URW Expeds

Anything you want, you suggest, it's open to anyone to come along to an
Expedition.

You can even suggest where and when to meet! However, we all have different
agendas and by some amazing thing we end up agreeing to a walk - usually at
the very last minute.

Mostly the Expeditions are in the popular places. We meet over the Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, usually camping out. But there's nothing to stop you
having B+B or YHA as many have done in the past.

Do your own thing anytime and anywhere. Usually there's a long, high walk
or scramble for the fit. Some others like the gentle side or walking.

Pubs are great if we can camp near them.

Only words or warning is the talk of Photoshop - Yawn yawn yawn.

The next one, don't know, any suggestions? A winter meet! Quite a few of
us are experienced in winter Munros if you want more experience following
along and we agree to meet.

Jhimmy.

"Woollyzone" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

Just noted Judith referring to URW Expeds and would just like to ask if

they

Quoted message said:

were good crack, do they cater for varying levels of ability/gear etc, how
many normally go, where have you visited, how long do you go for, when's

the

Quoted message said:

next one, is drinking a traditional part of the itinerary?

Many thanks!

Woollyzone said:

Just noted Judith referring to URW Expeds and would just like to ask

<snip all the questions *I* had about URW expeditions!>

If you've got a few hours to kill you could look in Google Groups for
the discussions before and after Expedition 15. (Search for exped or
expedition or 15!)

I seem to recall some quite heated debates about whether Expedition 15
was successful. I think everyone enjoyed themselves but we all had
different views about whether we were catering for everyone's ability
and aims. I made the decision to get more involved in the
route-planning next time. I believe that most people didn't want to
be seen to be taking the lead, which meant that we didn't actually
decide on where to walk until gone half past nine in the morning.
Next time I'd like to come prepared with a couple of properly planned
routes.

Apart from the complete inability to make a decision [the Committee
Syndrome?] I felt my first urw expedition was a great success.

Come along to the next one. In fact ...... let us know where it's
going to be! (Oh, and bring an Argos tent!)

Judith

Woollyzone said:

Just noted Judith referring to URW Expeds and would just like to ask
if they were good crack,

Yep.

Quoted message said:

do they cater for varying levels of ability/gear etc,

They *can* cater for anything you want, but you have to ask for it,
don't be afraid to make suggestions. No good going along with the crowd
if you want to do something different. There's occasionally been a
tendency to go along with the macho suggestions and some people have
ended up regretting it. We've done everything from long walks to short
strolls, sometimes all as one group, sometimes splitting up into
different groups, which is better.

Quoted message said:

how many normally go,

Usually around 10 or so. Smallest was about 6, largest 19 I think.

Quoted message said:

where have you visited,

Snowdonia, Beacons, Gower, Lake District, Peak District, Dartmoor,
Scotland, etc.

Quoted message said:

how long do you go for,

Fri-Sun. Nothing much happens on the Friday, that's mainly just the
meeting up day, although some like do a short walk. The main group walk
is on the Saturday, although there really should be at least two walks
of differing difficulty, and Sunday is the going home day. There's
usually a short walk but some people like to get home early.

Some people like to come earlier in the week or stay a few days longer,
but the main get-together is Fri-Sun.

Quoted message said:

when's the next one,

Whenever anyone suggests one and other people agree to it. They're
completely informal, nothing official about them. Anyone can suggest
going anywhere on any date, and if anyone else fancies turning up,
you've got yourself an expedition. So by all means make a suggestion.

Quoted message said:

is drinking a traditional part of the itinerary?

Yep, even on the wild camping expeditions, people have been known to
bring alcohol with them. We've only done two wild expeditions though,
most are on proper camp sites, generally within easy reach of a pub,
although on the last one we stayed on the site and had a drink around
the barbeque.

In the early days (2000-2001) we were all very enthusiastic and had
quite a few trips, usually one every three months or so, but interest
has tapered off in recent years. Chris Boughay used to take charge of
organising them, maintaining a list of people interested, phoning the
camp site and so on, but since he left the newsgroup we've become rather
disorganised and we've had fewer of them.

The one constant is that we have an "anniversary" expedition somewhere
in Snowdonia every July. There's often a "Christmas" one too, between
Christmas and New Year.

There have been a few October expeditions in the past, so if anyone
wants to make any suggestions for next month, now might be a good time
to start! :-)

Chris Boughay maintained the "official" Expedition web page until he
left the newsgroup. Details and photos from the first 12 expeditions
are still there;
http://www.wildsnowdonia.co.uk/ukwalker/default.htm

I've also got some expedition photos (1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 12) here;
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk/urw/index.html

Expedition 13 - Arenigs, Snowdonia, July 2003
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk/urw/expedition13/

Expedition 14 - Mynydd Du, Beacons, October 2003
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk/october/october24.html
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk/october/october25.html
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk/october/october26.html

Expedition 15 - Carneddau, Snowdonia, July 2004
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk/misc/exp15/exp15.html

Plenty of other people involved in these expeditions have got photos on
their websites and have made trip reports in the newsgroup.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

Judith said:

I seem to recall some quite heated debates about whether Expedition 15
was successful.

