Category: Member Posts

Most of you will have seen Dan Calverley’s post “Who’s up for the M2E double?”. This has resulted in a team of three doing the double on Friday/Saturday. It’s not too late to join them (or the singlers) and the forecast is good!.  The problem they have is no support. Dan has added a comment to his post asking if anyone could take a bag of supplies round to Marsden on Saturday (most people won’t have seen his comment). So far there have been no volunteers. I just wanted to give this a little more of a push to the RC membership. But wouldn’t it be really great if we could give Dan’s intrepid doublers a bit more support? Maybe somebody with a campervan could be at Marsden in the morning (around 7am) with a steaming kettle and a bubling pan of porridge?? If not, could somebody with car bring a flask and give the team somewhere warm to have a brew before starting back?? If not, any other offers for how they can be supported?? Please get in touch with Dan – he is not in the handbook as he is a new (and really keen) member but his[…]

Following on from Ian’s post about the Marsden to Edale walk on Saturday – is anyone brave enough to tackle The Double with me? I was looking forward to being inducted into this Rucksack Club institution, but sadly Andy L can’t lead it this year. I might go for it solo (or might not!), but would definitely rather have company. Happy to do it as a hike in the traditional manner, or as a steady ‘run’. The weather looks set to be not too bad, as things stand at time of posting (New Year’s Eve). So come on, where are all the long distance maestros that the club was once famous for?!! Cheers & Happy New Year Dan

The Marsden-Edale was dead – to begin with! So starts our uplifting tale of Rucksack Club redemption. Are you are one of the Ebeneezer Scrooge “Marsden-Edale, bah humbug!” members? If you could work your will, would every idiot who goes about with ‘Marsden-Edale’ on his lips be boiled with his own boots and buried with a walking pole through his heart? Are you are a tight-fisted hand to the grindstone Member? A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel has ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster? Then beware, over the next week you may be visited by the spirits of Marsden-Edales past, present and future. Yes, you have but seven days to redeem your lives and commit to honour the Marsden-Edale in your heart, and try to keep all the year (or at least next Saturday). Completing the Marsden-Edale will leave you as light as a feather, as happy as an angel, as merry as a school-boy. Possibly also as giddy as a drunken man (it does, afterall, finish at a pub). Ok, enough mangling of that great work of Dickens.  A reminder[…]

I thought I would write a short note about my old friend Des Hannigan; rock climber, poet, writer, raconteur and fishing boat skipper, who has sadly passed away after a long struggle against ill health. I shared many a climb with him over the years. Although Des was not a member of the Rucksack Club (indeed, Des had a somewhat Groucho Marxian attitude towards clubs), anyone who has climbed in West Cornwall during the last thirty years or so will almost certainly have used one of his excellent guidebooks (some may even have met him). In the 1980s he was at the forefront of the successful fight against the placement of bolts on Cornish rock. After giving up fishing for a living, Des became a successful writer and it was this and his love of the Cornish cliffs that led him into taking on the unenviable task of updating and essentially rewriting the Climbers Club guidebooks to West Penwith (Bosigran and Chair Ladder). Des was of Scots/Irish descent, but lived for the great majority of his life in west Cornwall. He leaves his wife Pauline and sons Tim and Dominic. He will be greatly missed.

Mr Gregory and myself would like to wish everyone all the best over the festive season. To those who have stayed at Beudy over the last twelve months, thank you – we hope you have enjoyed your stay. To those who haven’t stayed (either this year, or at all), you’re missing out on the best hut in North Wales, situated in the heart of Eryri. Just a reminder of what the hut has to offer – 17 bunks in two upstairs heated dorms, with an extra 3 sleeping spaces in the lounge, two woodburning stoves, comfy lounge, fully equipped kitchen, washroom, drying room, showers and toilets. Camping available on the lawn and ample space for campervans. Families are welcome. Within walking distance of the best climbing and hillwalking in the area (and not too far from Tremadog, Gogarth and the North Wales limestone crags), what more do you want? Ah – maybe the internet. We have made enquiries of the company that supplies wifi to the three Climbers Club huts (two in the Pass, the other in Ogwen). It is possible, and we will be starting the process in the New Year to obtain Committee approval. Just to remind you,[…]

In case it slipped under the radar, just a reminder for anyone who finds themself at a loose end next week that there is a hike on Christmas Day from High Moss. I’m going up on 24th on my way up to Scotland later in the week. Taking my gravel bike and winter mountain gear. Cheers, Dan [Posted 17.12.24]

Forget 9 Lessons and Carols, what better way to prepare for Christmas, New-Year and the Marsden-Edale than 5 Trigs and Trods. You are welcome to join me for a blast round 5 local trig points (well, local to me).  Three of the trigs are on the Pennine Way – Blackstone Edge, White Hill and Standedge – and by adding two lesser-known West Yorkshire delicacies of Cupworth Hill and Dog Hill, you get a circular walk of some 17.5 miles and 2850ft of ascent. Meet at the layby at the summit of the A672 just a few hundred yards from Junction 22 of the M62 (grid ref SD983142) – it’s a Godless place but convenient for travel. Starting at 8:30, if we keep up a good pace we should be back before 4 on what is the shortest day of the year. The basic route is south following the Pennine Way over White Hill and along to Standedge, down Thieves Clough, up over Pule Hill and down via Hey Green before ascending to Cupworth Hill. Down to cross Deanhead Reservoir via the dam and up over the Saddleworth Road then down under the M62 to cross the valley just below Booth[…]

No, not Christmas or even New Year, but it’s what we all been waiting for – the annual Marsden-Edale! Last year, 10 of us (plus three dogs) completed the classic test piece in perfect weather and a great day was had by all.  I’m hoping even more of you will join us on 4th January for what has been a Rucksack Club tradition for more than a hundred years. Here are the details: Start – 7:45 at the end of Wessenden Rd (GR SE048107 OS South Pennines OL 21 map) – finish at The Ramblers in Edale. Carole Smithies will be doing her usual “counting them out and counting them all back in again” (many thanks Carole!). She will be at the Marsden end from about 7:30 so please make sure she gets your name on the day – and even more importantly crosses you off at the end of the day in Edale (she will be at The Ramblers). If, for any reason you do not make it to Edale, please make sure Carole knows about it so that we know you are safe – note there is no mobile reception at the Ramblers but, if necessary, you can[…]

For the first time in many years, there has been absolutely no interest in going to Beudy anytime in December. After a busy last few months at the hut, it’s as if people have decided to hibernate (or maybe, they’ve started getting ready for Christmas!). It’s made me wonder how long it is since some Members last visited Beudy and how many of our newer Members have ever been. It is a wonderful place to spend some time, whatever time of year. Woodburning fires (wood supplied), drying room (should you need it!), fully equipped kitchen (ok, there isn’t an air fryer yet!), cosy lounge and heaters in the bedrooms to take the chill off! Is it because there’s no reliable Wifi, which might make having to talk to other people, or getting stuck into one of the many inspirational books in the hut library, unavoidable options? Why not give it a try – in the past, there have been some very enjoyable get togethers at Christmas and New Year. Families are always welcome at Beudy. Oops – nearly forgot to mention it – there are no bookings in January either, until Gareth Llewellyn’s Meet on the weekend of the 18th/19th.[…]