Author: Dominic Oughton

This year’s Gogarth Meet is taking place on 21 & 22 June ‘Everest Summitted!’ was the headline from the 2024 Gogarth Meet, as 80 members, family, friends and guests came together to climb the cumulative 8,848m height – raising funds for Climbers Against Cancer https://climbersagainstcancer.org/ in the process. Success was duly celebrated with the traditional BBQ on Porth Dafarch beach. We’re teaming up with CAC again this year for another Summit Push, although as always the actual climbing is entirely optional! Beyond that it’s the same old formula that has served us well for the last twenty years. Come equipped with a rack & rope; a bike; kayak or pair of binoculars; or just a tube of factor 50 and a bucket and spade – whatever you need to ‘Get Out There!’ and work up a thirst / appetite. Bring your friends and family – the more themerrier! In a new twist this year we’ll have some extra guests joining us from the BMC Summer Climbing Meet to add even more buzz on the beach! In terms of logistics, plans will be familiar to anyone who’s been along before:Camping is pre‐booked at Valley of The Rocks Google Maps – you don’t[…]

If you missed out on the final episode in the 24/25 Indoor Meets Season you missed a treat – two expeditions to Mt Kenya, 30 years apart. Mark Jenneson and Rich Clegg are recently returned from their equatorial excursion, and recounted the unique challenges of climbing a mountain with one side in full summer whilst the other is shrouded in winter. Bill Deakin chipped in with his foray from 1995. Entertaining and informative as usual. Here’s the catch up video: Good to see a bunch of folks at Summit Up and another crowd on Zoom. We also raised almost £100 for Mountain Rescue England and Wales https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/ Thanks to Mark Jenneson, Richard Clegg and Bill Deakin  for a great talk, Andrew Barlass  for hosting, Gareth and Netty Llewellyn  for raffle duties and David Nightingale for managing the zoom room…. and a big thank you to everyone who rocked up to participate at any of the shows over the winter. Finally a huge thank you to Summit Up for hosting us and making us so welcome! That concludes the 24/25 Slideshow season – if you’ve got a story to tell for next year, get in touch with me or Andy B[…]

The final episode in the 24/25 Indoor Meets Season is at 7.30pm on Tuesday 11 March, when we travel to Africa for an ascent of Mt Kenya. Mark Jenneson and Rich Clegg are recently returned from their equatorial excursion, and will recount the unique challenges of climbing a mountain with one side in full summer whilst the other is shrouded in winter. Once again entry is completely FREE and open to EVERYONE! Tell your friends and bring them along. Each Slideshow this season features a raffle, with all proceeds going to a climbing related charity. The February event will support Mountain Rescue England and Wales https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/ The show will commence at 7.30pm, so how about coming along early to grab a few routes (did you know Rucksack Club members get concessionary rates?) or to enjoy a chat over a brew, pizza or ice-cream in the cheerful cafe? Breaking News – I know that a number of Rucksack Club regulars (mentioning no names) enjoy a little tipple as an accompaniment to a Slideshow. They will be pleased to hear that they are welcome to bring BYO refreshments to the show, with the obvious proviso that there is NO CLIMBING AFTER DRINKING[…]

Huge thanks again to Mark, Joe and Andy for a brilliant Slideshow on Tuesday evening. The room at Summit Up was full to bursting, and we squeezed in another 20 or so with the magic of Zoom. If you missed out, you can now watch the show on catch up: As well as brightening up a February evening, the event also raised £115 for Urban Uprising (thanks to Netty and Gareth on raffle duty!) You can read about the great work that they do (and chip in with a donation if you are inspired!) here: https://www.urbanuprising.org/ Next up, for the season finale, we’ve got Mark Jenneson and Richard Clegg relating the tales of their recent mission to Mt Kenya. Tuesday 11 March: A Grand Traverse of Mount Kenya – Mark Jenneson and Rich Clegg. (at Summit Up, Oldham and on Zoom).

Next up in the Indoor Meets Season at 7.30pm on Tuesday 11 February, we’ve got a brilliant Double Bill: Britain’s Finest Seacliffs? – Mark Hounslea will take us on a journey to explore Pabbay and Mingullay in the Outer Hebrides. Half Day Men – Andy Barlass and Joe Fisher will share tales from their Climbing and Trekking in the Khumbu Himalayas including an ascent of Lobouche East at 6,119m Something for everyone, and once again entry is completely FREE and open to EVERYONE! Tell your friends and bring them along. Each Slideshow this season features a raffle, with all proceeds going to a climbing related charity. The February event will support Urban Uprising https://www.urbanuprising.org/ who’s mission is Elevating and inspiring young people through climbing The show will commence at 7.30pm, so how about coming along early to grab a few routes (did you know Rucksack Club members get concessionary rates?) or to enjoy a chat over a brew, pizza or ice-cream in the cheerful cafe? Breaking News – I know that a number of Rucksack Club regulars (mentioning no names) enjoy a little tipple as an accompaniment to a Slideshow. They will be pleased to hear that they are welcome[…]

