Category: Featured Meets

The video of Adam Gouldsworthy’s excellent presentation: To the End of the World: From Aconcagua to the Patagonian Andes is now available via the Virtual Meets Gallery Virtual Meet Gallery This brings the the collection up to a whopping 53 videos! Other gems recently added are: A tale of two treks – Helen and Rae Pritchard Winter Climbing the perfect antidote to a comfortable life – Andy Stewart Mount Kenya – Mark Jenesson and Richard Clegg Pabbay and Mingullay – Mark Hounslea and Khumbu Himalayas – Andy Barlass and Joe Fisher The Scoop and other Hard Rock ticks – Dominic Oughton, Bill Deakin and guests Alaska Expedition Alpinism – Adam Bowman Friends in high places – Will Rupp

Be entertained by the story of a two month South American odyssey! From a successful 360 degree traverse and summit of Aconcagua (6,962m) the highest mountain in the Southern hemisphere, to independent solo trekking through Patagonia’s dramatically varied landscapes. Travelling from Mendoza through the National Parks of Hahuel Huapi, Cerro Castillo, Los Glaciares and Torres Del Paine to reach Tierra del Fuego, Adam’s talk will inspire exploration of the Argentinian and Chilean Andes down at the ‘Uttermost Part of the Earth’! EVERYONE is welcome (even if you aren’t a Rucksack Club member) and it’s ABSOLUTELY FREE. Tell your friends and bring them along. We will be holding a raffle and also taking voluntary donations in aid of Every Step for Dave to support Club member Dave Palmer. https://gofund.me/696f907ba Taking place at Summit Up climbing wall in Oldham. Show starts at 7.30pm, so how about coming along early to grab a few routes (did you know Rucksack Club members get concessionary rates?) or to enjoy a chat over a brew, pizza or ice-cream in the cheerful cafe? You can even bring your own booze Summit Up Climbing https://summitupclimbing.com/ is at Egerton St, Oldham OL1 3SE. Here’s a Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ndUK5QxJVHFgEpj87[…]

There’s an Mount Everest Foundation lecture at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday 26th March,  It’s been described as ‘one of the gnarliest routes’ of 2025. Over 9 gruelling days, George Ponsonby & James Price made the first ascent of the northwest face of Aikache Chhok (6673m) in Pakistan. Book now by using this link https://tinyurl.com/9a9s5vmc A few photos:  

I have compiled the Gallery photos I have received for 2025 and they can be viewed via this link: The Rucksack Club Gallery The vast majority of photos for the second half of the year have come from those sent to Meetstaff and for possible inclusion in the Calendar (sent directly to Dom). If any members have photos that they think could enhance the Gallery (especially for the months October to December), please send them to me via: photos@rucksackclub.org Please send high resolution photos and include details of: month taken, title and name of photographer.  The Gallery provides an excellent up to date photographic record of both formal Club activities as well as that of individual members. These are appreciated by both members and those considering membership of the Club, so please consider submitting the odd photo!

David will give us the inside story from the 1975 Expedition, with access to fantastic images from Sir Chris Bonington, Doug Scott and others, many of which had never been seen in public before. At 6.00pm on the 24th September 1975 mountaineers Dougal Haston and Doug Scott became the first Britons to stand on the summit of Mount Everest.The expedition, led by Chris Bonington, was also the first to successfully climb the South West Face, which had defeated all previous attempts. Chris told the story of the climb in one of the most famous mountaineering books of all time ‘Everest The Hard Way’. The 50th Anniversary of this climb was celebrated with a number of events  during September 2025, including a special exhibition held in the Lake District. Rucksack Club member David Nightingale was the exhibition curator, with access to Bonington and Scott’s photo libraries and to many artifacts and items from the climb.David’s slide talk will tell the fascinating story of the Everest The Hard Way climb illustrated by fantastic expedition photographs and insights from his discussion with Sir Chris about the climb. Each Slideshow this season features a raffle, with all proceeds going to a climbing related charity.[…]

Kick off 2026 in style as our Indoor Meets Season gets back underway at 7.30pm on Tuesday 13 January. We will be spanning continents and hemispheres as Helen and Rae Pritchard entertain us with a Tale of Two Treks. From the high peaks of Ecuador to the Greater Ranges of Nepal, there are tales of gold smuggling, smoking volcanos, helicopters and tea houses….stunning sunrises and breathtaking views ….. from the Equator to the Himalayas. Each Slideshow this season features a raffle, with all proceeds going to a climbing related charity. The January event will support Mountain Rescue England and Wales EVERYONE is welcome (even if you aren’t a Rucksack Club member) and it’s ABSOLUTELY FREE. Tell your friends and bring them along. Taking place at Summit Up climbing wall in Oldham. Show starts at 7.30pm, so how about coming along early to grab a few routes (did you know Rucksack Club members get concessionary rates?) or to enjoy a chat over a brew, pizza or ice-cream in the cheerful cafe? You can even bring your own booze 🙂 Summit Up Climbing https://summitupclimbing.com/ is at Egerton St, Oldham OL1 3SE. Here’s a Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ndUK5QxJVHFgEpj87 If you can’t make it[…]

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  

Craigallan will be closed between 2nd-13th of March as the new flooring and shiny new kitchen are being installed. Apologies, but during these dates the hut will be unable to be used. The club meets on the weekends before and after are still running. 

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.