York Alpine Club Blog

Paul, Donal and I headed out to Masham today, eager to get out into the 'Great Outdoors' and work off some Christmas calories, despite the weather forecast. Light rain greeted us as we got out of the car, and we'd clocked the post ride cafe just opening on the square before we'd even set off.

Returning from the US a few notches to the left on my belt and soft as petal skin, it was never going to be an hard core night at the Goat for me. A good team were in evidence, Will and Andy on the harder stuff, Sarah, Peri, Paul and Mark attacking the greens as I familiarised myself with the new yellows an blues.

I got myself a monthly pass, […] Read the rest

Cold crisp day with bright sunshine is no time to be indoors or sat belaying and messing with gear so I headed for the ever reliable beauty spot of Scugdale on the moors after sending a desperate plea to stop me being billy-no-mates....

After spending Christmas indoors eating and drinking I was looking forward to doing some exercise and having a few alcohol free days. I packed my rucksack and caught the train to Horton in Ribblesdale ...

We've been doing a few Open5 events recently, which involve orienteering both on foot and on mountain bikes. We've not done a lot in the way of biking, so yesterday we decided to drive up to Dalby to try a bit of real MTB action.

The red routes sounded a bit technical, and green routes looked to be slightly bumpy road riding, so we went for the blue route. Me […] Read the rest

It must have been 25 years since I first saw pictures of Squareface and Mitre Ridge in Classic Rock, and for all that time I'd dreamed of climbing them. Dreams started to become plans in the last 10 years, but those plans were continually thwarted by the weather. Until last year, when the start of our annual week's trip to Scotland coincided with 3 days of forecast good conditions. […] Read the rest

The Club Christmas social was held at the Walmgate Ale House and Bistro (formerly 'Meltons Too') in York.

We met for a drink in 'The Hop' beforehand to have a catch up, and share stories with those who had made it out for walks in the Dales after the recent snowfalls.

Then onto the Ale House, where we sat up in the cosy 'Loft' area. The food was good and […] Read the rest

Today was earmarked for buying a tree and other assorted Christmassy stuff. But the weather was so good that, inspired by Debra's photos of snow in the Dales and with a thaw forecast for tomorrow, we bought the tree, dumped it in the hallway, and headed off to Wharfedale.

It was -5C when we left the car, and sheet ice on the paths made getting out of Kettlewell quite 'interesting', […] Read the rest

The regular Thursday night at the red goat. There were four here tackling problems when I left. More, I'm told, were on route. Great fun as always. […] Read the rest

Glorious clear crisp frosty saturday weather made it obligatory to get outside this saturday. Since my planned climbing buddy was muttering something about it being too  too cold outside I headed for scuggy with my  bouldering mat , where I joined forces with Sarah and Russ.It was glorious at Scugdale, as is often the case it was a little suntrap, the low crag line sheltering it from the icy cold […] Read the rest