Tim Taylor – Page 12 – The Rucksack Club

On The Hill With … Boece Cardus

7th February 2022 Tim Taylor Featured Meets, On the hill with

Welcome again to this occasional series, this edition features one of our High Moss wardens, Boece Cardus. Boece in the Bregaglia – Above the Albigna (all photos – Cardus collection) How did you get into walking and climbing? My Dad took me up Snowdon when I was 11, and soon after I started going up Kinder with school friends. In those days there was a train service to Hayfield, and we used to go there from Romiley where I lived. I can remember how proud we felt when we reached Kinder “summit”, 2088 ft, a mound of peat barely higher than anywhere else. We would occasionally see people rock climbing, and I fancied having a go. I was put in touch with Colin Firth, a member of the Black and Tans, who took me under his wing for a couple of years. My first climb was at Yellowslacks above Old Glossop in November 1961, and then I was taken to the Lakes that Christmas. We stayed at the Solving House in Borrowdale; the group included Cliff Meredith, Tony Brooder and Vic Davies who all became Rucksackers. I could also catch a train to Hathersage and most weekends would meet[…]

CRAIGALLAN CELEBRATION AND PRESIDENT’S MEET 27 MAY – 5 JUNE 2022

19th November 2021 Tim Taylor Featured Meets

Craigallan Hut Warden John Patrick writes: We are starting to make plans for the delayed celebration of the 25th anniversary of the opening of Craigallan during which I hope to be able to organise a sit-down meal at a local venue. This is planned for the evening of Wednesday 1 June. It would be helpful to get an early indication of numbers so, if you think you would be interested in the meal, please let me know as soon as possible. There will be other events during the week so you are welcome to join in for the full event or any part of it. We will publish a full programme as soon as possible but anyone thinking of booking local accommodation might like to do so in the near future as it will be a busy time of year in the area. I am taking bookings for the hut bearing in mind that the total bed space may still be affected by Covid restrictions. Campervan space at Craigallan can also be booked at any time and it would also be wise to book early for any campsite space needed locally. More information will follow in Meetstaff and we hope[…]

On The Hill With … Andy Tomlinson

7th November 2021 Tim Taylor Featured Meets, On the hill with

Welcome again to this occasional series, this time we hear from Club President Andy Tomlinson. About to complete his first year in post, although it probably feels longer given what we’ve been through. Andy has climbed around the world and here tells us something of his climbing background, and as a bonus, gives us a guide to outdoor fashion over the last 60 years or so … On Great Calva, April 2021. Photo Andy Tomlinson collection How did you get into walking and climbing? My dad. He had been a very active climber during the Second World War where, when stationed in Tehran, he fell in with Griff Pugh (Physiologist on the 1953 Everest Expedition) who taught him to rock climb and look after himself in the mountains. The first trip I remember was Tryfan when I was eight…the sight of someone jumping from Adam to Eve was awe-inspiring! I was taken climbing a couple of years later and that was it, I was hooked. We had a one week mountain holiday in Wales or the Lakes most years, which was my annual treat as we lived in the Cotswolds…very frustrating for this teenager! Immediately before university I spent two[…]

The Rucksack Club Expedition Grant for 2023

12th October 2021 Tim Taylor Featured Meets

The Rucksack Club Expedition Grant The Rucksack Club is pleased to be able to award an expedition grant of £500 each year to support expeditions by members and associate members under the age of 30. To be eligible, expeditions must involve activities fitting with the clubs ethos, with preference given to mountaineering trips to destinations outside Europe with an objective that will be challenging or present a step up for the participants. By accepting a grant recipients agree to: Acknowledge club support in any reports about the trip Write an article for the RC Journal and allow any accompanying photos to be used on the Club Website and in other club literature. Provide a brief summary of their expedition upon its completion. Agree that if the expedition is cancelled that the grant will be returned to the club in full. The deadline for applications is 31 January, for expeditions taking place in that calendar year. In order to apply email a completed application form to: will.thomas.harris@gmail.com

On the hill with … Lyn Noble

19th September 2021 Tim Taylor Featured Meets, On the hill with

Welcome back to “On the hill with …”, this time the interviewee is Lyn Noble, a long time member of the club who besides being an all round outdoor person is also an accomplished watercolourist and mean banjo player! Over to you Lyn … How did you get into walking and climbing? Back in the middle of the last century (!) a young Unitarian minister, Keith Treacher, who many will remember, planned an expedition to Arctic Norway. Through his contacts in Unitarian chapels he recruited a handful of “likely lads” (V1 form and Uni) and started a training programme. Enter me. I’d never done anything other than the odd walk over Ilkley Moor with parents so real hills were an eye opener. It started with a trip to Windgather and I remember struggling to tie a bowline on the train to Sheffield. After that it was Reade’s Route on Crib Goch and Angel Pavement on Craig Y Bera. Treacher climbs had to be on mountains. I was hooked. Lyn on Brimham Rocks – early days Who has had the most influence on your mountain experiences? Keith Treacher and Lyn – Norway – 1957 Undoubtedly, Keith. It wasn’t just climbing it[…]

Replacement walk for Cheviot Meet announced (25th Sept) …

7th September 2021 Tim Taylor Member Posts

David Nightingale writes: Saturday 25th September 2021, Western Yorkshire Dales walk – Gragerth and Grag Hill Horseshoe Co-ordinator: David Nightingale Join me for a 10mile, 5 ½ hour, hill walk exploring an enchanting but less well-known area of the Yorkshire Dales, easily accessible from Junction 34 or 36 of the M6. Our circular route will start near Leck Fell House above the village of Cowan Bridge on the A65. We will explore the dry riverbed of Ease Gill, its sinkholes and cave entrances, climb to the trig point on Crag Hill (682m) and then follow a high-level circuit of Great Coum (687m), Green Hill (628m) and Gragerth (627m) before returning to our start point. If the weather’s fair we’ll be treated to extensive views of Whernside and Ingleborough, the Lake District, the Howgill Fells and the Lancashire Coast. Meet/park at 10.00 am at the informal parking area close to Leck Fell House where there is limited parking GR SD 674 789. Leave the A65 at Cowan Bridge and follow sign for Leck. Keep on the lane through Leck and follow the single track fell road for three miles, to a parking area where the road ends a few yards before[…]

High Camp 31 – 4/5 September – Buckden Pike

24th August 2021 Tim Taylor Featured Meets

Calling all High Campers, Old and New Carole Smithies writes: Yes, I’m delighted to say that after last year’s virtual ascent of Mont Blanc, it’s a real High Camp on a real mountain this year. We’re off to my favourite Yorkshire “2”, — Buckden Pike in Wharefedale. Last week’s recce on a fine summer day reminded me just what a great little mountain it is. A couple of points to note, the National Park car park at Buckden charges £5 for 24 hours. It gets a bit busy during the day but most people are either wandering by the Wharfe or going over to Cray and back. And water? There’s a peaty gully at the 2-mile point on the normal route, which did have a little stream, though given the next 2 week’s dry weather forecast, you might not want to risk it. But enough of the technicalities! This is my 30th real High Camp, and El Presidente Andy T. hopes to join in the celebrations, following in the footsteps of 14 previous Presidential High Campers. Talking last week, we both thought that after all the disruption of Club activities, this is a great opportunity to celebrate what the Club[…]

Completing my Munro Round during lockdown – Kevin Wheeler

28th July 2021 Tim Taylor Member Posts, Members Tales

I climbed my first Munro, Ben Nevis in the Seventies when I was a teenager. My father dragged my brother and I up the tourist path on a hot, sunny summer’s day and I hated it! A few years later I had warmed to the hills and enrolled on a BMC scrambling course on Skye staying at the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut. Of course, it rained all week but we had a fantastic instructor who among other things took me up Sgurr na h-Uamha (the true start/end of the ridge) after we had done Sgurr nan Gillean. The other guys on the course having retreated to the warmth and dry of the Sligachan Hotel. I was hooked! Over the next couple of decades, Easter trips with my work colleagues from PA Technology and family holidays saw me amass 49 Munros. It was clear that I was never going to bag all 282 Munros but I had settled for visiting all parts of the Highlands and doing a sample of these hills. With Matthew and Louise on their first Munro, Stob Ban (Mamores) In 2016, with the kids having finished at school in Wells, I decided to relocate from Somerset to[…]

CRAIGALLAN BOOKING UPDATE

20th June 2021 Tim Taylor Member Posts

Hut Warden John Patrick writes: CRAIGALLAN FULL FOR THE SUMMER Under the current (and continuing) restrictions there are no more blocks of time available at Craigallan until late September. There is just the odd midweek night between bookings and the 48 hour blocks of downtime. If anyone is wanting a one night stopover on the way further north they might be lucky but don’t count on it. There is continuous availability for self contained campervans and the occupants of one van may get access to the downstairs bathroom if there is a Member in the hut at the time who is happy to allow this. Booking is essential for all campervan parking please. The hut availability will only change if the time comes when social distancing is no longer required and we decide to allow multiple households to sleep in the hut. I am monitoring other providers with dormitory accommodation but none seem to be suggesting an opening date at the moment. If a decision is made to allow additional use of the hut I will contact all those who are already booked in as I know there will be a range of views about sharing with multiple households.[…]

Geoff Bell’s Dark Peak Wells memorial walk

22nd May 2021 Tim Taylor Member Posts

Jo Wallis, Geoff’s daughter, sends a message: On behalf of my mum Mary, and the rest of our family, we would like to thank all the Rucksacker’s who came to my dad’s funeral; those who came to our house and those able to attend the service, and also to those who have taken the time to ring or write to mum. All have been a source of solace at this difficult time. As most of you will know, dad had Motor Neurone Disease, and should anyone wish to make a donation in dad’s name, we have created a place to do this here https://geoffbell.muchloved.com Looking forwards, Andy Llewellyn and I are hatching a plan to co-host a meet later this year to revisit some of Bell’s Wells. Dad put on a walk in March 1999 called Dark Peak Wells. Over 14 hours, there were numerous crossings of Kinder and Bleaklow. 42 miles were covered and 14 wells found. The walks will start and finish in Glossop and mum would be delighted to welcome participants afterwards and will provide some refreshment. I intend finding ‘just a few Bell’s Wells’, Andy is being more ambitious, and plans to find ‘some of Bell’s[…]