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to join in the Hard Rock fun on Tuesday – around fifty folks made the trip to Summit Up, Oldham and another thirty or so tuned in on Zoom. If you missed the show you’ll find it here https://vimeo.com/1047412026 or just click on the “Get Out There” tab and select “Virtual Meet Gallery” to view the whole back catalogue. Next up on Tuesday 11 February, we’ve got a brilliant Double Bill: Britain’s Finest Seacliffs? – Mark Hounslea will take us on a journey to explore Pabbay and Mingullay in the Outer Hebrides. Half Day Men – Andy Barlass and Joe Fisher will share tales from their Climbing and Trekking in the Khumbu Himalayas including an ascent of Lobouche East at 6,119m Something for everyone, and once again entry is completely FREE and open to EVERYONE! Tell your friends and bring them along. Each Slideshow this season features a raffle, with all proceeds going to a climbing related charity. The February event will support Urban Uprising https://www.urbanuprising.org/ who’s mission is Elevating and inspiring young people through climbing 7.30pm at Summit Up, Oldham and on Zoom. See you there!

Join us for a New Year get together – as the days are getting longer, and we look forward to the coming trad season, what better way to get psyched than a skim through Ken Wilson’s great book: HARD ROCK… The headline act will be a dash to the Outer Hebrides for an ascent of The Scoop – Ken’s “spoiler” intended to stop Puerile tickers from collecting the full set. Episode 14 of Bill and Dom’s Excellent Adventures was a whistle-stop affair to bag the penultimate route in Dom’s obsessive ticking of Hard Rock. Short, but action packed! The show will also feature others of the more far-flung entries in this definitive compendium of the finest climbs in Britain. If you have a Hard Rock story or pictures to share, it’s not too late to make a guest appearance! Drop me a message! The show will commence at 7.30pm, so how about coming along early to grab a few routes (did you know Rucksack Club members get concessionary rates?) or to enjoy a chat over a brew, pizza or ice-cream in the cheerful cafe? Summit Up Climbing https://summitupclimbing.com/ is at Egerton St, Oldham OL1 3SE. Here’s a Google Maps link:[…]

It was great to have a good turnout at Tuesday’s Slideshow to hear tales of Alaska Expedition Alpinism with Adam Bowman. Gripping stuff! A bunch of us took the opportunity for a few routes ahead of the show, as we were welcomed at our new venue at Summit Up climbing wall in Oldham. Also great to raise some much needed funding for the British Heart Foundation ♥️ If you missed out, you can still view on catch up at the following link: … Or click the “Get Out There!” Menu tab and select “Virtual Meet Gallery” to view this and dozens of other great shows. Next up, The Scoop – Episode 14 of Bill and Dom’s Excellent Adventures. 7.30pm on Tuesday 14th January. Hard Rock is the definitive UK ticklist, featuring 60 of the best routes from HVS to E4, plus an “outlier”. The Scoop on Strone Ulldale, Britain’s steepest crag, is a bit of a stopper, whether in original A3+ form, or free at E7. Join us for an entertaining “Bill and Dom’s Excellent Adventures” ascent plus other standout routes from this iconic collection. Taking place at Summit Up climbing wall in Oldham. EVERYONE is welcome (even if you[…]

Brilliant Slideshow from Will Rupp this evening, celebrating adventure and trad climbing around the world.   From hard Peak District classics, winter climbs, European multipitches to African big walls. Combining stunning photographs with tales from some of the world’s best climbers and unknown heros. If you missed out, it’s now available on catch up here: If you enjoyed the great photos and stories and want to treat yourself to the book then here’s the link: https://www.willrupp.co.uk/product-page/friends-in-high-places Huge thanks to Will! Meanwhile, be sure to get next month’s show in your calendar: Tuesday 10 December: Alaska Expedition Alpinism – Adam Bowman (at Summit Up, Oldham and on Zoom). Adam is the latest recipient of the Club’s Expedition Grant, which helped to fund his participation in this Alaskan Odyssey as part of the Young Alpinists Group. Climbing and skiing in the heart of Denali National park, Adam will talk about his first trip into the big mountains with six other nemebers of the YAG. They climbed a variety of objectives and made the most of the excellent early trip skiing conditions with some steep descents. Show starts at 7.30pm on ZoomHere are the details to join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 871 1747 6215Passcode:[…]

As the nights draw in, it’s good to have something to look forward to, so here’s the program for the Club’s Winter Indoor Meets. These are scheduled for 7.30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of every month November to March, taking place at Summit Up climbing wall in Oldham and also going out live on Zoom (apart from the season opener in November, which is Zoom only). Tuesday 12 November: Friends in High Places – Will Rupp (Zoom only). Club members will remember Will as one of the first recipients of the Expedition Grant for his big-walling trip to Madagascar, and the brilliant photos he captured of his exploits. Will’s climbing and photography have both gone from strength to strength since, and he recently released a book: Friends in High Places, capturing some stunning imagery of climbs from the Peak to Pembroke, North Wales to the Dolomites and Morocco to Madagascar. Tuesday 10 December: Alaska Expedition Alpinism – Adam Bowman (at Summit Up, Oldham and on Zoom). Adam is the latest recipient of the Club’s Expedition Grant, which helped to fund his participation in this Alaskan Odyssey as part of the Young Alpinists Group. Climbing and skiing in the heart of[…]