January 2000 Newsletter
Chairman's Introduction
Welcome back to another term with the Hiking Club and a big welcome to all the new members who join us at this time. Many of you are just starting at Swansea this term, while some of you will have just realised that you have been in South Wales for three months and not got further east than Sainsbury's! Either way, were here to help with an action-packed term of walks and social events, which will both encourage yet more drunken debauchery.
Last term had plenty of highlights, which apparently I was supposed to talk about at our Christmas Dinner Oh well, I'll do it now... Gorgeous weather on Elan Valley and the Peak Dis-trict weekend away, heavy rain in the Forest of Dean and gale-forte
winds on Lord Hereford's Knob provided plenty of variation! Nice views from (near) the top of Cadair Idris, and of the awesome Glamorgan Heritage Coast were also highlights. Our social calendar was pretty packed, with lazerquesting, the Mumbles mile and culminating in the Christmas Dinner at the Dolphin Hotel which was a great laugh for all - read all about it over the page.
This term promises to be as action-packed. There is a new walk in the Vale of Neath and a cool night hike in the same area. February sees the classic Pen-y-Fan walk in the Brecons, finish-ing at one of Wales's finer hostelries. The Ystradfellte Waterfall Walk is also this term and great because you walk behind one of the waterfalls! The high-light, though, is undoubtedly the Gower Barbecue walk, where we have a nice stroll on the Gower, followed by a barbecue on Rhossili beach - in February! Sounds mad, but it usually stays dry long enough to light the fire!
The social calendar is also rather hectic: we start off with an A-Z trip around Wind Street, where you have a drink starting with a certain letter in each pub. The club's AGM is a good excuse to get drunk and laugh as various people try to convince you that they should stand on the committee. Don't vote for them - it only encour-ages them! Then we have our infamous annual Ceilidh, which is basically a barn dance with a live band. Everyone gets drunk and gets all the moves wrong, which is always very funny, especially when you're only watching! Anyway, that's all I have room for, but I think I've probably convinced you!
See you on the hills,
Dan Ross
Peak District Weekend Away - November 1999
The initial signs for this weekend were not good, with the date pushed back, the weather looking wet and, even worse, Andy driving the minibus. However, in the end it turned out to be a great weekend with brilliant weather and no road fatalities. Both minibuses managed to make the trip although one needed a service en-route to replace the jack, wash the screen, adjust the tyre pres-sure etc. Even Marius's idea of going up the Ml didn't help regain time but that might be due to the long stop at the services for food.
When we arrived, a few thought that the accommodation was a bit on the spartan side, but most soon adapted to the mixed amenities and the cold dorms. Some chose to sleep downstairs in the lounge thinking it might be warmer. There was a TV and a phone so it was actually rather plush.
The Peak District is not a place one normally associates with good weather, especially in early November, but due to some appeased god, the weather was nothing less that excellent with clear skies and a view of Manchester (great). We headed to Kinder Scout, the highest "mountain" (just over 600m) in the area. It's a plateau rather than a peaked summit, and is normally extremely muddy on top. This year it was relatively dry though and a few people were disappointed about a lack of good quality mud to jump in. The groups stayed mostly around the edge of the plateau in order to appreciate the view, and there were only a couple of accidents involving mud! Both groups did a similar route to each other but somehow never met. Also a few attempts were made to meet up with Max and James who were Chairman and Vice-Chairman a couple of years ago, and who were also walking on Kinder, but even with mo-bile phones we missed them.
Those first refreshed and refuelled (after the chaos of fighting for showers and a place on the stove) led the exodus to the pub, all of sixty seconds walk from the hostel, and soon most people were nicely intoxicated. We eventually left, after taking full use the liberal licensing hours of the pub. Everyone was fully spent and once back we crashed for a few hours' kip, occasionally inter-rupted by the trains passing a few yards away.
The next day, those in charge thought it would be nice for a change if we didn't go down the collapsed mad of Main Tor. Therefore, we walked around it instead. Some even thought it best to do no walking at all - revolutionising the concept of hiking. Those who went got good views of the landslide, the valley (not to mention the wonderful cement works) and Kinder Scout. It was rather windy in places, and some members preceded to give all of their lunch to some tame sheep. We descended into the valley and finally managed to meet up with Max and James at the pub in the village. A pleasant afternoon was spent drinking beer and/or cream teas, while those who opted not to work had the pleasure of tidying up the hostel, a job completed with unusual efficiency. The journey back was long but uneventful and the end came to another enjoyable weekend away.
