|
 Click
here for the club's Constitution
Who's
who - meet the committee
! click
here ....
Click
here for our club 'rules'
- they are not rules in the
normal sense, more a statement
of how the RMC operates
what is the RMC ?
The Reading Mountaineering
club is a group of people
who share an interest in mountain
activities, including climbing,
walking and skiing (telemark
and ski-touring as well as
downhill). The range of interests
and abilities is quite wide,
with most people doing a mixture
of walking, climbing and skiing
depending on the weather and
the season.
The club has a lively atmosphere
with plenty of sharp witted
banter flying about, although
it would be fair to warn you
that the jokes are terrible!
It can be a good way to meet
like minded people and members
of the club do organise climbing
holidays and trips amongst
themselves in addition to
the monthly club meets.
where
does the club go ?
to areas such as the Lakes,
North Wales and the Peak district,
either camping or staying
in huts for a weekend and
longer trips to Scotland at
Easter and at New Year (to
celebrate Hogmanay in true
style !).
Members also arrange between
themselves a "hot-rock"
trip to France or Spain in
early autumn.
where
can I find you ?
On the Wednesday before an
official club meet (click
here to view Meets List in
order to determine which Wednesdays),
a contingent of club members
can be found at The Calcot
Hotel, Reading, RG31 7QN
at about 9:30pm ...
click here for map
how
can I find out more ?
If you are interested in joining
the club or want to find out
more then please see the Contacts
page.
do
you visit climbing walls ?
Oh yes indeed !
On midweek evenings throughout
the year we visit local indoor
climbing walls. During the
winter months, visits are
often made at the weekend
to places slightly further
afield such as Bristol or
Birmingham.
See the Indoor
Climbing page for our
"walls schedule"
plus information on other
walls in the area and further
afield.
do
you have any social events
?
Oh yes indeed !
We hold regular social events
throughout the year such as
beer and skittles, barbecues,
visits to films/slideshows/restaurants
(especially curry houses)
etc.
The annual dinner meet is
held in March and is the premier
social event of the year!
This is held in a hotel in
either North Wales or the
Lake District and most people
choose bed and breakfast,
although cheaper accommodation
is normally available as well.
People climb and walk as usual
but on the Saturday night
we have a "posh"
meal and provide our own entertainment
or hire a guest-speaker.
what
else do you do ?
Many people in the club do
other sports besides climbing
and walking such as rowing,
caving, archery, capoeira
(Brazilian martial-arts/dance)
and jujitsu.
Whos' who
?
These are the current committee
members :
Reading Mountaineering Club Modus Operandi (or how
we work)
1. Be aware of the BMC's participation statement:
"The BMC recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities
with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these
activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible
for their own actions and involvement."
Also, take heed of the famous quote by Edward Whymper "Climb if
you will, but remember that courage and strength are naught without
prudence and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness
of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste: Look well to each step: And
from the beginning think what may be the end.
2. The club has no equipment to loan to members. If you climb using
someone else’s equipment (e.g. a rope) then the club can take
no responsibility for it. You must satisfy yourself of its suitability
for purpose.
3. The club provides no form of instruction nor does it have qualified
instructors (At any particular time there may be qualified instructors
in the club, however, they will not have got their qualifications
through the club’s activities and we do not maintain any records
of any qualifications that members have.). If anyone offers to teach
you then this will be a private arrangement and you need to assess
for yourself whether or not that person is competent.
4. If you bring children on a meet then you are solely responsible
for the childrens’ welfare, behavior and supervision at all
times. If you give your permission for your children to walk/climb
with other people then that is your choice, however, you are responsible
for assessing the suitability of the person to undertake the chosen
activity. It should be assumed that club members have not undergone
a criminal records bureau check (Some members may have undergone
a criminal records bureau check as a part of their job or other
voluntary activities. The club does not however keep records of
who has undergone such a check).
5. It is the responsibility of club members to assess the suitability
of their potential climbing/walking partners and venues/activities.
6. Whilst the club organises meets we do not organise any activities
on meets. The meet organiser is only responsible for arranging a
campsite/hut, providing directions to meets, coordinating lifts
and taking care of huts and keys. The meet organiser is not in any
way responsible for organising or advising on any activities undertaken
on a club meet, these are organised on an informal basis by members
themselves. It is up to you to ensure that you are capable of undertaking
any activity that you partake in and to assess the suitability of
any climbing/walking partners. If for example you go walking with
someone, you should not assume that they will take care of your
welfare whilst on the walk. If you are new to the club (everyone
was once) and don’t have anyone to climb/walk with then the
meet organiser will be able to tell you who is doing what activities
and introduce you. This should not be taken as an indication that
that person is in any way qualified or suitably experienced to undertake
that activity, you must decide that for yourself. The vast majority
of members have joined the club singly and found new friends and
climbing partners easily.
Simon Chetwynd
Chairman
November 2005
Appendix A – Training providers
As a club the RMC offer no form of instruction. The best method
of acquiring mountaineering and climbing skills is to go on a course.
Course providers are many, some are better than others, some are
cheaper than others.
In our opinion the two premiere mountaineering (walking, climbing,
navigation etc) providers in the UK are Plas-y-Brenin (www.pyb.co.uk)
based in North Wales and Glenmore Lodge (www.glenmorelodge.org.uk)
based in Aviemore in Scotland. From a geographical point of view
Plas-y-Brenin is considerably closer to Reading. There are many
other providers, both individual and organisations. Check out the
qualifications that the instructor(s) hold. The level required depends
on the activity.
| ML Mountain Leader |
Navigation courses |
| SPA Single Pitch Award |
Basic single pitch climbing and indoor walls. Not qualified
to teach lead climbing |
| MIA Mountaineering Instructor Award |
All aspects of mountaineering and rock climbing in the UK,
including navigation, scrambling, multi pitch rock climbing,
lead climbing. MIAs assess the ML and SPA award holders. Note
that for climbing coaching, MIAs only need to be able to lead
VS although I doubt if there’s anyone with an MIA that
can only lead to VS |
| MIC Mountaineering Instructor Certificate |
Same as MIA but also allowed to teach ice climbing and winter
mountaineering. |
| Guide |
The dogs ********, like a PhD in mountaineering. A guide is
qualified to teach any aspect of mountaineering (and skiing)
anywhere in the world. They assess MIAs and MICs. If you want
alpine instruction then a guide is the only person qualified
to do this and in Alpine countries you have to be a guide to
take clients on glaciers or off piste skiing. As well as offering
courses and instruction, guides also provide personal guiding
services anywhere in the world. If you want climbing coaching
at a level higher than VS (or Scottish III in winter) then a
guide is a better bet than an MIA/MIC. Expect to pay £200+
per day plus expenses. |
|
what
is the RMC
