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Lectures & Events 2012
Northern lectures South-West lectures
For details of meets in the UK and abroad click here.
For lists of previous lectures and special events see Archives at the foot of this page.
LONDON LECTURES AND EVENTS
2012
Tuesday 10 January. Henry Iddon: Mount Damavand and the Axis of Ski-ville
In 1996 Henry Iddon wrote to the British Embassy in Tehran to enquire about the skiing in the country, but it wasn't until 2011 that the opportunity arose to visit Iran and Mt Damavand (5671m) on a skiing mountaineering trip to the highest volcano in Asia. Damavand is the symbol of Iranian resistance against despotism and foreign rule in Persian poetry and literature. Meanwhile by 2011 Iran had been described by US President George Bush as being part of the Axis of Evil. During the trip the team were stropped by the police, visited by a mysterious balaclava wearing member of the British security service, ate the tastiest tomatoes imaginable, visited the Tehran branch of Debenhams, bivied in a mosque and skied knee deep fresh powder under a perfect blue sky.
Tuesday 24 January. Dick Turnbull: Sailing & Climbing in Arctic Norway
Sailing from Oban to Spitzbergen; up the stupendous northern Norwegian coastline, stopping for a route or two in the fabled Lofoten. This and photos to match.
Tuesday 31st January - 7pm Mick Fowler: Spirit of Adventure at
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7
Mick will talk about a lifetime of exploratory climbing in locations ranging from the white cliffs of Dover, to sea stacks off the coast of Scotland to the Himalaya.
Price: Free for students. £5 for others - places can be reserved by e-mailing exploration@imperial.ac.uk with the subject line FOWLER. State how many tickets you require, and pay at the door.
Tuesday 14 February. Dave Wynne-Jones: Mongolia: Exploring the Tavn Bogd on Ski
Dave will provide an account of the Spring 2011 ski-mountaineering expedition to the highest summits of the Mongolian Altai. His photos will reveal a number of familiar AC faces.
Tuesday 28 February. Ian Mitchell and George Rodway: High Achiever - Alexander Kellas, Mountaineeer and Physiologist
Alexander Kellas (1868-1921) worked with Professor Ramsay at University College London on the discovery of the inert gases before becoming a pioneer of high altitude physiology. Kellas emerged as the foremost Himalayan mountaineer of his day, climbing Pauhunri, at over 7,000m the highest mountain yet summitted in 1911. He also made several other ascents of virgin Himalayan summits over 20,000 ft. Kellas died on the 1921 Everest Reconaissance. This illustrated talk by Ian Mitchell and George Rodway, authors of the recently appeared biography of Kellas, Prelude to Everest, will summarise the main scientific and mountaineering achievements of a man who deserves a much higher profile in the history of Himalayan mountaineering.
Tuesday 13 March. Jonathan Moody & Dominic Southgate. Imperial College Raru Valley Expedition.
In the Autumn of 2011 an Imperial College expedition was undertaken to a remote valley in Ladakh in the Indian Himalayas. The team of seven mountaineers intended to make first ascents of rock and alpine routes. The expedition was a success with four summits reached and seven new routes established. The prime objective, Lama Jimsa Kangri (6276m), was climbed simultaneously by two parties on the West and South faces. Three virgin summits were reached: Moel Kangri (5930m), Bhaio Aur Bheno Ki Khushi (5985m) and Basecamp Big Wall (5385m). Three attempts were made on other summits but were unsuccessful do to the arrival of poor weather. . The Tetleh Valley side-branch of the Raru Valley was explored and to have excellent climbing potential, with many fine peaks, high-quality granite walls and attractive rock/mixed lines waiting for future expeditions.
Three New Lectures
Tuesday 27 March. Tom Richardson. Judgement Days - in a Mountaineering Life:
AC member, Tom Richardson, is a leader for KE Adventure and the Gear Editor for Climb magazine. His newly released book, Judgement Days, is his story of climbing in the Himalaya and Karakoram over more than thirty years. His aim in writing it is to reflect on decisions and judgements he has made in the mountains and to try to draw some conclusions about them and their sometimes life and death outcomes. Good outcomes can be achieved despite bad decisions and sometimes vice versa. He attempts to explore where the narrow line between adventure and misadventure lies and what place luck has in events. His book will be available for sale on the night.
