The Rucksack Club

Parois de Legende Zoom Recording now available

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

Read more

Joint Meet with the Climbers’ Club, Craigallan. Monday 29th April – Tuesday 7th May.

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

Read more

A Dip into the Club Journals – 2014 – Brian Cunningham: Beyond the Bonk

We restart a new year of dips into the journal with extracts from years ending in a ‘4’.  So this month’s is from ten years ago, a very difficult choice with many excellent articles, mostly of folk putting themselves under duress. The article that sums it all up concisely is Brian Cunningham’s Beyond the Bonk, attempting to defy age, weather and Scottish terrain. You can find Brian’s article here, and the whole journal here in the club archives (under the Get Out There! tab). Here’s a clearer view of the map. PS You can find out what went on before and after in Brian’s On The Hill With here  

Read more

Zoom show – 7.30pm Tuesday 12th March: Parois de Légende

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!

Read more

Dollies & Follies and Sustainable Outdoors – February Zoom show at 7.30pm on Tuesday 13th

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

Read more

Polish Tatras – 2 Spaces Available

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.    

Read more

A dip into the Club Journals – 1913 – ‘A Tramper’s Easter Soliloquy’ by HS Porter

The final Dip into the Club Journals for 2023 [in the nick of time!] takes us back to 1913 and what a Journal this was. It was, of course, the last to be published before the start of World War I and it is full of classic writing making it difficult to choose just one! Initially, the article on the first Club Hut [in Cwm Eigiau] appealed, but this was highlighted in the earlier “Classic Article” series (available here)…no need to repeat given the quality to be found in the Journal . I have gone for ‘A Tramper’s Easter Soliloquy’, a relatively short but pithily humorous essay in which HS Porter laments the fact that a peaceful and well-earned rest after a good tramp and scramble can be transformed into a hideous nightmare by the “Ultra Cragsmen” who are as ‘fresh as paint and no wonder…it’s motors for them, to the foot of the crags’! This may have been uncomfortably close to his true feelings as in A Short History of The Rucksack Club 1902-1939 [Page 16] there is reference to an altercation in a 1911 Committee Meeting where an angry Laycock [he of Central Climb on Hen Cloud, also[…]

Read more

From One Extreme to the Other with Mike Hartley – 16 January at Heaton Moor and on Zoom

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[…]

Read more

Alps 4,000s catch-up video now available

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

Read more

Launch of The Rucksack Club Digital Archives

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[…]

Read more