ABOUT THE CLUB
What we Do
We participate in numerous activities centered around mountains/hills and crags including
- Rock climbing : single and multipitch, trad and sport
- Hill Walking
- Mountaineering (Alps)
- Mountain Biking
History
We started as the Hampshire Teachers Mountaineering Association
in Southampton (the 'Teachers' part was later dropped, leaving the present
club name). We're now in our th year, with a membership of upwards of
30 people, from a wide age range, career background and location. Most of
us live and work in Southern Hampshire, although some
live or work farther afield. We are a club affiliated to the British Mountaineering Council.
Ethics and Standards
We're a mixed ability club and welcome new members. If
there is an average climbing standard it's probably in the middle grades,
around VS perhaps. Some of the younger or more athletic members climb into
the lower 'E' grades. Others, equally welcome, are happiest on a V.Diff.
We trend towards traditional 'adventure' climbing, although have climbed
on bolts in the UK and France. Most of our
meets focus around pure rock climbing, but there will typically be people walking or mountain biking at the same time.
Meets
There are typically around 20 meets scheduled each year, plus the Club meal in January
and AGM in December. Year on year the venues will change, although 'old
favourites' invariably crop up. We have a good mixture this year, and there
is likley to be something for everyone. A typical year will consist of :
- 6 'day' meets (somewhere we can comfortably drive 'there and back' in a day from Portsmouth, like Swanage, the Wye Valley or Southern Sandstone)
- 8 week-end or long week-end trips (camping, or in booked accommodation, for example, North Wales, Lake District, Peaks or Cornwall etc)
- 3 'special' meets (demanding more organisation and perhaps some holiday time e.g. Clecy{France}/Jersey in June, the Alps trip in July and Lundy in September).
We do not have a regular social get together although there are semi-regular trips to local climbing walls most weeks by some members.
During the winter months we try to meet up on a monthly basis at one of the local walls.
Who are we?
We are a smallish group of people over a wide range of ages and professions, both single and married. There are female members at most meets.
Benefits
- Program of events
- BMC third party insurance (see the BMC web site)
- Discount at several local shops including contract rates at Cotswold Camping (15% discount), 10% discount at Snow and Rock (not skiing)
- A friendly bunch of like minded people who enjoy the outdoors
Club Officials
- Chair and Secretary: Dave Knight - our esteemed club figurehead also takes new membership enquiries, sorts out BMC stuff, issues membership cards
- Treasurer: Ian Tingley - collects membership fees and generally manages club funds.
- Webmaster: Rob Hampson - Tries to keep the website up to date and edits the newsletter..
- Meets Secretary: Barry Voysey - does the important job of organising travel & booking accommodation for scheduled meets.
Cornwall Meet
Next Steps
Last updated: