Author: Dominic Oughton

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

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[…]

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

Hopefully December 12th is already in your diaries for this great pre-Christmas social, whether you’ll be joining us in person at the Heaton Moor Sports Club or on Zoom from the comfort of your sofa. The program will feature the much-anticipated (rescheduled from November) talk by Dave Palmer. He has been forging his way through the ultimate Alpine Ticklist – the Four Thousanders. and will be thrilling and entertaining us with his latest adventures and the occasional scrape, with the help of special guest star appearances. Some of the featured summits include The Aiguille Noire de Peuterey, Aiguille Vert, Dôme de Neige and The Barre des Écrins. The other half of the Double Bill is down to YOU! Following the success of last year’s 120th ‘Birthday Party’ we’ll be repeating the formula (but with Xmas mince pies this time!) with members bringing along a few photos that capture some ‘Get Out There!’ moments from the last 12 months or from “back in the day”. The event will take place in person and on zoom so there’s no excuse for EVERYONE not to share some pics and a few stories. Please send photos to dominic@oughton.uk.com, by the end of Sunday 10th,[…]

The Rucksack Club 2024 calendar is on the shelves now! It features 50 photographs of Club Members in action on crags, hills, and mountains, participating in a range of activities from climbing and mountaineering to kayaking and yoga. The calendar includes a broad range of photographs from The Peak to The Picos, and Chamonix to Cornwall. It’s a great record of a year-in-the-life of climbers and mountaineers, and people who enjoy the great outdoors. It would be a fitting addition to your kitchen wall at home, as well as a great stocking filler. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed photos this year – the quality of the pictures has been outstanding (we could easily have filled a couple of calendars!) Apologies if your shot didn’t make the cut and please get snapping ready for next year! The best part is that, thanks to the generosity of The Rucksack Club and its Members, every penny of the £10 purchase price of this calendar will go to support Climbers Against Cancer (Charity no. 115818). Through the worldwide climbing community, CAC aim to increase awareness and raise funds for research in the continued fight against a disease that affects so many.[…]

Franco Cookson is one of Britain’s most accomplished and boldest trad climbers, with a string of first ascents up to E11, and an uncompromising philosophy recently captured in the acclaimed Brit Rock film Fall Theory. Join Franco as he agonises in the quest for the perfect objective. Where is the boundary between the ideal hard route and the lunacy of the impossible? What does ‘impossible’ even mean these days? And will any route ever be enough? Franco’s doomed quest will take him from the farthest corners of the United Kingdom to the mythically remote Mirror Wall in East Greenland. Failure is guaranteed, but will there be any success? We will also be launching the 2024 calendar, which as always will feature some great action from the last year. Your MC for the evening will be our President, Mark Jenneson. Doors open at 7pm with the show starting at 7.30pm. Admission is free for Members and Associate Members, and open to everyone for £10 on the door (£5 concessions). As ever there will be a raffle (please join in to help offset the costs) and a bar (up to you whether you join in with that!) If you can’t make it[…]

As the nights draw in, we all need something to look forward to… Good News – we’ve got a packed Indoor Meets season that is sure to entertain and enthral, as well as providing a much-needed opportunity to socialise! We’ll be sticking with the successful format of last year, with a monthly event on (typically) the second Tuesday of the month, with three of these (Oct / Dec / Jan) in-person at Heaton Moor Rugby Club (also on Zoom for those who can’t make it in person) and Nov / Feb / March shows on Zoom. Entry will be FREE for all Members and Associate Members of The Rucksack Club, with a modest charge for non-members for the October f2f event featuring a guest speaker. 10th October (In person – Heaton Moor) – Franco Cookson, Chasing The Impossible Franco Cookson is one of Britain’s most accomplished and boldest trad climbers, with a string of first ascents up to E11, and an uncompromising philosophy recently captured in the acclaimed Brit Rock film Fall Theory. Join Franco as he agonises in the quest for the perfect objective. Where is the boundary between the ideal hard route and the lunacy of the impossible?[…]