Author: Tim Taylor

The final Dip of 2025 into the Club Journals is from the 1905 Report, the third annual publication by the Club. Members had been active at home and abroad, both above and below ground. This month’s pick is a report on speleological activity ‘Underground Work 1905’ by JRC and EAB,  J Rooke Corbett taking a break from compiling his eponymous list and Ernest A Baker, doyen of early cavers. Click HERE to read the article and on this LINK to read the complete report in the Club archives. Finally, this choice being a day late allows New Years Greetings to all Club members! And as there was no Club publication in 1906, this feature will return in February.

The Rucksack Club in January Winter is upon us, with the prospect of snow and ice to get us off our Christmas couches and out onto the hills. The Rucksack Club offers a whole range of opportunities to do just that: We begin with our traditional Marsden-Edale meet, crossing the moors in around 22 miles – or double that for those starting from Edale the previous night (9th January) and visiting Marsden just long enough for a brief breakfast, before turning around and heading back to Edale with the main contingent! The following weekend (16-18 January) we convene at our well-loved hut in Eryri, Beudy Mawr, for a weekend of whatever the weather dictates. The next weekend (23-25 January) the focus changes to our cosy Scottish hut, Craigallan, with winter climbing in mind – so long as the weather cooperates! Finally, at the end of the month (30 January – 1 February) we have a caving meet based at Matlock, an annual fixture that has become justifiably popular.   The attached photo is: ‘A group of last year’s M-E participants at Fairbrook Naze’ (Ian Helliwell).   Andrew Beckett Meetstaff Editor  

Carole Smithies writes: Regret to say we have just heard that Derek Clutterbuck died on the 29th November.  Derek joined the Club in 1977. A Service of Celebration will be held at Rochdale Crematorium next Tuesday the 16th December 2025 at 11.50am.  Family flowers please by request – donations if desired to Killin Mountain Rescue Team – a donation box will be available on the day I know it is short notice, but if anyone is able to attend, please let me know as soon as possible and I will endeavour to inform his family.

The Rucksack Club in December   Rain beating down, gales blowing us off our feet – maybe, but December can also offer snow on the hills and occasional wonderful sunrises and sunsets across the mountainous landscapes. The Rucksack Club will be out and about to experience the best of these in a few varied meets: We begin with a repeat of what turned out to be a spectacular meet last year, exploring trig points, stone pillars and ancient bridges around Blackstone edge. It was spectacular because some of the party nearly took off in the ferocious wind (see photo), but stayed the course to complete a memorable day out. This year, in response to numerous requests, the meet will be re-run on 6th December. It’ll be 18 miles, so a good stretch of the legs on a short winter day.  A week later (13th December) we have one of the Rucksack Club classic meets, the Hotpot Winter Walk and Christmas Quiz. The main event is a walk across Kinder Plateau, starting and ending at Hope. There we re-convene for the aforementioned Christmas Quiz and Hotpot Supper. This is a particularly popular and convivial meet that exemplifies the benefits of Club[…]

The Rucksack Club in November: We begin the month with a hill running meet at our great hut in Eryri, one of an annual series giving Peak and Pennine runners an opportunity to adapt to more mountainous terrain. The photo shows runners resting on the Tryfan cannon on a previous such meet.  Then we have our biggest gathering of the year for our Annual Dinner Meet, which this year is being held in Harrogate, But it’s not just about food and drink; we have climbing, cycling and walking events planned too.  Best wishes          Andrew Beckett          Meetstaff Editor

As autumn takes charge of our weather, the Rucksack Club has a programme of October meets to get us out onto the hills in like-minded company: We begin (4th October) with a moorland walk over the peaceful Howgill fells, including the spectacular Cautley Spout waterfall and the high point of the Howgills, The Calf, before returning to Sedbergh. Over the long weekend of 17-20th we have one of the jewels in the crown of our outdoor programme, the Island Meet. This year we’re off to Rum, with its fantastic Rum Cuillin ridge rising steeply above the sea.  Then we have a meet (24-26th) at our well-appointed Duddon Valley hut, High Moss, that is aimed at encouraging Associate Members and recently-joined members to get to know one another and to experience the joy of a weekend hut meet.    Finally (31-2 November) we have another in our series of hill running meets, this time based at Beudy Mawr, our Eryri (Snowdonia) hut. An objective of the meet is to help Peak and Pennine runners to step up to the rougher terrain of the mountains.  The photos are the Tryfan cannon on a past running meet and the Rum Cuillin. Best wishes[…]