UKC

Hi all,

Looking for some recommendations for a mountaineering club with a decent number of people in their 20s/30s.

I go out solo a fair bit or with my very capable partner, who’s in SMR and often busy - so I’d love to meet more like-minded people and grow my own hill network and social circle a bit.

A little about me:

• I'm 28 and into light and (reasonably) fast days in the hills - not a runner, but partial to the odd downhill trot when the mood (and terrain) allows
• Climbing isn’t my strong point - I’ve seconded the odd Severe and been somewhat dragged up a couple of AD routes in the Alps, but I don’t get out often enough to feel confident (I’ve got Raynaud's and Ratho is as freezing as a crag)
• I’ve seconded a couple of Grade II winter climbs, made possible thanks to heated gloves (would recommend if you spot them on sale)

I'm after:

• I’ve got a full-on schedule, so I’m not often free for midweek climbing wall sessions - weekend meets/the odd trip away suit me better (ideally the kind where you can decide what you do)
• Bonus points if there are a few other women around my age!
   

Any suggestions?

Thanks! 

I haven’t had any personal experience of either but a couple of friends are in Edinburgh Young Walkers and Edinburgh Mountaineering Club and rate them both for weekend trips and meeting other outdoor folk. Think EYW is often oversubscribed for weekend trips though.

Edinburgh MC has a big range of ages including quite a few in their 30s (not so many in their 20s), and a good bunch of folk into bigger, faster hill days:

https://edinburghmc.org.uk/emc/

There's a good range of fitness and sanity levels in the Edinburgh MC. There's a bunch of climbers too, but no need to climb whatsoever.

I dunno how many folks are in their 20s as I don't know all the newbies but def plenty in 30s 40s etc. 

Folks range in fitness from normal to totally nuts. I'm a member and female but 51 (so not in the 20s age group you're looking for).  That said, I go pretty fast (did the Fisherfield Munros with bike and walk combo in just over 12 hours 2 weeks back) and I still have had to jog on a walk to keep up with more than one individual. 

The EMC is mostly all about weekend trips and folks tend to decide at the weekend where they are headed based on weather etc. Maybe some chat on WhatsApp beforehand about folks plans. There's no led walks, walk leaders etc so the ability to look after oneself, navigate etc is crucial. Folks will usually head out in small groups rather than mass assaults on a hill. Some folks prefer to walk with others, others prefer to go solo.

I can't remember the %age of female members (wasn't awake at the AGM!) but it's close to 50%

Neil already posted the link to the webpage.

Other half has Raynauds so feel your pain. We only winter climb in good conditions now as neither of us likes suffering. 

The thing about age group is that it keeps changing. When I joined “my” club (aged 56) I was one of the younger ones. That didn’t last long ….but in the last 5 or 6 years we’ve had a great influx of 20-somethings of both sexes,  so much so that they’re becoming the majority. The range of activities are exactly the same although the pace varies a bit…

The club is based in Strathaven but has diaspora all over Scotland - my initial thought was it might not be relevant to you but s’pose it might be worth a look if you draw a blank more locally. For hut weekends geography maybe isn’t so crucial.

I'm not being funny, what does SMR mean?

Scottish mountain Rescue perchance?

Have PM'd you with some details of the Jacobites MC.

That would make sense, ta.