arrived PM hoping to find the hut swarming with industrious members - EMPTY!!

However it wasn't long before Pete Smith, Lyn, Roger Salisbury and family arrived - and so to the Vic.

Aug 15th

Morning arrived and with it total indecision!

And so to Tremadoc!

Route

ONE That layback to the right of Merlin

TWO Grim Wall (good last pitch)

THREE W.O.B. - Pete Smith hypnotised by lizard! Martin Jones hypnotised by large nut and sling left behind.

Approach and descent desperate on this bit of crag beware.

Anyone looking for a nice bit of climbing in Cornwall can contact M Jones thro' Wardroom, R.N.A.S. CULDROSE HELSTON delays may be of varying length in replying.

M.

Sept 4/5

Friends of New Zealand Meet.

Noted absence of N.Z. butter. Introduced experienced Snowdonianists to beauties of Nantmor - more or less. Glorious views from summit of Cnicht. Sunday too hot and clear for walking so surveyed coastal cliffs until a suitable beach was revealed. A day made memorable by complete failure of radiator only yards from hut; cause, engine overtaxed by combined weight of four club females. Strongly recommend more walking, climbing and slimming.

J.J.(?)

Saturday Sept 4th '71

Arrived early PM in good weather. That's about all that can be said for Saturday we arrived, apart from helping Fred Smith to set the pan in the ladies loo.

Sunday 5th

Took a good stroll with Ian & Fred Smith from the Pen-Y- Gwryd to a non-descript route on Tryfan.

Monday 6th

The weather being extremely hot and sunny forced Freda and myself to drive to Abersoch to take advantage of the weather.

Tuesday 7th

Another glorious day (we have almost forgotten what clouds, let alone rain looked like). Freda hinted that she would like a walk to get fit. We started for Moel Eilio just before 10am the heat was intense but we managed the col between Moel-y-Cynghorion and Cloggy after taking in all the tops in-between, after promising Freda a drink on Snowdon we sprinted to the top for 3pm downed a couple of pints of cyder and staggered back to Caer Fran. (Freda was rather stiff next day and the day after etc etc).

Wednesday 8th

After the exercise of the previous day Freda sunbathed while I did some work on the plumbing.

Thursday 9th

Yet another glorious day (when will it end, although there was some rumour in the village that a cloud was sighted in mid afternoon)

We spent the day in Caernarfon.

Friday 10th

Today we sadly leave for home. Before signing off I would like it put around that the ladies bog was duly christened on Monday 6th September 1971 by a male. (The gents is yet to be christened at the time of writing).

A.P. Clarke

Sat 6th Nov '71

Shadow Wall. Carreg Wastad. Cold but dry.

Rich Fairfax, Denny Bissley, Tim Norris, Han, Lew Jones.

In true style Lew crashed his car whilst speeding through traffic lights on a mercy mission to Liverpool to keep Glen company in Liverpool at a wild party. Funnily enough he failed to return straight away and silence is being kept on where he and Denny got to after the police breathalised them. Next night saw both parties back at the hut with a dent in the bodywork. (Lew's bodywork?) Monday proved to be an action packed day with the rain beating down on the car roof, the would-be Joe Browns playing hangman for hours while one member of the now enlarged party visited the Dairy Queen. All in all the meet couldn't have been further removed from a climbing weekend if the 'knitters circle' had moved in, still Lew has a year's supply of cheese and a dented body! what more could a keen climber wish for.

'A well wisher' Lin

'Last seen limping home minus an engine and side mirror' Next week - action!

6th November (Sat)

After 2½ yrs I finally made it to Caer Fran for a free week-end without Fred Smith breathing down my neck to do some work. Weather was glorious but unfortunately arrived too late to take advantage of it. So read pornographic book left by one of Lew's more discerning friends.

Sunday 7th

Weather dreadful - rain, gales etc wished briefly I was back in the Mediterranean - until I remembered the Wogs! - did nothing.

Monday 8th

Weather again dreadful - even colder - again did nothing.

Tuesday 9th

Woke up to a good winter's morning - cold, windy and sunny. Not feeling very energetic - strange how enthusiasm goes when weather improves! Had a leisurely breakfast and then set off for Pen y Pass (by car of course) to do Snowdon horseshoe. A superb days outing - a strong wind made scrambling along Crib Goch and Y Lliwedd a bit tricky but splendid visibility made this a first class day enhanced rather than marred by occasional snow flurries. (N.B. no damage to car on return).

S. Dawson.

13th November

"The Ghost Meet for Work"

Turning up here with good intentions - like for a supposed work meet we find only Stu Dawson but he needs a lot of alterations, so we will start on the redevelopment tomorrow. Here is a special announcement for Colin York - intentions for this week:- besides redeveloping Stu, quick run up Vector at Tremadoc followed by a shin up the Corner before tea. There we've set the new trend as suggested at the over attended A.G.M. for writing one's intentions in the book on arrival. (Climbing intentions only) only tomorrow we will see if we can complete our intentions!!!

Lin & Denny (two people contrary to popular opinion)

14th November

Stu vanished as feared his redevelopment. So two lost females decided to have another go at the crags having done it once in their youth

Lin & Denny

Dec 11th

Loo's Meet

Began in fine form with everyone slandering the meet leader who couldn't put a foot right. Never the less his curry put him in the good books again and folks seemed decidedly friendly after the apple pie phase. An uneventful journey down to the pub afterwards rounded off a somewhat normal day. The next day or afternoon by the time folks had got up was dull but quite dry and believe it or not climbing was actually done. Wrinkle and the Cracks celebrated it's 100th ascent by a member of the M.M.C. The instigator of Loo's meet wishes to thank Mrs Jones for all her work and effort and patience, copyright for meet leaders efforts in Bank of England vault.

And Di rolled around the lake.

Rank Productions.

Dec 24th

Arrived Xmas Eve.

Dec 25th

Christmas Day - Moel Eilio - weather very good though a bit windy on top. All peaks clear with the exception of Snowdon Summit. Three wild ponies sighted in Cwmdwythwch.

Dec 26th

Made our way over to the railway track and followed it to Snowdon summit. Entered the cloud above Cloggy otherwise a very clear and mild day.

Dec 27th

An early start for home as some horrible noise was apparent from gearbox or engine on the way out.

Margaret & Brian Knox.