Featured Meets – Page 2 – The Rucksack Club

A dip into the Club Journals – 1913 – ‘A Tramper’s Easter Soliloquy’ by HS Porter

31st December 2023 Andy Tomlinson Classic Journal Articles, Featured Meets

The final Dip into the Club Journals for 2023 [in the nick of time!] takes us back to 1913 and what a Journal this was. It was, of course, the last to be published before the start of World War I and it is full of classic writing making it difficult to choose just one! Initially, the article on the first Club Hut [in Cwm Eigiau] appealed, but this was highlighted in the earlier “Classic Article” series (available here)…no need to repeat given the quality to be found in the Journal . I have gone for ‘A Tramper’s Easter Soliloquy’, a relatively short but pithily humorous essay in which HS Porter laments the fact that a peaceful and well-earned rest after a good tramp and scramble can be transformed into a hideous nightmare by the “Ultra Cragsmen” who are as ‘fresh as paint and no wonder…it’s motors for them, to the foot of the crags’! This may have been uncomfortably close to his true feelings as in A Short History of The Rucksack Club 1902-1939 [Page 16] there is reference to an altercation in a 1911 Committee Meeting where an angry Laycock [he of Central Climb on Hen Cloud, also[…]

From One Extreme to the Other with Mike Hartley – 16 January at Heaton Moor and on Zoom

23rd December 2023 Dominic Oughton Featured Meets

The 2024 Indoor Meets season kicks off in EXTREME style, with Mike Hartley sharing experiences From One Extreme to the Other Rucksack Club member Mike Hartley is perhaps most well-known for his record-breaking achievements for many of the UK’s ultra-running challenges, but his impressive CV doesn’t stop there. He has also turned his hand to numerous of the Rucksack Club’s other core activities, including climbing in the UK to Yosemite, caving, sea kayaking, peak bagging and cycling. He has brought the same focus and drive to each of these pursuits and continued to ‘take things to extremes’, and has finally taken the plunge to record his extraordinary life in his book: From One Extreme to the Other. Join us to hear some of the tales, and Mike’s thinking on his approach to the mental and physical preparation necessary for success. For more about Mike’s incredible achievements see this review of From One Extreme to the Other This Extreme Extravaganza will be taking place live and in person at Heaton Moor Sports Club – easily reached from the M60 from Manchester, Stockport and further afield. There’s plenty of free parking and a well-stocked bar. Address: Green Ln, Stockport SK4 2NF Google[…]

Alps 4,000s catch-up video now available

17th December 2023 Dominic Oughton Featured Meets

If you didn’t manage to make it to the December Indoor Meet / Slideshow, you missed a real treat! Thrilling tales of climbing the Alpine Four Thousanders and some great pics and stories from other club members. Fear not! The catch-up video is now available here – or just click on the ‘Get out There!’ option on the main menu and scroll down to the ‘Virtual Meets Gallery’ where you’ll also find another 40 videos covering everything from Himalayan expeditions to Hard Grit; and Ultra Endurance feats to Sun Rocking. Take a browse! Meanwhile, keep an eye out for details of the next show: Tuesday 16th January (In person – Heaton Moor and on Zoom) – Mike Hartley – From One Extreme to the Other

Launch of The Rucksack Club Digital Archives

13th December 2023 Ian Helliwell Featured Meets

An early Christmas present I’m pleased to announce the official launch of The Rucksack Club Digital Archives. This new on-line resource contains a wealth of material to either browse or download, and will give you plenty of things to fill those long winter evenings. The archive contains material covering over 120 years of the Club’s history and is constantly growing. It currently includes: All 105 Journals from 1903 to the current edition – available to read as flip-books with clickable contents or to download. The last 30 editions of Meetstaff – again available to read as flip-books or download. Hut logbooks from the Club’s Welsh huts covering years 1926 – 2022 The digital archives of the Anabasis Club from its formation in 1961 to its incorporation into The Rucksack Club in 2021. “On The Hill with…” – 3 volumes containing over 30 interviews with notable Club Members. This development of this has been made possible via a generous bequest from the estate of the late Albert and Alice Dale. In addition to this fantastic on-line resource, the Dale bequest has also enabled the Club to develop a fully secure Digital Vault for the long-term preservation of its digital assets. This[…]

A Dip into the Club Journals – 1923 – Eustace Thomas: A Long Circuit of the Fells

7th December 2023 Tim Taylor Classic Journal Articles, Featured Meets

Welcome to November’s dip into the journals. And there’s much to consider in the 1923 journal. This journal celebrated the coming of age the club, A E Burns (Hon. Sec.) provides an interesting summary, this shows, inter alia, that the club has always undertaken a range of diverse activities. There are articles about solo trips through Dartmoor, Scotland and the Alps, and similar group excursions, new routes at Stanage End and High Neb, and on Ben Eighe. But this month’s pick is again an article by Eustace Thomas. At this stage in his early fifties, his Long Circuit of the Fells describes an attempt on the Lake District Fell Record, supported by club members, which he extended within the allowed 24 hours in covering 66 1/2 miles and 25,000 feet of ascent. Typically he kept going and achieved 30,000 feet of ascent (a personal Everest?). This was not bettered until 1932 when Bob Graham completed his eponymous round. Read his article here, and more from the 1923 journal here.

