Newsletter January 2007
Chairman's introduction
This term we'll be taking you on some of our best hikes and trips away. As always we have a mixture of old, new and modified walks.
An exciting new walk will be our Easter camping trip which takes us to the Dorset / Devon coast for an exciting trek along the cliff path, this area has recently been badly polluted by the wreck of The Napoli so lets hope everything is righted before we go. Other changes include Bannau Sir Gaer which has been combined with the black mountain walk to remedy the boring second half of each. And the popular red kite walk has been re-routed around the Usk reservoir to avoid such a long stretch of walking down tarmac lanes. Of course some classics will be returning including Glamorgan Heritage Coast and Snowdon summer trip.
After the success of last years trip abroad, we are running a summer trip to Austria, (see Julia's article further on for more info). This looks set to be a highlight of our hiking calendar.
Of course we have plenty of socials lined up, some rather new and interesting ones such as Ready Steady Cook on Trangia stoves, as well as one or two trips down Wind street. Anyway, we hope you enjoy what we have lined up for you!
Chris Laidler (Chairman)
A.G.M.
It is coming up to that time of year again, when you get to decide who will run your club for the next year. In late February we will be having our Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.), which all are welcome to attend. Here are descriptions of the positions on the committee which are available. You will however need to be here the next academic year. As a committee member you will be required to attend weekly meetings in which the running of the club takes place and decide the direction the club moves in over the next year.
- Chairman - As the Chairman you would be responsible for the club as a whole, and keeping you eye on the rest of the committee members to make sure they are doing their jobs! You will also be spending a lot of time in the Athletic Union office making sure they understand the club and that everything is running smoothly (committee experience strongly advised).
- Vice Chairman - You would be responsible for the organization of transport so that we can go on the many fantastic walks throughout the year. You will also be responsible for the maintenance of club kit, and make sure that we are safe on the walks including having a plentiful supply of maps.
- Treasurer - You would be in charge of the club accounts, making sure we spend our money wisely! You will also be spending a lot of time in the Athletics Union checking our financial status.
- Secretary - You would be responsible for the minutes from meetings so that they can keep the committees of the future (could be you!) entertained and record the general status of the club as a whole. You will also book accommodation for our weekends away. Probably most importantly, you will be making sure that the pub at the end of hikes knows we are coming!
- Social Secretary - You would be in charge of organising all kinds of events, including socials along Wind Street, DVD nights and the Christmas Ball - the pinnacle of our social calendar.
- Publicity Secretary - You would be the person who makes sure everyone else knows what is going on in the club. You will be sending regular weekly e-mails informing of the walks we are having in the weeks coming up and any other important events that are taking place within the club.
- Webmaster - You would be in charge of our fantastic website on which you can see details for our upcoming walks and socials, and in charge of putting pictures that people send in of some of the fantastic scenery through which we walk into the gallery so people can see them all. If you have no experience in maintaining a website fear not, training will be provided!
Philip Dickinson (Vice Chairman)
back to the topWalks Programme
January
- Sunday 28th January - Pembrokeshire coast path route 2 (Grade B,2)
February
- Sunday 4th February - Chepstow to Tintern Abbey (Grade A,1)
- Friday 9thto Sunday 11th February - Shropshire weekend away (B,2)
- Tuesday 13th February - Rhossili Down night hike (A,1)
- Sunday 18th February - Bannau Sir Gaer (New route) (TBC)
- Sunday 25th February - Three Cliffs Bay and pub Lunch (A,I)
March
- Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th March - Rhinogs weekend away (B,3)
- Sunday 11th March - Usk Reservoir (A,1)
- Sunday 18th March - St Davids and the Pembrokeshire coast (A,1)
- Sunday 25th March to Thursday 29th - Dorset / Devon Coast camping trip (A/B,3)
April
- Sunday 29th April - Glamorgan heritage coast (B,1)
May
- Sunday 6th May - Rhossili to Swansea Sponsored Walk (C, 1)
- Tuesday 8 th May - Three cliffs bay Night Hike (A,1)
- Sunday 13th May - Ystradfellte waterfall walk (B,2)
June
- Sunday 10th to Thursday 14th June - Snowdon Summer trip (A,3)
- Monday 18th to Friday 29th June - Austria camping trip (Ungraded)
Grades
A grade: 6-8 miles; B grade: 8-12 miles; C Grade 12+ miles
1 grade: less than 200m ascent; 2 grade: 200 - 500m ascent; 3 grade: 500m + ascent
back to the topAustria Trip this summer
After the great success of our first Hiking summer trip abroad last June, when we went to the town of Benasque in the Spanish Pyrenees, we decided to organise another trip this summer. Everyone was enthusiastic about visiting the Alps instead this year, so we're heading to the beautiful Salzkammergut region of Austria for 11 nights - from Monday 18th to Friday 29th June 2007.
