GLASGOW GLENMORE CLUB
NEWS-SHEET SPRING 2006
This short news-sheet is being issued in order to keep you up to date on news about forthcoming meets, bearing in mind the very long period - up to July 2006 - covered by the Spring Newsletter which was issued in January.
May and June Weekend Meets
Arthur Whittaker is co-ordinator for these meets and the latest update from Arthur on places available is as follows:
Barisdale, White House ( 26th – 29th May): 1-2 places left
Morvich, Kintail Outdoor Centre ( 26th – 29th May) : about half full, so approximately 10 places left.
Coruisk Hut, Skye ( 16th-19th June) : similar situation per Morvich, so 4-5 places left.
If you are interested in going on any of these meets then please contact Arthur (Arthur@glasgowglenmore.org.uk)
Summer Trip 2006 Dolomites
After a discussion earlier this season it was decided the club holiday would return to the Dolomites, the main difference being a base around Cortina. So far the Committee are aware of only two members who have committed to attending (i.e. booking flights). We are aware of several people who are thinking about it but have yet to commit themselves. Others may be swithering but have yet to declare their hand.
In order to gauge the viability of the holiday we would like an idea of firm numbers by the end of the Easter holidays. This will allow the Committee to make a decision whether or not to proceed, and give those who have made a commitment time to make alternative arrangements for their summer holiday.
Could you please email or phone me if you intend to go (Gordon@glasgowglenmore.org.uk )
Gordon
Reporting Safe Return from Hill
Members are reminded of the need, when on a Club outing, to inform the Co-ordinator of their safe return after a day on the hill, by either
reporting back to the Co-ordinator at an agreed venue after the day out: for weekends it would be the hostel etc., and for day meets/last day of weekend away then a café, pub etc. or
texting/telephoning the Club mobile – 07787 852617 – or phoning the Co-ordinator’s home telephone number when they get home, ie not the day after!
If you haven’t yet entered the Club mobile number on your own mobile, then now’s the time to take action!
Taking advantage of space on this news-sheet, here is Harrold’s summary of the latest MBA newsletter …..
The Spring issue of the MBA newsletter includes the usual news of bothy conditions and renovations and some of the proposed work parties ( full and updated details given on MBA website at www.mountainbothies.org.uk)
Other articles and information included were:
News of an approach by SYHA for MBA to take over Craig YH. Committee has given outline approval and negotiations with SYHA and landowner are progressing.
Proposal to install toilet at Corrour bothy, as well as other major improvements.
Committee agreement to new bothies at Laggan ( North Arran) and Rubha Hunish, North Skye.
It is confirmed that the legislation on smoking DOES apply to bothies, being ‘buildings open to the public.’
An article by Irvine Butterfield on the first renovation of Dibidil bothy, Isle of Rum, and its coincidental repercussions, many years later.
Anyone going to Australia? The Snowy Mountains in SE Australia have a Kosciuszko Huts Association, a voluntary organisation working on similar lines to MBA, with a network of 95 huts and website at www.kosciuszkohuts.org.au.
An article entitled ‘I was always treated with the greatest courtesy’ gives an amazing insight to the generous hospitality offered to ‘gentlemen mountaineers’ in the early years of the last century, despite the poor circumstances of the shepherds giving the hospitality.
The MBA newsletter also gives a full account of last year’s AGM at Garrigill on 15th October which makes very interesting reading. As usual, the newsletter is available to GGC members from the Club Librarian, Connie Thomson.
Project Ptarmigan
And lastly, with the benefit of some publicity at the recent talk on mountain birds at the Club indoor meet on 6th April, here is some information about Project Ptarmigan. This is being organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) who are carrying out a survey of ptarmigans during the period April-August 2006. Assistance from hill walkers is much needed for the survey to get good results across the Highlands for Britain’s only truly mountain bird which faces an increasing threat from predators like crows, and climate change.
Full details are on the BTO website at www.bto.org/survey/special/ptarmigan/index.htm. If you can’t access this, then contact Project Ptarmigan, BTO Scotland, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Cottrell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA. Tel 01786 466 560. Any assistance from Club members will be much appreciated.