Author: Dominic Oughton

A huge thank you to Ros and Rem for a great meet and fabulous hospitality on The Fowler Estate – the perfect base to explore the wonders of the Arrochar Alps. Here are a few photos that Ros and I took More at https://rockaroundtheworld.co.uk/2019/05/06/arrochar-rucksack-club-meet/

In a testament to sheer bl@@dy-mindedness, about ten of us turned up at The Torrs despite the forecasted thunderstorm. Sure enough, the thunder rolled in, lightning filled the skies and the heavens opened just as Helen and I were halfway up the first route. Thankfully the maelstrom was short-lived and the overhanging (and “under-the-arches”) nature of the crag meant we were soon climbing again. Here’s Andy making light work of Heavy Duty and Barry on Viaduct Crack. Great to be joined by George and Rowan from MUMC – here’s Rowan belieing her limited outdoor climbing experience with a smooth ascent of Alcove Crack. It really is the perfect all-weather playground. Hopefully drier at Pule Hill next week!

A fabulous evening at Witches Quarry (especially once the sun had come around onto the crag!) In true Rucksack Club tradition, climbing continued until after sunset! Next week: Summit Quarry

SunRock 2019 is officially underway in Leonidio, Greece (though the Early Birds have been here for around a week already). With over 30 Rucksackers and guests scheduled to drift in and out over the next 3 weeks, you can follow progress at https://rockaroundtheworld.co.uk/category/rucksack-club/sunrock-2019/ Meanwhile, here are a few photos from the trip so far…

Hi Everyone (and Happy New Year if I haven’t already seen you) We’re planning to produce a Club calendar for 2020, featuring images by members. The plan is to select one image per month over the next year to go on the equivalent page of the calendar, with the finished result printed in early December in time to record your New Year’s resolutions or as a stocking filler. All proceeds will go to charity. The aims are: encourage more pictures to be posted on the website (there’s so much photographic talent in the Club that deserves sharing) raise money for charity spread the message about what an active and interesting club we are Here’s your chance to have your photo included… To enter each month, all you need to do is send in your pictures – either by email to calendar@rucksackclub.org or in a ‘Rich Post’ direct to the site selecting Category: Calendar. Please post full res images LANDSCAPE format, preferably with a caption, month and photo credit. Preference will be given to great pictures, by members, ideally OF members doing one of the Club’s core activities (Mountaineering, Climbing & Hill-walking, of course, but also Running, Caving, Paddling etc and[…]

A few people have asked me when the Gogarth Meet is next year – they’re just planning other trivial events like weddings etc and making sure it doesn’t clash, of course 😉 ! The tides are most favourable on 15 & 16 June so make sure the dates are inked into your diary. No excuses! A few pics below to encourage you… Cheers, Dom and Helen

Here’s a bit of an update on the 2019 sunrock meet… So far there are twenty of us confirmed as going, with a few more maybes. Still plenty of time to get yourself a bit of the Leonidio action… The originally planned week of 16 to 24 February seems to be stretching into a fortnight, with various teams booking later flights (somewhat more cheaply) – there will be sunrocking Rucksackers in situ from 16th Feb until 1st March. The “basecamp” accommodation at Camping Semeli is pretty much full, although a couple of the apartments could maybe squeeze in an extra one or two (get in touch with me and I’ll point you in the right direction). However, there are plenty of other options: The latest team to book have found overflow accommodation next door: website is sirines-Leonidio.gr and the contact is George…email gtsouka@yahoo.com. Also, Robin Illingworth has just returned from a trip and kindly reccied another alternative in Plaka: Simona who runs the bakery has some apartments in plaka which are available in Feb. simona.tuca@gmail.com Finally, there’s a new Guidebook that has just been published in the last week or so (available locally – might make it to shops in[…]

Calling all SunRockers Here are he details for the 2019 SunRock meet: Leonidio is a newly developed climbing area on the East coast of the Peloponnese, about 4 hours south of Athens. Helen and I spent about 3 weeks there last autumn and had a fabulous time and really liked the vibe, the village and the climbing. Here are our blog posts from our last trip: https://rockaroundtheworld.co.uk/category/greece/leonidio/ There are dozens of sectors spread over the huge red walls behind the village and up the winding valley that heads steeply inland. There are good options for sun and shade (we could really only tolerate the shady ones in late October and still managed a new crag most days). There’s a good mix of grades; some but by no means all benefitting from the “holiday grading” of Kalymnos. I haven’t found any giant villas in the area, so am proposing a slightly different format from usual. I’ve provisionally block booked a set of 6 apartments in Leonidio Plaka (port) next to the beach and the campsite. This is a great setting, a few minutes drive from the climbing. There’s no communal cooking or dining area but there are a couple of decent[…]