Climbing on Southern Sandstone – current situation
Many Club members, particularly those who regularly climb on Southern Sandstone, will be aware of the current situation, but for those who are unsure – those new to the sport – and those who usually climb indoors but want to try outdoors, climbing outdoors is now allowed by government guidelines but not all crags are open. The following is the situation for the major Southern Sandstone crags:
Of Mountains and Men
A new book, recently published by the Oxford Alpine Club (OAC), may be of interest to club members.
Calling all new climbers!
If you are new to rock climbing in the last year or two and have not yet ventured beyond climbing walls and, maybe, top rope protected climbing at Harrisons & Bowles Rocks, then our Club trip to the Peak District in the summer (see newsletter for dates) will be a perfect trip for you to come and learn about climbing with a lead climber and traditional protection techniques.
BMC London and South East mini guide and active outdoors campaign
Local news from the BMC: There is now an updated version on the London and South East mini guide. You may also wish to give the guide to new/beginner members to support their development in climbing, hill walking and mountaineering. Thanks go in particular to all those clubs that have supported the production of this publication. The BMC have also launched a new active outdoors campaign to get people outdoors and where possible undertaking training in hill walking, scrambling, winter skills and climbing. Please share this information with club members.
Cliff Collapse in Rock-a-Nore
Here is dramatic footage of a major cliff collapse in Hastings: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25604696
Club Competition – Design a new club poster!
The club needs a new publicity poster, so we’ve decided to ask you talented members out there to have a go at designing one. We need to especially promote the use of the climbing wall on a Monday night to ensure that we can cover the costs, now that the charges have increased. Please get your entries to any committee member by the AGM in November—there will be a prize for the winning poster: a £20 gift voucher for Cotswold Outdoors.
Pictures of the New Climbing Wall
For those who have yet to visit, for some pictures of the new climbing wall at the Edinburgh Road Campus of the St. Leonards Academy click here.
Climbing Kilimanjaro for Charity
Club members Daryl and Naomi are in the process of climbing Kilimanjaro in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, if you would like to sponsor them visit their fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/Daryl-Naomi.
BMC Climbing Courses
The BMC is putting on some highly subsidised climbing courses at Plas y Brenin, Capel Curig North Wales specifically for people who want to try climbing outdoors. The courses are particularly suitable for people, over 18, who have climbed indoors at a climbing wall but may have little or no experience of climbing outdoors. Further information on the courses is available here http://www.thebmc.co.uk/ready-to-rock-outdoors.
Grove Wall – The End!
After many threats, rumours, April Fools jokes, the end is now well and truly nye. The Grove (the new, improved, St Leonards Academy, Darwell Campus as it is now known) is closing. Our last night will be on Mon 22nd July. This will end nearly 28 years of continuous weekly use of the wall, all faithfully recorded in the Blue Book. Now I know many feel that this is not the best wall in the world but just consider whether you would be climbing now if you had not started at this humble facility. It is proposed to hold a Wake for the Wall in a pub at the end of the final evening, everyone welcome. However, all is not lost, as the redevelopment of Filsham Valley (the new improved St Leonards Academy Edinburgh Rd. Campus) will incorporate a modern wall in the new Sports Centre. We are in negotiations…