We'll have a night in a hostel in Salzburg on the way (so we can be cultured and go sightseeing in the Sound of Music city) before arriving at the campsite in the village of Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
It's on the side of the Hallstattersee (Hallstatt Lake), surrounded by the stunning Dachstein mountains, where we will be going hiking.
As with our trip to Spain last year, there will be plenty of challenging hikes. We'll probably hike on the Dachstein plateau to peaks such as the Taubenkogel at 2300m and around the Gosaukamm, a range of spectacular jagged peaks. On our days off from hiking there are plenty of shorter scenic walks in the area, the lake to swim in, beer gardens to relax in and huge caves and salt mines to visit. Maps may be available at sign ups for those who are interested!
There are still a few places left on the trip so if you're interested, get in touch with someone on the committee, who will be happy to give you more details.
Julia Summerfield (Treasurer)
back to the topSocial review January 2007
Welcome back to the Hiking club social network. I hope Christmas was great and your exams didn't give you the January blues.
Last term we had some great socials such as the around the world @ Wind street night out. As well as the evening at Tigger's house when we watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail, with a little after taste of Mexican spice!
The last social of the term was on Monday 11th December; With our glad-rags on and dragons in tow and accompanied by SSWIGS and Archery we descended upon Oxwich bay hotel for our long awaited Christmas ball. The food was gorgeous, and quite plentiful (if like me you devoured half a pot of roast potatoes). After the after dinner speeches it was time for the group photos which seemed to take forever, eventually followed by the disco. Compliments must go to the DJ for playing gradually more cheesy music as the night went on. I would also like to add that the quality of the dancing was quite impressive. My memory is getting hazy by this point but I must say I had a great night despite not being able to kidnap Archie the archery mascot. The photos on the website stand testament to what a fun night was had by all. I'm already looking forward to next year. (If I get an invite, hint hint!)
As for this term a big welcome to all our new members and just to tell you we have pancakes night, the A-Z of Wind Street and our brand new ready steady cook social to look forward to.
Matthew 'Mountain mat' Dumelow (Social sec.)
back to the topSocial Calendar
- Wednesday 31st January - A - Z of wind street
- Wednesday 7th February - Film night at Tigger's house, you can vote for which film you would like on the website message board.
- Tuesday 13th February - Rhossili down night hike.
- Tuesday 20th February - AGM in uni and then pancake night at Rosie and Phil's house, please bring one ingredient for the pancakes.
- Wednesday 28th February - Rhinogs signup, Lazerquest, then sports night.
- Wednesday 14th March - Bowling then Sportsnight.
- Wednesday 21st March - Ready steady cook (on trangias) social.
- Wednesday 25th April - A visit to mumbles pubs and what once was mumbles mile.
- Tuesday 8th May - Three cliff bay to Caswell night hike with a BBq on the beach. For this we will be inviting the archery club as special guests.
- Wednesday 16th May - TBC As the last official social of the year this will be left for the new social sec to find a suitable way to celebrate another great hiking year.
Crossword
Across
1 - The Welsh name for Snowdon
2 - The name of the Youth Hostel we stay at in Shropshire
3 - The name of the campling barn we stay at in Snowdonia
4 - Which bay do we go to for our Christmas Dinner?
5 - The name of the highest pub in Pembrokeshire
6 - The name of one of the castles in the Gower and also the name of one of our walks
Down
7 - The name of the Chairman in 2001
8 - The name of the place we start our Waterfalls Walk
9 - Our distinguished Chairman
10 - The first name of the Chairman in 2002.
Hint: You can find some of the answers and other helpful hiking information on our website - www.uwshiking.org.uk
back to the topGeneral Information
Sign Ups
JC's bar (quiet side)
- Wednesday 12:30 - 13:30
- Friday 12:30 -13:30
The first few hikes of the term tend to be very busy so sign up early. Weekends Away have separate sign up meetings.
Coach Pick-ups
On a Sunday Morning:
- Uplands (outside Spar shop) 9am
- Student Village (Bus stop at bottom of village on main road) 9:05am
- Campus (Fulton House) 9:15am
We normally arrive back in Swansea between 18:30 - 21:00 in the evening.
Club Notice Board
For the latest information on club events, the notice board is on the ground floor of Fulton House, opposite the Health Centre.
Walk Equipment
Please refer to the Equipment and Safety Rules or the equipment page on the website for information on what you should wear and take with you on walks. Jeans and Trainers are not allowed.
If you are unsuitably equipped, you will not be allowed to walk for the safety of the group.
If you are unsure of what you should bring contact the committee.
Web Site Info
Webmaster: Alex Herridge
