Category: Featured Meets

The recording from Tuesday’s Zoom show is now available here and also in the Virtual Meets Gallery under the Get Out There tab on the menu bar (as with all the zoom shows). This featured Adventures by Rucksack Club members Bill, Rich, Andy, Jake & Dom inspired by this ‘climbing bible’ in the Picos, Pyrenees, Ecrins, Wadi Rum and Calanques. Big thanks to Bill, Rich, Andy and Jake for their stories and pics. That’s it for this season – we’ll be back in the Autumn. Any volunteers or suggestions welcome – drop me a message. Meanwhile, here are some pics to inspire you to view on catch up! Cheers, Dom

Joint Meet with CC at Craigallan Following a very successful Joint CC/RC Meet at the Count House in Cornwall last year, there was a general view that we should have another Joint Meet in 2024…the venue, Craigallan. Spring is a great time to visit Craigallan whether climbing, walking, cycling or getting out on the water. So come and join me for all or part of the time for a ‘do your own thing’ Meet, with a communal meal on either Friday or Saturday evening.  I will be there from Sunday April 28th, leaving Tuesday 7th May, hoping that the many stellar crags and big hills within easy reach are in good condition, which will allow for some ‘group’ activities if desired. Climbing on the Etive Slabs Beinn a Bheithir and Kingairloch from Sgurr na h-Ulaidh Contact me via email [andy.tomlinson@doctors.org.uk] to book your bed space…my plan is to share the accommodation available on a 50:50 basis between the clubs, at least in the first instance. Andy   Enjoying an evening BBQ in the front garden Evening light across Loch Linnhe to Ardgour from Craigallan

The tag line for Arnaud Petit’s Opus Parois de Légende (Legendary Cliffs) is ‘La bible de l’escalade en grande voie!’ If climbing big routes around the world was a religion (…and who says it isn’t?) then this would be a fitting ‘Good Book’. This show will feature tales from a number of Rucksackers who have been climbing these magnificent lines over the last year, including: Episode 12 of Bill and Dom’s Excellent Adventures in The Pyrenees and Picos Andy Stewart on the iconic peak of Aiguille de Dibona and exploring Wadi Rum. Jake Oughton on perhaps the most sought after tick in the Dolomites, The Fish on the Marmolada … and an Oughton “Pere et Fils” trip to the Calanques This is the final show of the winter season, taking place only on Zoom. “Doors open” at 7.15pm and the show will start at 7.30pm – here’s the Meeting ID: 834 6933 1488 Passcode: The year of founding of The Rucksack Club See you there!

February’s indoor meet is a Zoom-only show featuring a Double Bill of fun and informative presentations. Dr Cath Flitcroft is The BMC lead on Conservation, Access and the Environment and she will be joining us to share examples on how we can all make our enjoyment of the outdoors more sustainable. From BOGS (or should I say Moorland Restoration and The BMC Climate Project) to Huts and Car Pools, Cath will no doubt inspire us all! Will Pitt and Tom Derrick are past and present MUMC Presidents respectively, as well as Rucksackers, and are already highly accomplished climbers. Join them for tales of Dollies and Follies as they make a first visit to The Dolomites – Mecca of Alpine Limestone Walls! This show is taking place only on Zoom. “Doors open” at 7.15pm and the show will start at 7.30pm – here’s the Meeting ID: 834 6933 1488 Passcode: The year of founding of The Rucksack Club

Eight Rucksackers are booked, packed and sat at home patiently sharpening their tools ready for the Tatras mountains. The great news is we have two spare beds booked at Morskie Oko hut (About us | Morskie Oko Mountain Hut (schroniskomorskieoko.pl)).   So, if anybody missed out on the original meet notice there is a second chance to join us.   Most people are flying out from Manchester on Thursday Feb 22nd and back late on the Thursday Feb 29th but not all.   The meet really starts at 7:30am on the Friday the 23rd at Krakow bus depot, from which two busses and horse drawn sled will get us to Morskie Oko. If you interested, please let me know by Sunday 21 Jan, so that I cancel the extra beds in good time.    

The 2024 Indoor Meets season kicks off in EXTREME style, with Mike Hartley sharing experiences From One Extreme to the Other Rucksack Club member Mike Hartley is perhaps most well-known for his record-breaking achievements for many of the UK’s ultra-running challenges, but his impressive CV doesn’t stop there. He has also turned his hand to numerous of the Rucksack Club’s other core activities, including climbing in the UK to Yosemite, caving, sea kayaking, peak bagging and cycling. He has brought the same focus and drive to each of these pursuits and continued to ‘take things to extremes’, and has finally taken the plunge to record his extraordinary life in his book: From One Extreme to the Other. Join us to hear some of the tales, and Mike’s thinking on his approach to the mental and physical preparation necessary for success. For more about Mike’s incredible achievements see this review of From One Extreme to the Other This Extreme Extravaganza will be taking place live and in person at Heaton Moor Sports Club – easily reached from the M60 from Manchester, Stockport and further afield. There’s plenty of free parking and a well-stocked bar. Address: Green Ln, Stockport SK4 2NF Google[…]

If you didn’t manage to make it to the December Indoor Meet / Slideshow, you missed a real treat! Thrilling tales of climbing the Alpine Four Thousanders and some great pics and stories from other club members. Fear not! The catch-up video is now available here – or just click on the ‘Get out There!’ option on the main menu and scroll down to the ‘Virtual Meets Gallery’ where you’ll also find another 40 videos covering everything from Himalayan expeditions to Hard Grit; and Ultra Endurance feats to Sun Rocking. Take a browse! Meanwhile, keep an eye out for details of the next show: Tuesday 16th January (In person – Heaton Moor and on Zoom) – Mike Hartley – From One Extreme to the Other

An early Christmas present I’m pleased to announce the official launch of The Rucksack Club Digital Archives.  This new on-line resource contains a wealth of material to either browse or download, and will give you plenty of things to fill those long winter evenings. The archive contains material covering over 120 years of the Club’s history and is constantly growing. It currently includes: All 105 Journals from 1903 to the current edition – available to read as flip-books with clickable contents or to download. The last 30 editions of Meetstaff – again available to read as flip-books or download. Hut logbooks from the Club’s Welsh huts covering years 1926 – 2022 The digital archives of the Anabasis Club from its formation in 1961 to its incorporation into The Rucksack Club in 2021. “On The Hill with…” – 3 volumes containing over 30 interviews with notable Club Members. This development of this has been made possible via a generous bequest from the estate of the late Albert and Alice Dale. In addition to this fantastic on-line resource, the Dale bequest has also enabled the Club to develop a fully secure Digital Vault for the long-term preservation of its digital assets.  This[…]