05/05/2026
I spent the weekend with Nick, Nigel, James and AJ, who are the successful recipients of this year's Rick Allen Skills Award (RASA), which is an annual mountaineering development program for Alpine Club members to advance their alpine climbing abilities. The RASA provides subsidized, professional training in the Alps for members aiming for complex, high-altitude routes. The focus of our weekend was moving together on a variety of terrain, particularly simul climbing and general scrambling. As well as some old favourite alpine training routes we discovered some hidden gems in Langdale that none of us had climbed previously, and also bumped into a few old friends along the way. We also found time for a discussion on alpine routes, planning and strategies ahead of the training in Courmayeur, a discussion of bivouac techniques and equipment, a discussion of potential hazards and situations that could be faced in the Alps and how to avoid and deal with them, and a practical session covering rescue by hoisting and assisted evacuation. Wishing them all a great time in the Alps in June!
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