Category: Member Posts

If you listen to ‘ I’m Sorry I haven’t A Clue’, you will know the ‘Late Arrivals’ section of the show. Some of our Members (some out of forgetfulness, others I suspect, being perverse) sent pictures in after I had gone to press. These can now be seen in the ‘March 2021’ Gallery.

Last Wednesday more or less coincided with the 12 months anniversary of the last official Rucksack Club meet, so it was great to be able to “Get Out There!” again under the auspices of the first official post-Covid Meet. As this was convened in line with the guidance of the BMC (the sport’s governing body) the “Rule of Six” doesn’t apply and about a dozen of us enjoyed the traditional Wednesday Evening Meets curtain raiser at Hobby – and what a stunning evening! Clear blue skies and temperatures into the 20s made for shirtless climbing and much lazing and banter (all at a distance of 2m+)Here’s Evening Meets supremo, John, sporting the “Get Out There!” T-shirt and surveying the fun:Chris cruising Crew’s Route:… and me sketching up Sunshine Superman and feeling glad of the “early season side-runner” I’d felt obliged to place!Credit to the those in the Club who put the hard work into sorting and implementing the guidance (Andys x3, Joe and John) – it’s a potentially thankless task, so here’s a BIG THANK YOU.Cheers, Dom

Seven Members and Associate Members met up at Cumberland Brook CP on Saturday morning for the first post-lockdown weekend Meet. We were beaten to the very first Club Meet by the Wednesday evening climbers who had met at Hobson Moor Quarry on 31st March! It was cold but fine! First it was Shutlingsloe, then Macc Forest and down to a stop outside the Smithy…socially distanced on the benches  On to Forest Chapel, over to Lamaload Reservoir and up Andrew’s Edge to Shining Tor.  We then headed down to the Goyt Valley, up to Axe Edge Moor and on to Three Shires Head then back to the cars via Cumberland Brook  for a well earned, socially distanced, beer. Thanks to all who came along for this 30k meander on a lovely sunny Easter weekend day. Photos courtesy of Ellie Howarth  

Rob Ferguson writes: The Rucksack Club has a close association with a number of other clubs, the Black and Tans, and Manchester University Mountaineering Club are two good examples.  None more so however than the YMCA Rambling Club or “YM” as it was affectionately known. Dave Briggs, who sadly passed away on 29 March 2021, was one of a group of friends from the YM along with others such as my Dad Alec Ferguson, Ted Courtenay, Joe Walmsley and Ken Davidson.  They were very able climbers and mountaineers, and all progressed on from the YM to the Rucksack Club. Dave joined the Rucksack Club in 1953 and remained a member for the rest of his life, a total of 68 years in the Club is quite something.  Lifelong membership was the same for Dad, Joe, Ted and Ken.  This demonstrates their ongoing friendship and what the Club meant to Dave and the others. Dave, as did Ted and Joe, went on challenging and exploratory expeditions to major unclimbed mountains in the Himalayas in the 1950s. These trips involved many months away from home.  Leaving the UK by boat for a long sea journey before the overland travel by jeep, horseback[…]

It is sad to report that Geoff Bell died last week aged 82 having faced ill-health for some years. Geoff was originally from Sheffield but had long lived in Glossop. Right from joining us Geoff demonstrated his commitment to trials of endurance. He was Club President 2003-4 and an Honorary Member. John Richardson, a close associate in the Club recalls his friend: At the time when he joined the Rucksack Club in 1976 Geoff Bell had already made a name for himself as a time-trialling cyclist at any and all distances from 10 miles to 24 hours. Within a year of joining us he had successfully completed the Bob Graham Lake District round (number 61 of a cohort which has now topped 2500), but his true talent was for walks and rides of a greater distance/time. The Tan Hill – Cat and Fiddle walk in fiercely wintry conditions (Geoff goaded Mike and Me into tackling that one). And the North Wales Horseshoe — a monstrous route which starts with a traverse of the Welsh Threes, progresses to the Mawddach estuary then crosses numerous ranges to finish at Bodfari. A particular interest was for solo, unsupported challenges and one such walk[…]

John Jefferies is organising the Wednesday Evening Climbing. Details of the meets may be found in the Members Only Documents area, document 6. Please also read the Meet Information Pack, document 2. The documents may be accessed here, and you will need to be logged in to see them.

Mike Hartley has kindly agreed to convert his originally planned ‘Wet camp’ meet into a days climbing meet next Saturday to be held at  Great Close Scar, Yorkshire Dales. The full details are held in the Members Only Documents area of the Website, which can be accessed here. Please note you will need to be logged in to access this information. The Meet information is in Document 5 [One Day Meets – Walking & Climbing], but please also read the other 4 Documents].    

Wild Country Terra Nova Quasar 2 person tent. Perfect condition, no faults & spotless. (With extra V pegs). This tent is the “Expedition Version” with a higher spec. Stronger Flysheet. Two entrances and porches allow sheltered access with plenty of space to store gear If you care to look at the Terra Nova website, you will find that the very latest version of this tent retails at £900 ! I am asking £295 plus shipping costs. Or collect from Preston for free.

Hi Everyone Following on from Gerry and Neil ‘Hitting The Heights’ with last week’s Hindu Kush story (now available for catch-up at:  https://vimeo.com/532558373), here’s a reminder for the last couple of shows in this season’s Virtual Meets: 13 April 7:30pm: The Life and Times of Doug Scott, David Nightingale 27 April 7:30pm: Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone, Brian Cunningham The Zoom details for both are the same: https://zoom.us/j/91271240405 Meeting ID: 912 7124 0405 Passcode: The year of founding of The Rucksack Club I can also pass on that The Alpine Club’s ‘ClubCast’ season is coming to a close with their final ‘episode’ being this coming Tuesday (when we have a gap in our schedule) – They’ve invited us along to join the show: Alpine ClubCast 25 – Deatils and YouTube LiveStream link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFHI6ycRrRo Tuesday 6 April at 19:30 Nepal: The Wild West – Henry Edmundson, Becky Coles and Paul Ramsden The West of Nepal is one of the least explored areas in the Himalaya with hosts of unclimbed mountains over 6000 metres on the Tibetan frontier. Tonight we trace the origins in the 1960s of the trekking boom in Nepal, which came full circle for Henry Edmundson[…]

It is sad to report that Dave Briggs aged 89. He was Hut Warden at Beudy Mawr in 1958 and on the Club’s Committee 1962-3. Carole Smithie writes: David Briggs died on 29th March after a long illness. He was elected in 1953 and was the Father of the Club. The funeral will take place in Carlisle on Friday 9th April. Numbers are limited of course by CV19 rules, but at the request of the family, Rob Ferguson & Carole Smithies will attend to represent the Club.