A Journey to Skye and Beyond
I recently had the chance to meet some of the members of the FRCC (Fell & Rock Climbing Club) while on a trip to Skye. I was on my way to Loch Coir a Ghrunnda, preparing for rough weather conditions and strong winds. To my surprise, I encountered another group of FRCC members from the Memorial Hut who were traveling at a similar pace. During a break, we struck up a conversation and they informed me about the club’s family meets, which immediately piqued my interest.
As a parent who loves taking my kids on mountain scrambling and wild camping adventures, I was eager to learn more about the FRCC and its meets. The club is based in the UK and is dedicated to climbers, mountaineers, and fell walkers. By becoming a member, you gain access to over 70 meets a year, both in the UK and abroad, as well as discounts on gear and guidebooks, access to FRCC huts and other clubs’ huts, and the opportunity to contribute to the club. To join, you must be 18 years or older, competent in climbing/mountaineering, and willing to contribute to the club.
There are three stages to becoming a member of the FRCC: Aspirant, Associate, and Full Member. To become an Associate Member, you must attend three meets and have two full members propose and second your application. To become a Full Member, you must demonstrate your involvement with the club through attendances and contributions. The club offers a variety of meets, including weekend, mid-week, hut-based, and themed meets, and is looking for active climbers and mountaineers with recent experience.
I started my journey with the FRCC as an Aspirant and attended three club events, including a Welcome Meet in Borrowdale. On Saturday, I joined a group of outdoor enthusiasts on a scenic hike to High Spy and Catcalls, and even ventured solo for a challenging rock scramble up Nitting Haws. The following day, despite the less favorable weather, I joined a smaller group on a hike up Glaramara.
In October 2022, I attended a Family Meet in Buttermere. On Saturday, we went on a leisurely walk along the lake and climbed a hill to reach Low Bank, before heading back to the hut for dinner, games, and a late night. On Sunday, we took a walk around the lake before heading back home. This weekend was a perfect escape from the city and allowed us to enjoy the natural beauty of the Lake District.
In February 2023, I attended another Family Meet in Langdale. Upon arrival, we settled in for the night and listened to the exciting tales of other adventurous families. The next morning, we set out on a day hike up the hillside above the hut and reached Stickle Tarn, where we took a break for lunch and ice cream. On Sunday, we took advantage of the good weather and headed down to Stickle Ghyll for another hike.
My thoughts on the FRCC experience:
The FRCC website offers two options for joining – as a “Climber” or a “Mountaineer”. Based on my experience, the club is ideal for climbers who enjoy climbing in the Lakes area as it provides access to numerous great huts. However, I noticed a slight bias towards climbers when it comes to proving one’s worthiness as a member. It seemed like the easiest way to show that you are the type of member the club wants was to go climbing with a full member on a Welcome Meet and demonstrate safe leading skills. This may leave mountaineers feeling left out as the focus is primarily on climbing.
While the club is welcoming to mountaineers, the emphasis is clearly on climbing. For those passionate about climbing, the FRCC offers fantastic opportunities to explore and improve your skills in a supportive and friendly environment. However, for those interested in mountaineering, it may be worth exploring other clubs that cater to a wider range of outdoor activities.
Overall, my experience with the FRCC was positive and I had the chance to meet some amazing members. The club provides a wide range of meets and benefits for climbers, mountaineers, and fell walkers, and I was impressed by the amount of resources and support available to its members. However, I felt that the process of becoming a full member was more geared towards climbers and I would have appreciated more support for mountaineers. To bridge the gap and provide more opportunities for aspirants to demonstrate their competency and involvement with the club, I believe the FRCC could benefit from encouraging aspirant hikers to lead walks on meets and to buddy up with full members.
