Category: Member Posts

Nicky Spinks is going to explain how she got into fell-running.  She will describe doing the Marsden-Edale race and other classic routes, many of which are also popular with Rucksackers, either running or walking.  She will also cover the attraction of endurance events, which have become longer and longer.  For more information check out her website www.runbg.co.uk. Doors open from 7pm and the link is:  https://zoom.us/j/95350269193 Meeting ID: 953 5026 9193 Requires a password (year of founding of The Rucksack Club)

45th Anniversary screening of Everest the Hard Way + Exclusive Q&A It’s been forty-five years since Dougal Haston and Doug Scott stood as the first Brits on the summit of Everest, and the first ever team by the south-west face. To celebrate this incredible record-breaking achievement, we are pleased to announce a very special screening of Everest the Hard Way, followed by an exclusive Q&A with some of the original members of the team. Join Sir Chris Bonington, Pertemba Sherpa, Paul ‘Tut’ Braithwaite, Martin Boysen, Charlie Clarke and Mike Thompson, as we watch this truly raw documentary following the monumental feat to climb ‘Everest the Hard Way’. After this very special screening, stay tuned to watch Julie Summers lead a conversation with the Everest heroes as they reminisce the events on the mountain. You will have exclusive access to their memories and camaraderie as they recall this truly incredible adventure. We are also delighted to inform you that the Lead Sherpa from the 1975 expedition, Pertemba, will be joining the conversation live from Kathmandu. Pertemba was one of the very few team members who summited during the expedition, whilst also leading and managing 120 other sherpas and porters, at only[…]

Myself and Tony Sawyer are planning to go to Antalya in Turkey from 2nd October for 2 weeks of great climbing we would like to invite others to join us.This area is totally geared up for no hassle climbing with good accomodation and easy access to a host of bolted routes.Check out “climbing in Turkey on the web” and let us know asap. John Warby.

JUST BACK FROM A BIT OF AN ADVENTURE – CAN ANY OF YOU WELL TRAVELLED MEMBERS NAME THIS CRAG?

Geoff Gosling writes:   Received this article from our friends Tony & Di. Interesting reading.   Mirella Tenderini Yesterday at 04:02  · REMEMBER OF A ALPINIST “” I had read about him and I had heard so much about him that I already felt like I knew him, but when I first met him in Buxton in 1984 I confess that I was intimidated. It has never happened to me with a mountaineer; that same day I met Chris Bonington and other British mountaineer Olympus characters and I found myself, as always with the mountaineers, in good comrade company. Don had a singing expression in his celestial eyes and mouth folding in the corner free from the gum and he didn’t seem to take me seriously when I asked him to interview him. ′′ It’s already written everything in my book,” he said. But his book – this, which we now publish in Italian – was now exhausted and untraceable. I had searched for it in vain in London in all the Oxford Street books and English friends who owned a copy were reluctant to separate it even for a short time. ′′ I wish he would tell me about[…]

Carole writes: High Camp 2020 Total HASL 16,138 feet Can confirm 2 cats & several dogs, plus 35 intrepid members and guests equipped with an assortment of tents, bivvy bags, 2 vans, 3 chairs & a sofa, successfully yomped to the top of Mont Blanc on Saturday night.  Weather good, air thin, alcohol potent and views amazing. All have now safely returned to base camp.

Now that the toilet/shower block is available, we have had the following bookings:- 28 – 30 September – 2 tents, 3 people 6/7 October – 3 tents, 4 (maybe 6) people Before making a booking, please read the Conditions of Use (in the ‘Huts’ section). Stay safe. Bill and Steve

Carole Smithies writes: Pleased to report we have amassed a total virtual HASL of 11,932 feet.  So 25 intrepid members & guests are preparing to camp on Aneto tonight, which at 11,168 feet, is the highest point in the Pyrenees.   We are coming from far and wide; Austria, Switzerland, Corsica & France, to say nothing of Bristol, Bangor, Bakewell & Broadbottom.   It’s not to late to join us, just send me an email, or phone and say where you will be camping/bivvying. There will of course be wine at nine by the  leader’s tent. Carole

We’re a bit over a month into the “Climbing WhatsApp group” experiment and it has exceeded my expectations – 80 members and loads of ad hoc gatherings (not “meets!”) that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. A wet Wednesday (aren’t they all!) a couple of weeks ago was a great example of spontaneity – lashing down in Manchester in the morning, real-time conditions reports from Tideswell during the day, and a bunch of intrepid optimists setting out for Stoney on the strength of the Met Office prediction of a sunny evening. In the end a dozen of us (two groups of no more than 6 of course!) managed to snatch a few enjoyable routes from what would otherwise have been a washout (duly celebrated outside in the beer garden at The Moon). The Wednesday before, WhatsApp had come in handy in convening at shady Staden in the heatwave, but more importantly enabling John to warn of a rampaging cow on the approach – real-time objective danger updates! Saturday again saw the triumph of optimism over common sense when a few of us met up at Bamford. Great to catch up with Will (our most recent member), Alice and Ted and kudos to[…]

For those who aren’t aware of this, there is a proposal to build a tidal power plant off Holy Island (Anglesey) – which as planned will curtail / change sea paddling there. If you have kayaked off Anglesey last year please complete the following survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YFX7S85?fbclid=IwAR1XLXWFqTOF9K_A2FzhBp3fjKb6NkwQJPJIaWV7X2lLndnyMB-3vyMjlDI For more info look at: https://www.snowdoniacanoeclub.org/single-post/2019/12/18/Morlais—Marine-license-application