Forfar & District Hill Walking Club Newsletter 7 June 1995 President’s Column. the top with Willie and his pipers (Willie White was there too - see “The Presidents”) Hello All. Yes, I’m still here. If you want to end this At the last AGM in March, there were a few endless trail of drivel in this column, vote with your changes in the committee. I want to take this feet and come along to the next AGM - more about opportunity to thank those committee members who this later. With this newsletter, you will find the new stood down at the AGM, for their contribution to the meet calendar, which has some unusual meets club. Thanks to Brian Coull for his 3 year stint as planned. I hope you all approve of it. As they say, meet secretary - a difficult and tying job. Thanks to you can’t please all of the people all of the time, but I John Norrie for his 5 year stint as hut custodian - hope you’ll agree that there is enough variation to suit another difficult and very tying job. And thanks to most of the members most of the time. We’ve added a Clare Johnston for being our ordinary committee new weekend meet in early December and have finally member for 3 years. Welcome too to their managed to add Assynt to the meet calendar. Utopia replacements - Dave Murison, Roy Rennie and Ray for our Corbett baggers. In addition, we have an Campbell. Arrochar weekend in winter conditions (hopefully) Thanks to the contributors of articles for this and a couple of through walks. publication. I must say that I considered editing Back to the AGM. What a disappointing Dave’s article - he seems to have a grudge against me! turnout. For a club which has a membership of around But if you don’t turn up for an AGM, who knows what 90, only 14 of you bothered to turn up. This isn’t a might happen to you! Any budding writers can start one-off . The last few years have seen this decline. now for Newsletter 8. There were more people at the open meeting in June I hope you all have a good summer. (with no speaker!). The committee have set next Colin year’s AGM date to coincide with our social night see if this helps, but we want your opinions. Hence the questionnaire which can in your bundle. This is an Subscriptions attempt by your committee to seek your views on the Members are reminded that subscriptions are now due running of the club - specifically open meetings and - £10 for adults, £5 for juniors and OAPs. There has meets. Please take the time to fill this up and hand it been some confusion about when subs are due - they to any committee member. should be paid at or after the AGM in March. Your Another Time, Same Place - Glen Sheep membership cards have an expiry date marked on Sh.. At the last meet on June 6th to the Monadlaiths, them! we walked past the road end in Glen Banchor above Newtonmore and some distant memories were jogged. Barbeque / Orienteering That very spot was the location of a weekend meet in This was originally scheduled for Friday 30th June. June 1981. At that time, we were all hard men and Due to the July meet moving to Saturday, 1st July, this women - campers we were. None of your posy event has been postponed until Saturday 19th August fleeces, Ron Hills and goretex fabrics - no we were a at 5pm at Whitehaugh following a work party. crowd of tinks then - hillwalking was about wearing BRING A COMPASS. The work party will your old clothes on a Sunday rather than your new commence in the morning. Contact Dave M. for ones. Anyway, I digress. A large contingent arrived on details. To assist with catering for the BBQ, please Friday night and set up camp down by the burn. Next get in touch with Colin, stating your preference for day was to be Willie Milne’s (see article on “The hamburgers or vegiburgers ! Presidents”) last Munro - A’ Chailleach. To get into party mood, some members spent a lengthy period in the pubs of Newtonmore, returned late, and proceeded to roll out of the tent into the fresh air in the middle of Next Open Meeting the night. (Actually there was no fresh air. Hence the There are no open meetings in July or August. The title of this paragraph.) Next day, it was a mostly next open meeting of the club will be held on hungover group who set off for the 5 hills (all Munros Wednesday 7th September at 7.30pm. There will be a then - only 3 are now). We all made it and partied on guest speaker after the meeting. Page 1 Buses Affiliated Bodies Members are encouraged to phone the meet secretary The Club is affiliated to the following bodies, some of during the week prior to a walk. This allows him to which newer members may be unfamiliar with. The decide if there are enough people to justify taking a secretary has newsletters etc. from these organisations. bus. We normally make a loss on the buses, which are subsidised by Whitehaugh, but need to limit these MOUNTAIN BOTHIES ASSOCIATION losses. This is a charity founded in 1965 to maintain simple unlocked shelters in remote country for the use of walkers, climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts who Mountaincall love the wild and lonely places. Bothies require some Mountaincall is a telephone weather forecasting maintenance and Area Organisers arrange workparties service specifically geared to mountain areas and as required. The MBA publishes and promotes a code conditions. It is heavily subsidised and the Met. Office of conduct for those who use such shelters and the has stressed that it is in danger of being closed down surrounding countryside. See Nick for workparty due to lack of use. The number is : East 0891 500 441 details. ; West 0891 500 442. Another recorded forecast is THE SCOTTISH RIGHTS OF WAY SOCIETY Climbline ; East 0891 654 668 ; West 0891 654 669. The objects of the SRWS are : 1. The preservation, Note (08 numbers don’t need the preceding 1) defence and acquisition of public rights of way in Scotland. 2 The preservation and restoration of such Scottish Avalanche Information Service rights of way as may be in danger of being lost. BOOTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SAIS produce snow reports daily from mid December Boots is a trust fund which was set up by friends of a to mid April. These are displayed at car parks, some climber seriously injured in a climbing accident. The pubs and outdoor shops in Glen Coe, Lochaber and fundraising was so successful that the idea has been the Northern Cairngorms. The Police Avalanche kept going to support other hillgoers in the future. Information Line is 0463 713 191. Boots supports mountain rescue teams, promotes a greater awareness of mountain safety and offers to Mountain Accidents those injured on the hills support when recovering The Mountain Rescue Committee for Scotland has from injury. Much of their money is raised during the published a report on Scottish Mountain Rescues from Boots Event when they aim to have walkers on every 1964 to 1993 . The main conclusions were : Munro. The next Boots Event is on 26 May 1996, • Most casualties had adequate clothing, but only which is on the meet calendar. 76% carried an ice-axe and 59% crampons. It JOHN MUIR TRUST seems that many who did have an ice-axe were not The John Muir Trust is committed to practical action proficient in its use. to preserve Britain's remaining wild places for their • A simple slip or stumble was the contributory own sake, for the wildlife that depends on them, for cause of 42% of incidents and 53% of fatalities, the benefit of the local communities and for the whilst avalanches contributed to 15% of casualties enjoyment of future generations. It has bought four and 13% of fatalities. areas of wild land - In Knoydart, in Skye and in Northwest Sutherland. • 50% of all casualties ( including walkers) who sustained fatal head injuries were not wearing a helmet. Mountain Management • Poor navigation was a factor in 14% of all Reproduced by kind permission of Boots Across Scotland casualties and 24% of fatalities. Companions were often unable to give accurate locations of the Our informed source at Westminster has injured. revealed the existence of a discussion document on the future Management of the Mountains and those who Aggravated Trespass would choose to climb them. There has been no previous precedent and it has been framed round the This is now a criminal offence. The Government and conditions set by the Road Traffic Act. A few teething the Scottish Landowners Federation have said this will problems are expected but it is hoped that with the not be used against hillwalkers but the MCof S wish to cooperation of hillusers it will soon be accepted as know of any incidents in which the law is mentioned being necessary for the future well-being of the during an access problem and will give legal support Mountain environment. to members. Three cases are going through the courts at the moment - 2 canoeists and a horserider. Page 2 From the inception date of the new Act all Audible warning of approach is now required persons who intend to ascend above the 300 metre and a simple "oi you" is not acceptable and a bell will contour will be required to register with the new be the minimum standard acceptable.