The Rucksack Club

Author: Andy Tomlinson

A dip into the Club Journals: from 1993 Just a Bit Difficult by Peter Harding

Classic Journal Articles, Featured Meets

Between 1945 and 1950 Peter Harding was one of the leading climbers in the UK, who was also credited with inventing the modern ‘hand-jam’, although it is more likely that he rediscovered it! First ascents include such iconic routes as Promontory Traverse [Black Rocks, 1945], Valkyrie [Roaches, 1946], Suicide Wall [Cratcliffe, 1946], Goliath’s Groove [Stanage, 1947] and Ivy Sepulchre [Dinas Cromlech, 1947]. He joined the Rucksack Club in 1947 remaining a member until his death in 2007. He continued to climb throughout his life although less cutting edge and sometimes further afield. He climbed the Matterhorn on four occasions with his last [a solo of the Hornli Ridge in 1993 aged 69] recounted in the excellent article “Just a Bit Difficult” in the 1993 Journal. Here’s the link to the article. Peter Harding, first ascent of Promontory Traverse [E1/5b], Black Rocks 1945. Photo: © Rucksack Club Peter Harding, first ascent Goliath’s Groove [HVS/5a], Stanage 1947. Photo: © Rucksack Club Peter Harding circa 1945. Photo © Rucksack Club Peter Harding, 1995. Photo: © Gordon Stainforth Peter Harding leading Valkyrie [VS, Roaches] in 1995. Photo: © Gordon Stainforth The Hornli Ridge.  Photo: ET Roberts © Rucksack Club

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Everest for Elsie; 27-29 May 2023

Member Posts

Club member Phil Smith has sent the following, which I hope all members will take time to read and, hopefully, help organise some fund raising. Andy Hi all. We have recently launched ‘Everest for Elsie’ and are putting a call out for people to take part, including members of the Rucksack Club! The idea is to help raise funds for our ten year old daughter who has a rare terminal condition called CLN 3 batten’s disease.  The plan is that on the 27-29th May Bank holiday weekend people get sponsored to do as many meters of human powered ‘up’ as possible to help fund the build of an extension so Elsie’s long term care needs can be met. More details on this wider appeal are available here: https://gofund.me/02a719b0  By a twist of fate it is the 70th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest on Monday 29th May so we think this is also a nice way to commemorate that. Maybe we can get to 70 Everest’s with enough people joining in. We are getting incredible support from the outdoors community and have been given some spot prizes for participants from Outside and the mountain boot co, with Tom Ripley also[…]

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A Dip into the Club Journals: from 2013, Alaska by Will Harris

Classic Journal Articles, Featured Meets

We are relaunching the “Dip into the Club Journals” (previously known as “Classic Journal Articles”) in a more systematic way. There will be an article every month with links to the Club Instagram and Facebook pages. The plan is to look back through the archives at 10 year intervals, starting this month with an article from the 2013 Journal and in March one from 2003…and so on. So, for starters we have chosen an article by Will Harris recounting adventures on his first trip to Alaska. Whilst Will had recently completed his university studies he was already an accomplished mountaineer and he describes, in an understated way, the ascent of some significant routes whilst also being brutally honest about what is considered the gold standard for completing these routes! Finally, he provides some useful Beta (even 10 years later) on climbing in Alaska…click here for the article and enjoy!

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Joint RC/CC Meet 10-16 July 2023, Bosigran, Cornwall

Featured Meets

Joint RC/CC Meet 10-16 July 2023, Bosigran, Cornwall It’s time to think about summer! I am running a joint RC/CC Meet at the Count House [with Rob Seymour as the CC host] for the week of 10-16 July. The RC has 17 beds set aside for members to book and, to date, I have 10 RC members booked, so the bunk spaces are starting to fill up. There is, however, a reasonable amount of space for both tents and vans. I have had a request from a member to bring 3 guests too, but have asked that, at this stage, we wait to see what the demand is from RC members. The Count House is superbly situated, being about a 10 minute walk to Bosigran, with many other excellent Cornish crags within walking distance or a short drive away. There is also excellent walking, biking, sea kayaking or just lazing around enjoying the sea air! The plan is to have a BBQ, which the CC is kindly hosting, at the weekend. As it’s two weeks after the Gogarth Meet, you’ll have your sea-cliff legs [and head!] well in tune! Come and join us for all, or part of, the week[…]

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Marsden-Edale 7 January 2023: Two halves make a whole? Update

Member Posts

I have run out of ideas as to how I can do a single M2E as a result of the planned rail strikes, so I will do the circuit from Edale Ian [Helliwell] has suggested [the Two halves make a whole]. I am happy to coordinate if anyone else would like to join me. I plan to leave the public car park in Edale at 8am and take the route proposed: Ringing Roger, Madwoman’s Stones, Upper Ashop, Alport Castles, Grains-in-the-Water, Hern Clough, Bleaklow Head – then return to Edale via the traditional M-E route. Depending upon rate of progress, enthusiasm and the weather, there is always the option of shortening this route by heading down Upper North Grain from Alport Moor if need be. The plan is to meet up with anyone who has been able to overcome the transport issues and is doing the traditional route around Bleaklow Head and return with them. If anyone wishes to join me please contact me via President@Rucksackclub.org and/or let Ian know. Andy 

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2022 Annual Dinner

Featured Meets

Last weekend [18-20 November] the 2022 Annual Dinner was held at the Cumbria Grand Hotel, Grange-over-Sands once again. As last year the hotel staff worked very hard and looked after us extremely well.  After dinner on Friday evening Jeremy Windsor gave a highly entertaining and educational talk around the subject of “It’s nothing serious…a tale of injuries and illnesses in the mountains”. For the second year running, Saturday was a lovely day and 22 members and guests joined me for a walk over Black Combe via White Combe, followed by a well-earned pub stop in Broughton on the way back!  Other members biked, walked, climbed, visited the Kendal Mountain Festival or enjoyed Grange itself. Guest speaker Finlay Wild kicked off the Annual Dinner celebrations in the evening with a talk entitled “Light, fast and loving it” giving the 107 members and guests present an insight into what is required to be one of the best mountain endurance athletes in the world. After dinner it was time to retire to the bar and catch up with friends. Sunday started clear and bright and 25 [generally more senior!] members and guests joined a leisurely stroll from the hotel to the top of[…]

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Winter Webinar Lecture Tuesday 29 November: Iain Cameron talking on “The Vanishing Ice”

Featured Meets

For many years, Iain Cameron and his team of enthusiastic volunteers have carefully documented snow accumulations on the Scottish hills. Where once this might have been seen as a rather specialist hobby, it has in recent years fascinated a much larger audience who are seeking to understand the practical impact of the current climate emergency. In this webinar, Iain will talk to us about environmental change in Scotland and his new book, “The Vanishing Ice”. This talk is part of the British Mountain Medicine Society [BMMS]/UClan Winter Webinar Series, organised by Jeremy Windsor [who spoke on Friday evening at the Annual Dinner last weekend] and has been linked to our Indoor series too, so all RC members are able to join in for no cost. I think it will be of interest to a significant number of Club members. If you would like to watch, please use this link to their site and book a place by scrolling down to the appropriate link.

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