Climbers Club Aspirants Meet

The Climbers Club is more than 100 years old. It possesses an extensive network of huts throughout the country’s premier climbing venues and produces the majority of climbing guide books in the UK. Despite having over 1000 members however it is often perceived as being closed, restrictive and exclusive. Last weekend I attended their ‘Aspirants’ meet for prospective members in the Peak District to see what the deal was…

Bruce leading ‘Neb Buttress’ HVS 5a at Bamford

I arrived at the R O Downes memorial hut late on Friday night and joined in the inevitable game of car Tetris as 20 people tried to squeeze into a car park the size of a tennis court. Inside the busy, noisy hut I was immediately greeted and allocated an alpine style bunk. The next game was Spot the Aspirant! Members strode about with big smiles and booming voices whilst Aspirants seemed to melt into the background. Wearing nervous fixed smiles we gravitated to walls and benches like sheep keeping out of the sun but soon realised there were a good mix of people and everyone was very welcoming.

‘The Blurter’ HVS 5b at Stanage

During the weekend everyone had a lot of fun in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, no doubt assisted by the free food and drink on Saturday night! I climbed a host of routes with several different CC members, the best of which was probably The Blurter (above) at Stanage, a contrasting route including a thin slabby traverse to start, then more technical and steeper moves up a groove and series of roofs.

The club is definitely not elitist or exclusive, the application form and process is a bit long winded but all they want to check is that you’re a safe and enthusiastic climber who’s friendly and respectful to other members and the huts – the fundamentals we would all look for in any climbing partner. Over the course of the meet I bumped into a couple of ‘big names’ in climbing almost without realising since everyone was so down to earth and inclusive. Hopefully I’ll be a paid up [and hut key carrying :) ] member in the near future!

Welsh Road Trip and Squirrel Alert!

Seems like we’ve been granted an ‘Indian’ summer to make up for July and Augusts' showers. Ellen and I travelled to Wales and took advantage of some rare sunshine in its magnificent national parks but ambitious climbing plans quickly turned into a more chilled out road trip to the beach once I realised my foot still wasn’t up to the challenge!

Setting up camp at Whitesand Bay, St Davids, Pembroke

We started out with good intentions however in Snowdonia and went to Dinas Mot in the Llanberis Pass to climb ‘The Cracks’ HS 5a famous for its inclusion in the book ‘Classic Rock’ and also for its final pitch which provides a steep sting in the tail of an otherwise slabby and amenable route. Sadly after completing the route along with a VS variation on its second pitch I decided my foot needed more rest.

Ellen seconding ‘Lorraine’ VS 4c at Dinas Mot

Since climbing was off the cards we headed down to Pembroke instead and enjoyed a beautiful sunset and some tasty food, (as tasty as a super light gas stove and some plastic wine cups allow anyway!) camping on the beach at St. Davids.

Finally, I learnt an important lesson that you might benefit from! Unlike Alaska with its marauding bears or the Alps with its occasional fox, in the green and tranquil lands of Wales I thought it safe to leave some food in my tent. Unfortunately I hadn’t reckoned on the sly Snowdon squirrel which will stop at nothing in its quest for an afternoon snack, including the inner walls of your tent…