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Lectures & Events 2010
Northern lectures South-West lectures and Special Events are at the bottom of this page.
For details of meets in the UK and abroad click here.
LONDON LECTURES AND EVENTS
Tuesday 12 January. Henry Day: Elbrus 140th Anniversary Ascent
Henry represented the AC exactly 140 years after Douglas Freshfield made the first ascent of the east summit of Elbrus on 1 July 1868. His faithful guide F Devouassoud was represented by the Chamonix guide Denis Ducroz who remarked on reaching the summit that "the Companie de Guides de Chamonix do not take their clients out in conditions like this".
Tuesday 26 January. Dominic Southgate Jonathan Phillips Robert Porter: Adventures in East Greenland
.Last August four students from Imperial College, aided by a grant from the Alpine Club Climbing Fund, headed to the Arctic to attempt unclimbed mountains in the North-West of Renland, East Greenland. Despite their food and equipment getting stuck in Denmark, they managed to escape after a week’s delay via speedboat out to Renland. In the remaining two and a half weeks they explored the coast up to the ice-cap, did a number of first ascents and new routes, and completed a study of the region’s flora.
Tuesday 9th February.
Frank Cannings presenting his film entitled "In Extreme Danger".
Frank will be presenting the well-received documentary that is based on an epic rescue that took place on Lundy in 1971. This will be accompanied by a selection of slides illustrating climbing developments in the South-west in the 1960's and 70's.
Tuesday 23rd February. Stuart Worsfold and Jamie Goodhard: Kazahkstan - Exploration of the Dzungarian Altau
In the Autumn of 2009 Stuart and Jamie and three other AC Members travelled to the virtually unknown Dzungarian Altau region of Kazakhstan where they climbed an impressive number of 4000m peaks, many of which were first ascents, as well as exploring this remote region.
Tuesday 9th March. Paul Braithwaite: Small Expeditions 70s Style.
The Club's President, Paul Braithwaite will be describing some of his expeditions made in the 1970's. These include: the 1st Ascent of the East Pillar of Mt. Asgard on Baffin Island with Doug Scott, Paul Nunn and Dennis Hennek, the 1st Attempt on Torre Egger, and the 1st Ascent of the Aig Innominata, one of the last unclimbed subsidiary Peaks of the Fitzroy Group, Patagonia with Leo Dickinson, Martin Boysen, Eric Jones, Mick Coffey and the legendary Don Whillans.
Tuesday 23rd March. Roger Smith: Mountain Flowers of the World
In this talk Roger, who is a biologist and mountain instructor, will examine the factors affecting plants at high altitude and then look more closely at the adaptations that they have made in order to overcome them. He will also draw on the associations that plants make in mountain environments on each of the seven continents. So for all those who notice alpine flowers and wonder what they might be and why they are there this promises to be an enlightening talk.
Tuesday 13 April. Gareth Mottram & Martin Jones: Sarychat: Exploring in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan
Gareth and Martin, two members of a team of young mountaineers, will be describing their self-supported expedition to the Kyrgyz Tien Shan mountains in August 2009. Here they were forced to deal with the vagaries of Soviet maps and trucks, Kyrgyz weather, frisbee bread and, of course, kymzyz. While in Kyrgyzstan they successfully climbed three new routes and five new mountains. They will also be showing the first panoramic pictures of the Sarychat Valley.
Tuesday 27 April. Jeremy Windsor: Following The Footsteps - A Journey into North West Sikkim
In the autumn of 2009 eight climbers left Delhi with all of the necessary files and documents that were needed to explore the most distant corner of north west Sikkim. For the first time in more than seventy five years permission had finally been granted to retrace the footsteps of luminaries such as Douglas Freshfield, Alexander Kellas, Vittorio Sella and Frank Smythe and explore deep into the Indian Himalaya.
With the help of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and a number of bemused yak owners the team eventually found their way to peaks in the Lhonak valley and the remote northern slopes of Kangchenjunga. This talk not only describes their journey through Sikkim, but also the adventures of those pioneers who had explored this fascinating area before.
*Jeremy was a 2009 recipient of the AC Climbing Fund.
Tuesday 11 May: David Hamilton - Mt Vinson Ski Expedition
David Hamilton has worked as a mountaineering and ski guide in the interior of Antarctica for 6 seasons. He has led 4 ‘last degree’ ski trips to the South Pole and made 12 ascents of Mt Vinson in addition to several other skiing and climbing projects. In January 2010 David visited Antarctica’s Ellsworth Mountains with fellow Alpine Club member Patrick Bird. In the course of a self supported 14 day trip they travelled over 90km and climbed more than 8,000m. They made ski ascents of 3 of the 5 highest peaks in Antarctica: Mt Vinson 4,892m, Mt Shinn 4,660m and Mt Rutford 4,477m.
Tuesday 25 May. Duncan Tunstall: Reliving the 30s - Easy first ascents on locations close to home - My first 100 new routes
Duncan will describe his move from repeating classics to making 1st ascents within easy access of Aberdeen or Chamonix, all in the easy grades and many deserving multiple stars.
