Category: Featured Meets

After a very productive six years as Hut Warden at High Moss, Boece has decided it is time to step back and let somebody else take up the mantle.   During this time Boece and team have driven through a series of major improvements, including changes to the upstairs layout, four new bathrooms and most recently a full set of new windows.  HM was 55 years old last week, and these changes have given it a fantastic refresh and put it in a great position for providing another 55 years of service to the club. HM works on a dual warden model with Steve Beswick handling the booking side of role and Boece handling the more practical side of looking after the hut.    Steve is happy to continue to handle bookings. So if you have ever fancied getting involved in one of our key club roles, this is your opportunity.   Please get in touch with either myself, Steve or Boece and we can arrange a call to talk through exactly what the role involves and answer any questions you may have.

Thanks to all who sent me Photos of individual and Meet activities during the first 4 months of this year. They are now collated and up on the website for all to peruse…click here for the link! Alternatively go to “Get out there” and scroll down to “Gallery”. A special thanks, once again, to Ian Helliwell who has ensured that the Gallery functions seamlessly. I am now collecting photos for the next 4 months, May through to the end of August, so please send me any you have! Andy  

John Patrick, warden of Craigallan, writes: Corran Ferry Following a recent stay at Craigallan Chris Dodd has sent helpful information about the long term problem affecting the Corran Ferry.  Anyone visiting Western Scotland might like to be aware that there is currently no vehicle ferry to Ardgour. Changes and updates can be found on The Highland Council website. It now sounds as though the relief vessel is no longer operating, there is a shuttle bus service – https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20024/corran_ferry/812/corran_ferry_timetable_and_fares

In the recent survey we asked a series of leading questions Have you ever organised a Rucksack Club meet? If not, would you like to? And if you answered yes to the last question what is stopping you? The responses to this last question where wide ranging, but a number of people responded along the lines of ‘I don’t know what’s involved’ , ‘Nobody knows me’ or ‘I feel out of my depth’. So the purpose of this post is to highlight that there are no right or wrong ways to run a meet.  The outdoor programme includes all ends of the spectrum, from legendary Rucksack Club expeditions like Aber – Barmouth or Colne – Rowsley to local day walks.  From hugely popular staple meets like Gogarth and Marsden – Edale with over 50 attendees to my recent Laddow Bivvy meet with just 3 of us braving the famous cave.    It is this variety that makes our outdoor programme so good and one of the stand out benefits of the Rucksack Club. Helen, the outdoor organising will soon be pulling together the 2024 programme, so don’t be shy.   If you have never organised a meet before or you haven’t done[…]

It was brilliant to get back to ‘Business as Usual’ for the 2022 Gogarth Meet, with more than 70 Rucksackers and Guests enjoying a sunny, if a tad breezy, BBQ on Porth Dafarch beach (and the odd bit of climbing of course!) We will be crossing fingers for even better weather this year, but otherwise it’s the same old formula that has served us well for the last 20 years. Come equipped with a rack & rope; a bike; kayak or pair of binoculars; or just a tube of factor 50 and a bucket and spade – whatever you need to ‘Get Out There!’ and work up a thirst / appetite. Bring your friends and family – the more the merrier! In terms of logistics, plans will be familiar to anyone who’s been along for any of the last 20 years: Camping is pre-booked at Valley of The Rocks https://goo.gl/maps/WHtttGVJG5DkdWxf7 – you don’t need to book separately, but on arrival please let them know you are there. They’re offering a special rate for The Rucksack Club and are always very welcoming, so be sure to say Hi and thank you! 😊 The Saturday morning rendezvous is the South Stack Café[…]

Carole Smithies writes: Peter Greenaway, who joined the Club in 1963, passed away on Sunday 19th February. His funeral will now take place on Thursday 8th June with a Service at: All Saints Church Fulham, London SW6 3LA at 4pm, followed by: afternoon tea/drinks at the Hurlingham Club, Ranelagh Gardens, London SW6 3PR. Please, let me know if you intend to go, so I can let the family know. Contact details in Handbook.

Carole Smithies writes: We have just been informed that John Maguire who joined the Club in 1963,died on the 6th of September last year.  In 2021, John published First Poems at last, a book of poems which reflected a lifetime’s passion for mountains and remote places, [see Meetstaff April 2022 p32].

A huge thank you to Will and Neil for an enthralling and entertaining show on Tuesday evening – two thrilling tales of cutting-edge exploits in remote and extreme environments, made all the more enjoyable by the self-effacing style of both these highly-accomplished climbers. Here’s the link to the whole show: And a separate link for Neil’s presentation as there were a few glitches on the video quality on the zoom recording: If you are wondering why Neil was appearing via a pre-recorded video rather than “live” from the West Coast, it’s because he was on a mission for a solo-Big Wall-winter ascent in Yosemite. That’s hardcore! That’s it for the 2022-23 Winter Indoor Programme. They’re all available for catch-up on the Virtual Meets Gallery Virtual Meet Gallery If you’ve got suggestions or even better fancy volunteering for the 23-24 season then please get in touch! Meanwhile, thanks for your engagement over the last 6 months and looking forward to seeing you “on the hill” in the near future. Cheers, Dom