“Climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities
should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement” British Mountain Council
Copyright © VJW 2004-
CBMF News
It is with deep regret that we announce the death of our dear friend John Cowell.
As a founder member and leader with the CBMF John was a staunch hiker and friend.
He suffered his illness with dignity and without complaint to the extent that few of us
realised how serious it was until late 2007. A true friend never to be forgotten.
A hike in John’s memory will take place on Saturday 1st March 2008.
This photo of John with Jacqueline can be enlarged with a click but more photos of
him can be viewed at www.mountainpixels.com and inserting John in the search bar.
Our Pyrenees expedition was successfully completed during July 2007.
The week commenced with a gradual programme of ascents which included
Peña Oroel 1769m, Pico de Anayet 2574m, Pico Collarada 2883m and finally
Pico Aneto at 3404m. The ascent of Anayet was completed by Edward, Albert,
Alfred and Vic. Details of our routes can be seen at Pyrenees Routes.
Photos covering our adventures can be seen at www.mountainpixels.com
Another CBMF social took place on March 24th this year in Albir.
Not all our Spanish based members could attend but there was enough of us to make
it a happy and hilarious party. At midnight the champagne came out to celebrate
Vic and Helen’s wedding anniversary which was then blamed for some of the hangovers!
The evening was organised by our brilliant social secretary, Jacqueline
If you are planning a hiking and scrambling holiday in South Africa’s Cape Peninsula
then you should consider buying “Adventure Walks and Scrambles in the Cape
Peninsula” by Karen Watkins. I had the pleasure of Karen’s company in January 2007
while on holiday in Cape Town and we had a real adventurous day scrambling on her
favourite route, Spring Buttress.
The Cape Peninsular offers a wealth of hiking and scrambling routes but to explore most
of Table mountain you would need a week at least. If you want company then contact
The Trails Club of South Africa. Otherwise, wait until next January when I’m there!
July 2008. The urge to experience more Vías Ferratas routes took us to Catalunya for 5 days.
There are more than 20 Vías Ferratas in the Catalunya region but due to the long distances involved it was only possible to tackle a handful of them and recce the others for year 2009.
The routes of Regina de Peramola and Montserrat Teresina were spectacular and no doubt
equal some of the best in the Dolomites. More Vías Ferratas in Catalunya are definitely on our calendar for July 2009. The party limit will be 4. See photos at www.mountainpixels.com
Vías Ferratas routes can be seen at Routes.
July 2008. Last year we had a successful mission in the Pyrenees where we ascended Pico Aneto 3404 metres. This year we topped our record by ascending Pico Mulhacén the highest mountain in mainland Spain at 3479 metres. The total ascent was more than 2000 metres and the going was had. However we set a cracking pace and reached the summit in 5.5 hours.
Total circuit time was 9.5 hours. See photos at www.mountainpixels.com