Category: Archived

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A number of the Club’s officers have been working through the problems of accommodating to the circumstances in which we now operate, what adjustments there need to be to recognise those and how we might begin to have a programme of activities.  That the ground shifts constantly is well illustrated by the announcement last Thursday of added restrictions in Greater Manchester and parts of Yorkshire. An adjustment unaffected by that is a change in Club admission requirements. Given the suspension of all Meets, the Committee has agreed that the three Meets rule should be waived for the foreseeable future. As a result, potential new members need to find two current members who will propose and second a Membership application. More information and the application form can be found at https://test.rucksackclub.org/who-we-are/join-us/. With that adjustment a number of new members have been recruited since lockdown occurred…we look forward to further appropriate applications coming in. The Club’s Hut Wardens, Andy Llewellyn, Andy Tomlinson and John Farrow met – virtually – Monday evening to look at the issue of day Meets and reopening the Huts for albeit limited use. After considerable discussion, they concluded that the current policy of suspending the meets programme and[…]

  The Committee has considered what to do about opening the huts and starting up the meets programme.   At the present time, the huts remain closed and the meets programme suspended.   If you want to know why, John Farrow (the secretary) has prepared a note which appears below.   We all want a return to some kind of normality but, just right now, the Committee do not feel it is the right time.   For the moment we feel obliged to double lock the hut access doors to prevent unauthorised entry. The situation is under review all the time.   We will keep you posted.    Thank you for your understanding.   John Farrow writes: Here is my view of where we are with the huts and is supported particularly by the Wardens.   I think the most important question to be resolved before we do anything is what cover the policy we buy through the BMC – Combined Liability Insurance – provides – or doesn’t – where a Club hut is the vector for Covid-19 and an individual is damaged, possibly permanently, or indeed dies. If one of us drops a rock on someone’s head we are[…]

The Secretary writes: [An update] Or rather a re-statement of the current position which is that the huts are closed, buildings and car parks, until the Committee has concluded how they may safely be brought back into albeit limited use in line with the three English, Welsh and Scottish governments’ differently expressed rules and guidelines. Two reasons for that, one less obvious, one not.  The buildings have stood empty long enough for the possibility of legionella bacteria to have accumulated in the water systems which need appropriate cleaning.  Any unregulated use of the buildings will continue to carry the risk of transfer of the Covid-19 contagion.   The BMC has just issued guidelines for re-opening huts.  The Committee must digest those before coming to a conclusion about allowing a level of use of the huts, certainly restricted for the foreseeable future.  Each of them, designed as they are as communal areas, presents its own problems.  Anyone wishing for a copy of the BMC paper should email me. [Or use this link.]  

The President writes: Important Update – Covid19 and the Rucksack Club  The Rucksack Club committee cancelled all outdoor and indoor programmes and closed all huts until further notice on 24 March 2020. This was in accordance with Government advice and aimed at protecting us all. Since that date the committee has been, and continues to, follow Government advice. It is also reviewing BMC and other mountaineering club advice. On this basis the committee will decide what is in the best interests of our club. The following is an update of the Rucksack Club response:   Indoor and Outdoor Programme: All Club meets are currently suspended. The committee will continue to review this situation based on updated Government guidelines and also advice from the BMC.  We will provide appropriate updates as and when our stance changes, but in the interim, and for the foreseeable future, the meets programme is suspended.    All Rucksack Club huts and the grounds: At the present time, and until you are otherwise informed, all three huts remain out of use.  You must not enter any hut or park vehicles in the grounds.  This also applies to huts belonging to a Kindred Club.   We would like[…]

The BMC have produced updated guidance as lockdown across the UK evolves. Please click on the link for the full update, which the Club Committee fully supports. https://www.thebmc.co.uk/can-i-start-climbing-and-hill-walking-again Our huts remain closed until further notice.

Next Tuesday’s Virtual Indoor Meet features an end-of-month spectacular QUADRUPLE BILL, with four members covering the diverse range of Rucksack Club activities: Something for everybody there, from hard trad to Alpine adventures, and remote cragging to Lakeland summits. 7:30pm start (doors open from 7 if you want to chat beforehand) and we’ll also be repeating last week’s ‘pub social’ chats at the end, for those who want to catch up for a bit longer. Here’s the link to join the Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84176836312 Meeting ID: 841 7683 6312 Password: The year of the founding of the Rucksack Club Looking ahead we’ve got a fun-packed program coming together: 5th May – Phillip Smith Mark Jenneson and Rich Clegg will be talking about what happened when ‘Three once-a-year weekend warriors go to Chamonix’ 12th May – Andy Stewart and Debbie Whittaker will have the low down on their ‘Never Again! bike ride in Ladakh 19th May – John Beatty will be wowing us with some of his amazing pics 26th May – More Members’ Photos: David Nightingale Trekking in Nepal, Rae Pritchard and Helen Allison covering a lot of ground, and Rosalind Fowler likewise, plus Adam Bowman Pushing the Boat Out! June[…]

Joe Brown sadly died on 15th April 2020 aged 89. His legacy will last forever through the numerous fantastic new routes he put up over many, many years…he was, and remains, a true legend and gentleman. Our thoughts go out to his family at this time. Click the link to see what Ed Douglas has written on behalf of the BMC https://www.thebmc.co.uk/legendary-climber-joe-brown-dies

Please see the BMC latest advice at the following link  I copy a particularly relevant section if you have doubts as to the advice: British Mountain Guide and anaesthetist Jon Morgan said: “Do everything in your power to minimise both risk and social contact. Be scrupulous about hand hygiene and spread the word. Your own personal actions may save the life of a relative or someone you know. I am writing this as an anaesthetist who will be keeping people alive with ventilators. All the signals are we will be overwhelmed like Italy. Please help out by taking this as seriously as possible.”

From Dave Woolley, President of The Rucksack Club. The Rucksack Club has closed all outdoor and indoor events and all huts until further notice. This is in line with government advice and is to protect us all. I ask all members to respect this decision.