Of course it was successful. There were some heated debates after exp 2
also, and there have been expeditions with much shorter walks, and
alternative walks, but for some strange reason, no-one really seemed
particularly interested in planning walks for Exp15.

Quoted message said:

I think everyone enjoyed themselves

Absolutely.

Quoted message said:

but we all had
different views about whether we were catering for everyone's ability
and aims.

The thing is, it's no-one's responsibility to cater for everyone in the
group. There's nothing official about these expeditions, no-one is in
charge, no one is responsible. We're just a bunch of individuals having
a casual get together and each person can do whatever they want.

Quoted message said:

I made the decision to get more involved in the
route-planning next time.

Good.

Quoted message said:

I believe that most people didn't want to
be seen to be taking the lead, which meant that we didn't actually
decide on where to walk until gone half past nine in the morning.

That was quite unusual actually. On most expeditions we've usually
planned the main walk well in advance, and often the Sunday walk too.
Specific details of the route are usually discussed in the pub the night
before, but since there was no pub last time that didn't really happen.
Doing it on the campsite just wasn't as convenient.

Quoted message said:

Next time I'd like to come prepared with a couple of properly planned
routes.

Absolutely. Anyone can plan a walk. The more different routes that are
suggested the better. There's no obligation to do the long hard walk
that is inevitably suggested. But if no one makes any other
suggestions...

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

The message <[email hidden]>
from Judith <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Next time I'd like to come prepared with a couple of properly planned
routes.

I did. Trouble was no one wanted to join me on either of them. :-(

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 47 summits
New - 25 (Marilyns 8, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 14)
Repeats - 22( Marilyns 7, Sweats 16, Wainwrights 16)

Paul Saunders said:

There have been a few October expeditions in the past, so if anyone
wants to make any suggestions for next month, now might be a good time
to start! :-)

Hadda fort...

Not that I'm offering my services to organise same, but I've had a
thought about a possible venue (spurred on by the thought of October =
autumnal weather); Borrowdale - Lake District, perhaps even
specifically the "bunkhouse" that my climbing club rents from the
National Trust

The hut (as we call it) is in the Jaws of Borrowdale, down the road
from Keswick:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=325455&Y=516375&A=Y&Z=3

It has its own web pages:

http://thenmc.org.uk/pages/hut/index.php

My recent photos posted (Cam Crag Ridge) was done from there (the walk
was an afternoon's jaunt)

http://thenmc.org.uk/pages/gallery/BBQAugust04

Just a thought, perhaps, even if not a final venue, it sows the seed
;-)

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php

NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk

In article <[email hidden]>, Paul Saunders
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Of course it was successful. There were some heated debates after exp 2
also, and there have been expeditions with much shorter walks, and
alternative walks, but for some strange reason, no-one really seemed
particularly interested in planning walks for Exp15.

There was no PUB tin which to do the planning!
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Woollyzone wrote:

<snip>

Thanks all. I am a follower not a leader, so I'll wait to see what is
proposed! Living as I do in Norfolk (famous for its hills, escarpments,
ravines, tarns and waterfalls etc as it is), and having a car that will not
make it to Wales and back, my options are a bit more limited. I'll keep an
eye out on here though, and I quite like the idea of a Christmas/New Year
trip somewhere. Meanwhile I will have a browse through the pics on Paul's
site for inspiration.

Cheers.

W. D. Grey said:

There was no PUB tin which to do the planning!

Exactly. That would have been much easier.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

SteveO said:

Not that I'm offering my services to organise same, but I've had a
thought about a possible venue (spurred on by the thought of October =
autumnal weather); Borrowdale - Lake District,

Great idea! Off you go! Have a good time without me!

I just realised that I've been on the last 5 expeditions, so clearly
we've been having too many in Wales! It will be nice to have an
expedition off for a change.

By the way Steve, you're the organiser on this one. Suggest a few
possible walks, venues and a possible date, and ask others for
suggestions and when they can make it. Start a thread and maintain a
list of those interested.

Good like to you.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

Woollyzone said:

Thanks all. I am a follower not a leader, so I'll wait to see what is
proposed! Living as I do in Norfolk (famous for its hills,
escarpments, ravines, tarns and waterfalls etc as it is), and having
a car that will not make it to Wales and back, my options are a bit
more limited.

Car sharing is an option. If there's anyone else in your area who
fancies coming along you could meet up and come in the same car.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
| SteveO wrote:
|
| > Not that I'm offering my services to organise same, but I've had a
| > thought about a possible venue (spurred on by the thought of October =
| > autumnal weather); Borrowdale - Lake District,
|
| Great idea! Off you go! Have a good time without me!

I know it's just writing, but I detect an angry tone in those exclamation
marks, perhaps because it's not Wales? :-)

| I just realised that I've been on the last 5 expeditions, so clearly
| we've been having too many in Wales! It will be nice to have an
| expedition off for a change.

Are you trapped to Wales sir? Surely not?

| By the way Steve, you're the organiser on this one. Suggest a few
| possible walks, venues and a possible date, and ask others for
| suggestions and when they can make it. Start a thread and maintain a
| list of those interested.

That's what you get Steve for suggesting an expedition outside of Wales,
hope you're pleased with yourself now, trouble-causer! :-)

| Good like to you.

:-)

| Paul

Ste

Paul Saunders said:

SteveO said:

Not that I'm offering my services to organise same, but I've had a
thought about a possible venue (spurred on by the thought of October =
autumnal weather); Borrowdale - Lake District,

Great idea! Off you go! Have a good time without me!

....and, with a deft about turn, he strode purposefully off?

Quoted message said:

I just realised that I've been on the last 5 expeditions, so clearly
we've been having too many in Wales! It will be nice to have an
expedition off for a change.

Huh? Does an expedition not in Wales mean that you can't go?

Quoted message said:

By the way Steve, you're the organiser on this one.

Akshally, that's not my understanding of the situation, especially
since w*lking and I have a tenuous relationship at best!

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php

NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk

SteveO <?@?.?> wrote

Quoted message said:

Huh? Does an expedition not in Wales mean that you can't go?

He attended the Pique District Expedition, because he and I went for a
preliminary walk with him on the Friday and we rendezvoused with Ian(?)
on the moors above Edale, thanks to our GPSRs and txt between mobiles.

I was only a day visitor, and was so knackered after the preliminary
stroll that I just met 'em in the pub on the other two days. 🙂
--
Gordon

ste© said:

Quoted message said:

Great idea! Off you go! Have a good time without me!

I know it's just writing, but I detect an angry tone in those
exclamation marks,

No. That's just your imagination.

Quoted message said:

perhaps because it's not Wales? :-)

We've had too many in Wales lately, it's about time for somewhere else
for a change.

Quoted message said:

Are you trapped to Wales sir? Surely not?

No, but I do live here, so it's convenient. Unfortunately I live at the
bottom, which isn't so convenient. If I lived at the top the Lake
District would be as near as Snowdonia is to me now. That would be a
lot more convenient.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

SteveO said:

Huh? Does an expedition not in Wales mean that you can't go?

No, but it does mean that I don't *have* to go. I always feel obligated
to attend the Welsh ones. :-)

I did go to the Dartmoor and Peak District expeditions, so it's not like
I never leave Wales.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

By the way Steve, you're the organiser on this one.

Akshally, that's not my understanding of the situation, especially
since w*lking and I have a tenuous relationship at best!

What are you doing in this newsgroup then? ;-)

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

Paul Saunders said:

SteveO said:

Huh? Does an expedition not in Wales mean that you can't go?

No, but it does mean that I don't *have* to go. I always feel obligated
to attend the Welsh ones. :-)

Ah, witcha

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Akshally, that's not my understanding of the situation, especially
since w*lking and I have a tenuous relationship at best!

What are you doing in this newsgroup then? ;-)

er, er, lurking?

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php

NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk

Gordon <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

SteveO <?@?.?> wrote

Quoted message said:

Huh? Does an expedition not in Wales mean that you can't go?

He attended the Pique District Expedition, because he and I went for a

^^ ^^^ ^

Quoted message said:

preliminary walk with him on the Friday

^^^^ ^^^
You will all no doubt realise from the above sentence that Paul was
beside himself. :-)
--
Gordon

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
| ste© wrote:
|
| >> Great idea! Off you go! Have a good time without me!
| >
| > I know it's just writing, but I detect an angry tone in those
| > exclamation marks,
|
| No. That's just your imagination.

It must be then! Fine!

| > perhaps because it's not Wales? :-)
|
| We've had too many in Wales lately, it's about time for somewhere else
| for a change.

Yes, definitely! :-)

| > Are you trapped to Wales sir? Surely not?
|
| No, but I do live here, so it's convenient. Unfortunately I live at the
| bottom, which isn't so convenient. If I lived at the top the Lake
| District would be as near as Snowdonia is to me now. That would be a
| lot more convenient.

Fair enough.

| Paul

Ste