Club News

Alpine Club Tech Talks 2022

Alpine Club Tech Talks 2022

In November 2022, the Alpine Club will present a series of workshops via Zoom focused on contemporary topics in mountain safety. The sessions will run over Zoom and will be open to members of the Alpine Club, Scottish Mountaineering Club and the Eagle Ski Club.

 

A climber looks into the camera while holding a navigation device and speaking into an earpiece.

 

The schedule for the Tech Talks is as follows:

03 November 2022 - What Happens When You Call for Rescue? - With Gendarme Francois Gouy of the Chamonix PGHM, we look at what information rescue teams need to best assist us in the mountains and what you should expect from a rescue team.

10 November 2022 - Mountaineering In the Digital Age - Photographer and prolific mountaineer Ben Tibbetts joins us to discuss what climbers need from apps and what products are currently available to assist planning, navigation and rescue in the mountains.

17 November 2022 - The Case for Paper - Following on from our sessions looking at how technology can assist us in the mountains, we host a discussion with Lindsay Griffin and Alex Buisse to examine what benefits paper maps and guidebooks can provide in a tech-focused age.

 

All of the sessions will begin at 7:30PM and Club members will be sent the Zoom invitation via email ahead of time.

We will conclude each talk with a Q&A as well as a discussion among attendees.

 

As we head towards the winter, this is the perfect time to refresh our thinking on issues of mountain safety and we hope to provide a useful forum for the sharing of advice and best practice.

 

 

 

Expedition Essentials for Women Explorers 2023

Expedition Essentials for Women Explorers 2023

Have you done Scottish winter climbing or been to the Alps and are yearning for more adventure? Have you been on a commercial expedition and want to do something similar with friends? You might be planning an expedition right now! If any of these apply, or you just want to know more, Expedition Essentials for Women Explorers is for you!

 

What: An event focused on answering the questions of women climbers who want to take part in expeditions.

When & Where: 28 & 29 January 2023 at The National Outdoor Centre, Plas y Brenin, LL24 0ET.

Cost: £35 for Alpine Club and BMC members; £70 for non-members. (Price includes all lectures and workshops plus lunch and dinner on the Saturday).

Who: The event is sponsored by the Alpine Club, BMC, Mount Everest Foundation and Montane, with sessions delivered by experienced expedition climbers and experts in the field.

Tickets: Book your tickets via the BMC Website. (You will need to create an account to book, but this is straightforward and has no additional cost).

Contact: If you have any concerns or questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

A photo showing a female climber stood on a rocky summit looking down at the title: 'Expedition Essentials for Women Explorers'Original Image by Jacob Cook

 

Tailored specifically for women, this is a fabulous opportunity to learn about the skills, knowledge, mental and physical preparation you need for a successful expedition and how to get that all important grant to help you on your way.

Speakers include experienced expedition skier Iona Pawson, expedition veteran Susan Jensen, four time Piolet d’Or winner Paul Ramsden and the climbing star Fay Manners. Fay, alongside Line van den Berg made the first female ascent of ‘Phantom Direct’ on the huge south face of the Grandes Jorasses in the Mont Blanc massif. We are also pleased to confirm that the line up now also features Montane Ambassador Katy Parrott and Guinness book of records holder Masha Gordon.

Experts on nutrition, menstrual cycles on expeditions, expedition first aid, safety in the mountains and the psychological aspects of expeditioning will be sharing their knowledge in a series of participatory talks and interactive workshops throughout the day.

On Sunday there will be an opportunity for informal discussion over a coffee with many of the speakers. If you are planning an expedition, this is an ideal opportunity to ask searching questions on any aspect of your expedition.

You can view the full programme for the weekend here.

The Plas y Brenin climbing wall will be open for delegates to use free of charge on the Sunday. If you would like to use the wall, please email Helen or Emily at Plas y Brenin on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Three women stare up at the camera from a Patagonian summit.
Photo: Freja Shannon
A woman stares off into the distance across a mountain range with a lake in the background.
Photo: Freja Shanon

 

 

 

Pritchard and Porter Nominated in Banff Mountain Book Competition

Pritchard and Porter Nominated in Banff Mountain Book Competition

Alpine Club members John Porter and Paul Pritchard are among the nominees in this year's Banff Mountain Book Competition.

John is nominated in the Mountain Fiction and Poetry category for his new book 'A Path of Shadows' which brings together poems and essays from over 50 years of writing. Meanwhile, Paul's new autobiographical work 'The Mountain Path' is nominated in the Mountain Literature category. Paul's book has also been shortlisted for this year's Boardman Tasker Award.

A full list of the category nominees and details of the competition can be found here.

 

 

 

AC Members Make 2022 Boardman Tasker Shortlist

AC Members Make 2022 Boardman Tasker Shortlist

The 2022 shortlist for the Boardman Tasker Mountain Literature Award has been announced. Among the six shortlisted authors are two Alpine Club members; Paul Pritchard and Brian Hall. 

A graphic displaying the six shortlisted titles accompanied by the Boardman Tasker and Mountain Equipment logos.

Paul has been nominated for his book 'The Mountain Path', published by Vertebrate, which explores his continuing adventure journey following his life-altering accident on Tasmania's Totem Pole. Paul is due to embark on a speaking tour of the UK this November and December in support of the book.

Brian received his nomination for 'High Risk' his book exploring the cutting-edge of high altitude climbing in the 1970s and '80s. The book focuses on Brian's close friends from this time, including those who lost their lives on the small, lightweight and technically difficult expeditions that defined the era. 'High Risk' is published by Sandstone Press.

Paul and Brian are nominated alongside Kieran Cunningham, Anna Fleming, Robert Charles Lee and Helen Mort. The winner will be announced on the 18 November during a special event at Kendal Mountain Festival.