Tuesday 24 April. Tom Ripley & Hamish Dunn. Gritstone to the Greater Ranges.
In 2011 Tom and Hamish received AC Climbing Fund support to climb in the Cordillera Carabaya region of Peru where they successfully made the first ascent of the South Face of Chichicapac, 5614m, in alpine style. In this presentation they will describe their experiences on this expedition and some of the events which led up to it.
Tuesday 8 May. Robin Garton. The Melting Himalayas:
Recently published data suggests that the Himalayas are warming as rapidly as anywhere on the earth, perhaps ten times faster than at sea level. The talk looks at some of the possible causes and effects of this and shows some photographs of the extent of glacier retreat. We have probably heard about catastrophic flooding from melting glaciers, but what are the real consequences for Nepal's ~15million mountain population, who live a hand-to-mouth existences away from the prosperous tourist routes? Robin is director of The Glacier Trust, an NGO dedicated to enabling Himalayan people adapt to climate change.
Note change of date
Tuesday 29 May. Wade Davis. Into the Silence; the Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest
Wade Davis, Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, is the well-known author of many well-researched and acclaimed books. In this lecture he will review his most recent addition, 'Into the Silence', in which he explores the challenges sought by the Mount Everest Committee and the RGS, by climbers young and old - and the Alpine Club's role - following World War 1. Inevitably the story develops around all those involved in the early British attempts on Mount Everest in 1921, 1922 and 1924 and follows Mallory's increasing obsession with reaching the summit. As a professional speaker for over 25 years this promises to be an enthralling evening.
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
2012
Wednesday 11th January Ed Douglas: Gaveding Dingdong
Humla is famous as the starting point for visits to Kailash, but has a large number of unexplored valleys with a great deal of climbing potential. Ed Douglas was part of a British team that explored the upper reaches of the Lachhama Khola, a tributary of the Chuwa Khola that runs down from the Tibetan border. These mountains are part of the Changla Himal, and Gaveding (6571m) is the highest unclimbed peak. The purpose of the expedition was to reconnoitre and possibly climb Gaveding from the south east, an aspect of the mountain previously unphotographed.
Wednesday 15th February Henry Iddon: Mount Damavand and the Axis of Ski-ville
In 1996 Henry Iddon wrote to the British Embassy in Tehran to enquire about the skiing in the country, but it wasn't until 2011 that the opportunity arose to visit Iran and Mt Damavand (5671m) on a skiing mountaineering trip to the highest volcano in Asia. Damavand is the symbol of Iranian resistance against despotism and foreign rule in Persian poetry and literature. Meanwhile by 2011 Iran had been described by US President George Bush as being part of the Axis of Evil. During the trip the team were stropped by the police, visited by a mysterious balaclava wearing member of the British security service, ate the tastiest tomatoes imaginable, visited the Tehran branch of Debenhams, bivied in a mosque and skied knee deep fresh powder under a perfect blue sky.
Wednesday 14th March Mick Fowler: First ascent of Gojung in western Nepal
Four days up and three down + storm on top. Harder than expected and a difficult descent. Mick + Dave Turnbull and Graham Desroy + Jonny Ratcliffe visited this remote area in 2011. This is their story.
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
2012
Note change to order of lectures - all dates.
Tuesday 17th January Derek Buckle: In the Realm of the Bear and Snow Leopard
In the Autumn of 2010 five members of the AC visited the Jiwa Nala region of the Great Himalayan National Park to become the first party to explore the heavily glaciated region at the valley head. In the company of Himalayan bears and snow leopards the team trekked for five days to establish a base camp in the valley from where they successfully made the ascent of four unclimbed peaks on the head wall cirque.
Tuesday 28th February: Magic Moments Note change of date.
Six local AC members will give short presentations of some of their most memorable trips from around the world.
Tuesday 20th March: Simon Yates
Simon will bring us up to date with trips featured in his latest book.
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 organisers are Tony Westcott and Chris Storie. |
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 Honorary Secretary 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 2011
LECTURES AND EVENTS 2010
LECTURES AND EVENTS 2009
LECTURES AND EVENTS 2008
LECTURES AND EVENTS 1996-2008
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