We will be hearing from two of our committee members who dared to make friends with the Alpine Club and venture into the Saas Valley. It's the right time of year to hear about icy Alpine adventures, getting you ready for the winter season ahead.

Last year I resigned from my job, moved out of my flat, put all my possessions in my parents’ garage and took the leap. From taking the first step away from Land’s End to walking into John O’Groats was 1,231 miles taking 131 days. I didn’t set out to achieve a new LEJOG speed record nor did I have a set end date, instead this journey was about exploration and learning - not just about myself but about the history, culture and heritage of the places I walked through. By passing through the landscapes at a slower pace - and you can’t get much slower than my walking pace! - I learnt so much about this country.

I also included the islands as a way to bookend my walk. From Cornwall I travelled to Long Point, St Agnes (the most south westerly point of the Isles of Scilly) and from John O'Groats I sailed and drove to Skaw, Unst (the most north easterly point of the Shetland Islands).

Come along if you want to hear more and see some photos of my trip!

From 7pm, presentation around 7.30pm.

Book here: https://www.rockhoppers.org.uk/meets/6034

Use this social to discuss your Easter plans! Save time in Skye or Cornwall - get those maps out and plan your hikes and climbs before you arrive. Secure the best people in your group ;)

If you don't have ambitious plans for Easter just come along for a friendly chat and a beer.

From 7pm.

We will be hearing about Rob and Craig's adventures in Norway, ski touring the Jotunheimen Haute Route.

Time: Upstairs room from 7pm, presentation around 7.30pm.

Drink booze, eat crisps, talk nonsense and plan for upcoming trips. From 7pm.

As it is now officially summer our next social will be a little different! We will be having a picnic in the park to enjoy the long summer nights and (fingers crossed) warm London evenings.

Wednesday 27 June: Picnic in the Jubilee Gardens - next to the London Eye - nearest tube Waterloo.

Time: From 7pm, and don't forget to bring snacks and your beverage of choice!

We look forward to seeing you all there!

It's time to celebrate the summer with your fellow Rockhoppers! On Saturday 21 July, we will combine two of everyone's favourite activities: Walking (a little bit at least) and drinking (probably a whole lot more….).

We will attack the famous Bermondsey Brewery Mile, which consists of a string of micro-breweries set up in railway arches starting in South Bermondsey and stretching all the way into Tower Bridge.

We will start at Partizan Brewing, at 2pm (nearest station is Surrey Quays or South Bermondsey) and then work our way into Southwark Brewing Co (nearest station is London Bridge) with expected finish around 7pm. Below is an approximate time schedule planned for each brewery, which includes walking time in-between. It would be great to see as many of you as possible for the 2pm start, but obviously you can join at any time/location that suits you!

Various food options will be available along the way, including the epically hip Maltby St street food market.

1. 14.00 Partizan Brewing, 8 Almond Road, London SE16 3LR.
2. 14.45 Eebria Tap Room, 15 Almond Road, London SE16 3LR.
3. 15.30 Brew by Numbers: Arch 79, Enid St, SE16 3RA.
4. 16.15 U Brew: Arches 29-30, 24 Old Jamaica Road, SE16 4AW.
5. 17.00 Bottle Shop: 128 Druid Street, SE1 2HH.
6. 17.45 Anspach & Hobday: 118 Druid Street, SE1 2HH.
7. 18.30 Southwark Brewing Co: 46 Druid Street, SE1 2EZ.

There’s no need to sign up to this event in advance (it’s free other than your beer budget…), but if you join at a later stage than Partizan Brewing you may benefit from either texting or calling Mette or Alex when you’re on your way to get a progress report.
We will do our very best to stick to the schedule, but obviously there are no guarantees! (given that most of the breweries are tiny and/or get busy we will likely need to stretch ourselves out a bit in terms of arriving in any case).

At the last AGM and annual dinner we discussed club participation and engagement and agreed we needed to look in more detail about what motivates people to take part in club activities in general and leadership roles in particular.

This month we plan to use the social, at the Old Kings Head, to get your views. Club member Phillippa Banister will be running a session to find out what you think and it would be great if as many of you as possible could make it along.

If you can't make it, never fear, we still want your views. We will be sending out a web survey link in the next couple of days that will take your responses - anonymously or not as you wish.

If you can make it, we'll be in the upstairs room from about 7.30.

A picture-rich, light-hearted presentation and I’ll talk a bit about the different ways I’ve enjoyed having fun rock climbing, ice climbing, summer & winter alpine, ski mountaineering, bouldering, (buildering), scrambling, deep water soloing and generally having as much fun as possible in locations like the Alps, Haute Atlas, Anti Atlas, Pyrenees, Yosemite, as well as popular destinations like N Wales, Peak, Pembroke, Cuillin etc.

Calling all Rockhoppers: We are nearing the end of the club year, and for our last social of the year before the AGM we have a Rockhopper pub quiz lined up, custom-made by our very own Chris Adye!

In the days when the club was advertised in alphabetical listings the Rockhoppers got "lost" somewhere after Rochdale MC. So in order for it to appear with other London clubs we used to advertise it as "London Rockhoppers Mountaineering Club". The rounds for the quiz will therefore be London, Rockhoppers, Mountaineering, and Club. You have been warned, so get revising trivial factoids about penguins! (Probably the shortest round...)

Please come along to the Old Kings Head on Wednesday 26 September at 7.30pm for a jolly night of pints and climbing trivia. You are welcome to put your own team together before the evening of course, but in any case we will make sure to team everyone up on the evening.

The next club social night will be our 2018 AGM.

The AGM is your chance to hear all about the club's activities in 2018, 2019 and beyond, to input into the meets list for the forthcoming year, to the elect the new committee and perhaps even stand for election yourself (!)

7pm start.

7.30pm.

Last Easter 3 Rockhoppers took two sledges and a tent on a tour of the mountains on the border between Norway and Sweden. Mixed weather gave us some fantastic skiing and views, as well as periods to finesse our tea drinking and story telling as we sat out the blizzards.
In the summer 4 Rockhoppers set out kayaking and canoeing from Glen Shiel to travel up the West Coast of Scotland ... 2 made it right into the heart of Knoydart. Along the way we camped on tiny islands, dragged kayaks over a mountain pass, saw dolphins, seals, squid, clams, otters and sea eagles ... and ate fish caught by Charles (he caught 4 in 10 minutes from the canoe!).

Charles is also going to do a slot on canoeing in to do remote Scottish hills. Charles & Sheila were the inspiration for the trip up the West Coast last summer & they appear to have an infinite list of remote hills that are best approached by water! Come and be inspired by Charles!

In association with Mike's Table. Find more info and book here: http://www.rockhoppers.org.uk/meets/6049

We will meet at the bow (pointy) end of the Cutty Sark at Greenwich at 11am and walk along the Thames Path back into town, ending up at London Bridge in time for tea! Enroute we will take in Surrey Docks Farm who are holding their Christmas Fair. There will be mulled wine, peach brandy, and local craft stalls. Come along and pick up some gifts with a difference. There will also be sheep, pigs, goats, turkeys and of course some donkeys.

This is a chance for existing members to catch up and have some exercise, without the need to go away for the weekend. Its also an opportunity for new and potential members to meet us and find out more of what we are about. We hope to have more one day rambles to come in the future.

Email Marcus if you're coming.

Come and join us for festive drinks, plus a robust discussion of plans for the New Year trip! We'll be propping up the bar from around 7pm.