Here is the eagerly-awaited program for the 2022-23 Indoor Meets season.
We will be holding a once-per-month ‘indoor evening meet’ from October through March on (not quite always) the 2nd Tuesday of each month. That’s 11 Oct, 8 Nov, 6 (not 13) Dec, 10 Jan, 14 Feb & 14 March. These have been scheduled to integrate with programmes by The Alpine Club (1st & 3rd Tuesdays) and the Mountain Medicine Winter Webinar Series on the 4th Tuesday so the whole outdoors community can set aside an hour or so on a Tuesday evening, safe in the knowledge of some quality entertainment. Details of the MMWW series can be found here: https://deathzone.7thwave.io/cgi-bin/renderpost.py?postid=2002
Three of these (Oct / Dec / Jan) will be taking place face-to-face at the usual venue at Heaton Moor Rugby Club, and these will also be available on Zoom for those who can’t make it in person, as will the Nov / Feb / March shows. Entry will be FREE for all members and Associate members of The Rucksack Club, with a modest charge for non-members for the December f2f event featuring a guest speaker.
o Tuesday 11 Oct – Celebrating The Rucksack Club’s 120th Birthday with John Beatty and Volunteer All Stars (that’s you!) – Heaton Moor Rugby Club (and on Zoom)
The Club celebrates 120 years since its founding on 13th October 1902, and we’re holding a Birthday Party to celebrate. Like all the best birthday parties it will feature cake, candles, beer and some photos from when the “Birthday Person” was growing up! This will split into two parts:
- John Beatty will take us on a whistle stop tour of the first 100 years, based on the centenary publication: This Mountain Life, for which he was the driving force.
- We’ll then hand over to you, the Club members, to fill in the most recent twenty years! Please email me with your favourite photos which capture the essence of being a ‘Rucksacker’ (no more than 5 each please!) and we’ll share these for the rest of the evening (and great if you can be there just to say a few words). email to dominic@oughton.uk.com
o Tuesday 8 Nov – Hard Trad and Heart Surgery with Adam Bowman and Georgia Alpinism with Molly Worth – Zoom
A double bill featuring two highly accomplished Rucksackers who are recent graduates from MUMC.
- Adam Bowman has blazed a trail through some of the UK’s hardest trad routes (and sports routes for that matter) including the hardest line on Peak Limestone: The Final Round which weighs in at E9. His accomplishments are even more remarkable for the fact that he’s fitted them around a number of major heart surgeries. Tune in to find out how!
- Molly Worth shared the story of her Alpine Apprenticeship with The Club on Zoom last year, culminating on the summit of The Matterhorn! What next, you might ask? We’ll be hearing about Alpine excursions further afield in Georgia.
o Tuesday 6 Dec – Jesse Dufton: Not just in it for the view – Heaton Moor Rugby Club (and on Zoom)
Jesse is a blind rock climber. He is best known as the first blind person to lead climb the Old Man of Hoy, and is a member of the GB Paraclimbing Team (see https://jessedufton.com/) Jesse and his wife and climbing partner Molly, are just back from a trip to Lofoten and we’ll be hearing of their exploits in these magical isles, among other adventures.
o Tuesday 10 Jan – Bill & Dom’s Excellent Adventures Episode 13 and John Lord’s ‘Other Corners’ – Heaton Moor Rugby Club (and on Zoom)
A contrasting double bill (don’t worry, there’s only actually one ‘Bill’) of desert adventure and a huge human-powered undertaking
- Bill and Dom’s first post-covid adventure (in September 2022) will take place in the desert of south west Utah, famed for its sandstone canyons and towers – hopefully by January we’ll have recovered sufficiently to put together a slideshow!
- Following on from his successful walk from Land’s End to John o’Groats, John Lord (a glutton for punishment!) set out to travel between the other corners of Great Britain: Dover to Cape Wrath
o Tuesday 14 Feb – Brian Hall High Risk, Climbing to Extinction – Zoom
Brian Hall is an internationally certified mountain guide, who’s numerous credits include the BAFTA award-winning film Touching the Void and founding the Kendal Mountain Film Festival. He will be sharing some tales from his book: High Risk, Climbing to Extinction (see https://rucksackclub.org/2022/08/07/book-review-high-risk-climbing-to-extinction-by-brian-hall )
o Tuesday 14 March – Success and Failure: Expedition Alpinism with Will Harris and Baffin Big Wall climbing with Neil Chelton – Zoom
The season finale will feature two thrilling tales of new routing in remote and extreme environments:
- Will Harris is a British Mountain Guide, based in Chamonix, a highly accomplished Alpinist, and a Rucksacker. He’s setting off this autumn to India to try to make the first ascent of a 6,000m peak and will be sharing his experiences of success or failure – either way it’s bound to be an exciting ride!
- Neil Chelton is one of the world’s most capable Big Wall climbers and the founder of the instructional website: https://www.vdiffclimbing.com/ He and his partner Maria Parkes have just completed an epic first ascent in Baffin Island, involving a ten-day approach and 20 days on the wall! If you can’t wait until March, there’s a sneak preview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY4NEaLzg0Q
Wow, I’m breathless just reading the list! Watch the website, Facebook and WhatsApp for final details, timing and zoom links, but meanwhile do be sure to block out these Tuesday evenings in your diary (doors open 7pm for a 7:30 start)!
Cheers, Dom