Both General and Informal meetings at the club house in Charlotte Road start at 7:30pm, with the bar opening from 6pm. The library is usually staffed by volunteers between 5pm and 7pm. |
Occasional informal meetings provide a good opportunity for members to meet one another, and exchange news, views and information. New members and prospective members are particularly welcome. Prospective members are asked to contact the Administrator before attending. |
The London lecture organiser is Derek Buckle. Please contact Derek if you are interested in giving a lecture. |
NORTHERN LECTURES & EVENTS
Wednesday 10th February.
Mike Mortimer: The North Side of Jebel El Kest.
Some years ago, the AC Northern Lectures heard from Les Brown on the wealth of new climbing being done in the Anti-Atlas range of Morocco. A great deal has happened since, and Mike will be lifting the lid on some great new climbing in the warm North African sun.
Wednesday 24th February. Ben Bransby: The Hardest Route in the Alps and other climbs.
Last summer, Ben Bransby and James McHaffie made a free repeat of the Voie Petit on the Grand Capucin in the French Alps. Graded F8b and at altitude, this was one of the best efforts on Chamonix granite by a British team in history.
Wednesday 17th March. Phil Wickens: Adventures in the Kingdom of the Ice Bear.
Inspired by the crossing of Spitsbergen by Martin Conway (AC President 1902-4) in 1896, Phil and three colleague set out last summer to explore the glaciers and climb mountains in Oscar II Land in north-west Spitsbergen.
NORTHERN LECTURE VENUE: 'Outside Cafe', Hathersage, Derbyshire on Wednesdays at 7.30pm
Anyone who has had an interesting trip and would be prepared to lecture is invited to contact Edward Douglas. |
SOUTH-WEST LECTURES & EVENTS
Tuesday 26th January. Simon Clark: THE FIRST ASCENT OF PUMASILLO: an account of the Cambridge Andean Expedition of 1957.
Pumasillo (20,490 ft) lies in the Cordillera Vilcabamba of Central Peru and in 1957 was considered to be the highest unclimbed peak in the Americas . It had never been attempted and, indeed, had only been approached for the first time the year before, by George Band’s Huagaruncho party. The first ascent, on 23rd July 1957, was a significant achievement in the Alpine Club’s Centenary Year. Simon, as joint leader, with six other climbers had first to spend anxious weeks opening a route to the elusive Pumasillo, amidst the majestic scenery of the Vilcabamba. They then commenced the climb proper, up the West Face. This proved a formidable task, with ever more difficult snow and ice problems culminating finally in the spectacular summit ridge.
Tuesday 23rd February. Mike Pinney: THE COMPLETE 4000M PEAKS OF THE EUROPEAN ALPS Mike completed the set with Jeff Harris in 2007 and lived to tell the story – but only just!
Wednesday 17th March. Andy Cave: THE THIN WHITE LINE
The lecture will be based on the sequel to his award-winning book Learning to Breathe, in which he takes us from the Peak District to the Himalayas, from Norway to Patagonia and from the European Alps to Alaska, in the company of many of today’s leading mountaineers and climbers. Andy will describe the personal challenges he had to overcome to return to extreme climbing, following the death of his climbing partner Brendan on Changabang. He was born into a mining family, has a PhD in socio-linguistics and is an IFMGA international mountain and ski guide.
SOUTH WEST VENUE: Upper Room of the Nova Scotia, Cumberland Basin, Hotwells, Bristol, BS1 6XJ
The Nova Scotia Hotel is a well-know Bristol landmark, situated at the western end of the Floating Harbour, with ample local parking and good beer. Lectures are normally on Tuesdays and start at 7.30pm. Click here for map
The SW Regional organiser is Tony Westcott. |
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Many UK meets have an evening dinner which is open to all, whether on the meet or not. A lecture often follows the dinner.
Click here to view a list of meets
LONDON BUNKROOM
The club has a small bunkroom in the clubhouse basement containing four bunks for the use of members, aspirants and associates. There are no cooking facilities although a kettle is provided and there are restaurants and cafes nearby. The Bunkroom is normally open except when the office is closed for the long Christmas and summer breaks. We cannot accept bookings from members for Friday and Saturday nights if they would be occupying the bunkhouse alone as the Club cannot provide emergency response over weekends.
There is no heating in the bunkhouse at night but there are a few blankets. Users must bring a sheet sleeping bag and are advised to bring a warm sleeping bag in winter.
Booking
Bookings should be made with the Club Administrator by e-mail or phone - 0207 613 0755. If you do not get a reply, e-mail the Hon Secretary and/or Website as communications can sometimes go astray. The office is normally manned on Tuesdays and Thursdays (although not every week), and bookings need to be made in advance so that arrangements may be made to obtain keys and instructions. There is no charge for the bunkroom however an advance deposit of twenty pounds is required. Keys must be returned within five working days of use. Regular users may apply for a set to retain for their own use.
While in occupation, members are responsible for the security of the building and have an obligation to familiarise themselves with evacuation instructions and Health and Safety requirements. Users, particularly sleeping alone, must not suffer any hearing, visual, or mobility impairments that might impact on their ability to recognize an alarm signal and delay their exit from the building in an emergency.
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LECTURE ARCHIVES
LECTURES AND EVENTS 2009
LECTURES AND EVENTS 2008
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