AGM – Please come!

27th November 2023 Richard Clegg Featured Meets

The 121st Annual General Meeting of The Rucksack Club will take place on Monday 8th January 2024 at 7.30pm. Please come – it is your club and we would like to hear from you. The meeting will take place on-line via Zoom. Information on how to join is given below. Papers for the meeting will be circulated to members electronically in early December. If any member wishes to propose an item for consideration at the meeting please inform the Secretary and/or President as soon as possible – for alteration to club rules such proposal should reach the Secretary at least 28 days before the meeting, i.e. by 11 December. We look forward to seeing you! Richard Clegg Secretary How to join the AGM: Here are details for joining the AGM Zoom meeting. Topic: Rucksack Club 121st Annual General Meeting Monday 8th January 2024 at 7.30pm Time: Jan 8, 2024 19:30 London Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89953862975?pwd=lfwYiDJpm7SG1h7af2ZNyqFhl4XrZE.1 Meeting ID: 899 5386 2975 Passcode: 630185

Xmas Indoor Meet on Tuesday 12th December – Alpine 4,000s plus Members’ Mash-Up

27th November 2023 Dominic Oughton Featured Meets

Hopefully December 12th is already in your diaries for this great pre-Christmas social, whether you’ll be joining us in person at the Heaton Moor Sports Club or on Zoom from the comfort of your sofa. The program will feature the much-anticipated (rescheduled from November) talk by Dave Palmer. He has been forging his way through the ultimate Alpine Ticklist – the Four Thousanders. and will be thrilling and entertaining us with his latest adventures and the occasional scrape, with the help of special guest star appearances. Some of the featured summits include The Aiguille Noire de Peuterey, Aiguille Vert, Dôme de Neige and The Barre des Écrins. The other half of the Double Bill is down to YOU! Following the success of last year’s 120th ‘Birthday Party’ we’ll be repeating the formula (but with Xmas mince pies this time!) with members bringing along a few photos that capture some ‘Get Out There!’ moments from the last 12 months or from “back in the day”. The event will take place in person and on zoom so there’s no excuse for EVERYONE not to share some pics and a few stories. Please send photos to dominic@oughton.uk.com, by the end of Sunday 10th,[…]

Fred Taylor

21st November 2023 Tim Taylor Featured Meets

Carole Smithies writes: Sad to report Fred Taylor died on the 4th November. Fred joined the Club in 1967. His funeral will take place at St Asaph Crematorium on Friday 24th November. Given this short notice, I‘m pleased to say that Eddie Birch will attend and represent the Club.

A Dip into the Club Journals – 1933 – Eustace Thomas: A Devilish Holiday

13th November 2023 Tim Taylor Classic Journal Articles, Featured Meets

Les Aiguilles de Diable, photo B. Cosby Welcome to October’s dip into the journals, (apologies for the delay, it’s a busy autumn). And there’s much to consider in the 1933 journal. Articles by members whose names are still well known: * John Rooke Corbett on a solo stravaig in the Applecross area in February; * H.M. Kelly writing about Corbett’s last munro, somewhat tongue in cheek; * a report by Maurice Linnell of the first ascent of Great Eastern on Scafell East Buttress, the first route on the buttress. But this month’s pick is Eustace Thomas’ article on his is completion of the Alpine 4000m peaks on the Aiguilles de Diable, with guides Alexander Taugwalder and Cachat. He then continues on to the Dolomites! Read his article here, and more from the 1933 journal here.

Allan Redfern

9th November 2023 Tim Taylor Featured Meets

Carole Smithies writes: Sad to report Allan Redfern died last Saturday the 4th November. Allan who lived in Llanfair PG on Anglesey joined the Club in 2013. Allan’s funeral will take place at the Crematorium in Bangor on Thursday 23rd November at 130pm. Lesley and family would like everybody to join them afterwards at the Royal Anglesey Yacht Club in Beaumaris for “a cuppa or maybe something stronger, and a chat”. [Allan was a member of the Beaumaris Rowing Club which is based at the RAYC.] Lesley has particularly asked me to say on her behalf: “Please wear what you are comfortable in – whatever that is. If you feel best in black, that’s great- but if you would prefer to, then please feel free to wear a woolly jumper!” Please let me know if you will be at the funeral and/or the get-together, so I can let the family know. Contact details in Handbook.