Helyg Maintenance Meet Report

Previous occupation executioner? Photo Peter Scott

A fine group of immensely hard working people turned out in wonderful weather to have yet another memorable day.  Attendees included 14 members:

Andy Allen, Mark Bramich, Malcolm Donne, Rod Hewing, Ken McBride, Ruth Pybus, Paul Scott, Peter Scott, Rob Stone, Steve Ward, Charlie Watson, Clair Wilson, Mike Yates and Emma Young.  Also at work were Mark Bramich’s wife Lei and Ruth Pybus’s partner David, as well as a friend of Andy and Steve called Chris Dyke.

First operation on Friday was to carry the new picnic table previously erected by the Downes Custodians from the garage down to the front patio. Then Friday evening got off to an atmospheric start with a power cut caused by a lightning strike. Fortunately, the power cut only lasted a couple of hours, and anyway Ken had brought his camping stove so all would have been well?

A very significant achievement of the meet was unplanned. The severe recent gales had felled one of the pine trees close to the A5 but distant from the hut.

Now you see it. Glad this missed the A5. Photo Mike Yates

Now you don’t! Photo Mike Yates

It had fallen almost exactly parallel to the road so had caused no problem.  Nevertheless, since nobody had planned on bringing a chain saw, it was not part of our programme. Then unexpectedly a member with a chain saw turned up and dissected the tree, which disappeared as if by magic! Filling the woodshed had been part of the plan since a lot of wood was still around from the main felling in 2012. This was tackled with conventional bow saws, and the woodshed rapidly refilled.

Ruth Pybus and her partner David arrived on their fine tandem and spent the day replacing the wire fencing above the wall on the A5, doing a brilliant job. Sheep had been observed popping over the low wall so this was very necessary to protect the saplings they had planted last November.

One of the more bizarre experiences of the meet was a lunchtime excursion up the hillside to see the new water supply. Anxious about her food preparation, Clair dipped her hands in the water filter and removed two dead frogs and a very live dragonfly nymph, which bit her.  For those like me previously uninformed about nymphs, dragonflies may be beautiful but spend most of their lives as extremely evil-looking, large and aggressive water beetles, called nymphs for some inexplicable reason.  We helped Clair back down to the hut suffering from shock (fortunately not anaphylactic).

The indoor painting team made a huge difference to the kitchen, hall and lounge areas, removing plaques and paintings to do a really thorough job.

Peter Scott led the indoor painting team, helped by Clair Wilson when she was not busy providing food and drink for everyone.  Sustenance is an essential part of any successful maintenance meet and our very grateful thanks are due to Clair.  She also led the way to the pub for an interlude before the evening meal after which Ken and Mark played guitar.

Well earned meal Photo Peter Scott

Most people climbed on Sunday, doing various routes on Little Tryfan, Gribin Facet, Bochlwyd and Milestone Buttresses. In particular, Paul and Rob did a route not in the guidebook suspected to be new.

I would like to extend my thanks to all participants for yet another very special occasion.

Mike Yates