Richard Tredennick
Christmas Dinner - Dolphin Hotel - December 7, 1999
This was certainly not a night to be missed - most definitely one of the best socials of the year so far. For the grand sum of £15, those pre-sent (approx. 35) enjoyed an excel-lent Christmas dinner, a speech by our Chairman, and a disco.
After meeting in the Potters Wheel, the beers started to flow and the fun started. After a few quick drinks, we headed for the Dolphin Hotel at 7:30pm, even managing to find it without a map! On reaching the hotel, we had our dinner along with copious quanti-ties of wine and beer. The food was nice with a good vegetarian option too, followed by Christmas pudding and mince pies, where Treds was the star of the show, stuffing one after another and even managing to eat one all at once! With every-one still proudly wearing their sexy Christmas hats, it was the turn of our new-image, red-haired Chair-man, Dan, to make his speech.
This was certainly entertaining, and with Ed and Andy flashing cam-eras, the true stardom of the mo-ment reached Dan.
Following this truly brilliant and unique speech, the raffle (which seemed to go on for hours) brought out the child in all of us with waterpistols, sweets and crappy toys as prizes. Follow-ing the water fights, or the consumption of more alcohol, the serious business of dancing the night away be-gan. Everyone seemed to en-joy the music, although the DJ was hardly going to trouble Judge Jules.
A special mention must go to our Vice-Chairman, Andy, who along with Dan made an excellent effort with a new image. His blue hair and matching waistcoat cer-tainly proved an impressive effort. After the dancing began, the al-cohol must have taken over, so I can only reflect on the photos of the evening, which was a great laugh. If you were there, nice one; if you weren't, make sure you come along to our next social!
Rhodri Haines
Walks Programme Spring/Summer Terms 2000
Chepstow - Tintern Abbey (Sunday 23 January)
A nice easy start to the term and a good way to work off all those mince pies! We follow the River Wye on its meandering course as far as Tintern Abbey, with time to look round the remains at the end, or just collapse in the pub.
Llangorse (Sunday 30 January)
A steep climb to start the day, but it gets a lot easier after that. This is a pleasant hill-top walk with good views and angry Welsh farmers.
Night Hike: Melincourt Falls (Tuesday 1 February)
Into the hills of the Vale of Neath for another night hike. This one is harder than our other night hikes, but even more fun because we usually get lost! Great fun to be had in the woods, which is where they film the X-Files. Or should, anyway.
Dartmoor Weekend Away (Friday 4 - Sunday 6 February)
Dartmoor is in SW England (hooray - England), and is gorgeous when the weathers nice. Unfortunately, it's abysmal when the weathers bad. The quest for 'letterboxes' - ice cream tubs with a stamp and visitors book which are scattered all over Dartmoor - will explain why people start looking under rocks whenever we reach a sum-mit. Rumoured to be our best weekend away by those in the know (me).
Pen-y-Fan (Sunday 13 February)
The first C walk of the term, Pen-y-Fan is a classic Welsh mountain, and is typical of Wales: lots of climbing, lots of sheep and lots of great views. The walk finishes in one of the finer pubs in the Brecons - a great end to a great walk.
Gower Backbone and BBQ (Sunday 20 February)
The old committee fulfils their last official duty -preparing a BBQ on Rhossili beach while the new committee gets the club lost on Gower. A very nice walk along Cefn Bryn and around Rhossili Common, with dinner is waiting at the end!
Vale of Neath (Sunday 27 February)
A new walk for the new Millennium, Century or whatever. We'll be exploring the hills closer to home in what promises to be a rather pleasant walk. A short coach journey, too!
Pembrokeshire Coast (Sunday 5 March)
The Hiking Club returns to the spectacular Pem-brokeshire coast, finishing in Tenby. An easy-ish walk but a long day - bring a camera and pray the weather will be nice!
Snowdon Weekend Away (Friday 10 - Sunday 12 March)
We join the queue to climb up Snowdon (sorry, the railway isn't working at this time of year). There are spectacular views from the top when the weathers clear, which it never is. Still, the accommodation is nice...
Ystradfellte Waterfall Walk (Sunday 19 March)
Back to the Brecons for lots of waterfalls, including one, which we actually walk be-hind, which is rather unusual and great fun. Bring waterproof clothing, waterproof cameras, waterproof boots, waterproof rucsacs, waterproof maps, waterproof friends, waterproof
Sugar Loaf and Table Mountain (formerly Three Peaks) (Sunday 26 March)
A slight tweaking on previous excursions, removing field walking, road walking, driv-ing and ice cream (sorry). We'll be walking in the hills around Abergavenny which aren't that high but are all classic peaks in a really nice area. Great views. But no ice cream.
Carreg Cennen (Sunday 7 May)
A new term starts with an old walk (obviously), which potters about the hills of the Black Mountains and finishes in Carreg Cennen castle. The tea shop here serves soup and bottomless mugs of coffee, which keeps Andy happy.
'Night' Hike: Three Cliffs Bay (Tuesday 9 May)
OK, so it is more of a day hike, because it's still light, but it is in the evening. Cool views of Three Cliffs Bay in the evening sunshine, eventually finishing up in Mumbles for some food and a few beers.
Crickhowell Roundabout Walk (Sunday 14 May)
Well, if the night hike didn't wear you out, then this certainly will. 26 miles is a long way, especially when you're walking! The walk (read march) starts and finishes in Crickhowell, and encompasses most of the Black Mountain area, including Lord Hereford, Mynydd Troed and Pen-AlIt Mawr. Only for the hardy/foolhardy.
New Forest 'Weekend' Away (Monday 12-Wednesday 14 June)
A chance to wind down after all those exams with some nice, easy walks around the pleasant New Forest, and lots of drinks in the pub. The area, de-spite its name, has a lot of heathland, which is re-ally nice, especially in the summer. It also has a large number of teashops, which is handy. Not for the hardy/foolhardy.
Social Calendar Spring/Summer 2000
Wednesday 26 January A to Z of Wind Street
Our first social event of the term and a celebration for the end of exams. The idea is to take a trip down Wind Street to sample a drink beginning with each let-ter of the alphabet. Keep going until you run out of time or collapse!
Tuesday 1 February Dartmoor Weekend Away sign-up/Night Hike
We are off on our travels again. We'll have a shod meeting, you hand over the cash, and then it is off on our night hike.
Thursday 17 February AGM and general piss-up
The most important night of the social calendar. This is your chance to stand for election to the club or just to have your say on who will be in charge of the club. There will be a host of drunken speeches and challenges for you to laugh at be-fore helping the new committee toast their success. Come along even if you're not standing for election - it's a hilarious occasion.
Wednesday 23 February Ice Skating
After its success last year, we thought we'd give it another go. The trip to Cardiff is well worth it if only for the "disco" that plays while you skate. No experience is necessary, as falling over is alt part of the fun!
Wednesday 1 March Sign up for Snowdon / Mountain rescue talk
Second attempt to get the man from the Brecon Mountain Rescue Service to share his knowledge and funny stories. This event will incorporate the sign-up for the Snowdon weekend away. Come ask questions and pick up helpful advice.
Wednesday 15 March Hiking Club Ceilidh (barn dance)
Probably the best social event of the year: this is one event that cannot be missed. Basically, it's a barn dance where there is lots of drinking and dancing to a live ceilidh band. If you have never experienced one before then now is your chance. No experience expected - making a fool of yourself is all part of the fun!
Saturday 25 March 5-a-side football
A new event for the Hiking Club. Playing in teams of five for a mini tournament or just the odd game depending on the numbers.
Tuesday 9 May Night hike and meal at the White Rose
The last of our night hikes with the added twist of it still being light. This time we are off to the Gower for a lovely stroll on the cliff tops before gathering for a cheap meal at the White Rose.
Wednesday 10 May Orientbeering
It's like orienteering but instead you hunt for beer, chocolate and other treats in Clyne Woods. Sent off in small groups with a map and compass, your challenge is to find your goodies in the shortest time. Map reading skills not necessary.
Amanda Lindley
