 |
Main Menu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Events |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Twitter |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What / who is LSMC?
LSMC is Loughborough Students Mountaineering Club. We are part of the Loughborough Students Athletic Union.
2. What do you do?
We do lots, it mostly involves mountains.
Climbing, walking, scrambling, mountain biking, skiing, alpine climbing, ice climbing, Scottish winter climbing, drinking, partying etc etc.
We also have lots of members who are into their bouldering we even have our very own bouldering wall in the EHB. We regularly have unofficial trips to the local climbing walls as well. Including:
Nottingham Climbing Centre
Leicester Climbing Wall
Alter Rock in Derby
The Climbing Works, Sheffield
There are lots of organised trips each year. (see next section) but the club aims to support any mountain based activity, and is just really a group of people who like to be in the mountains, and when we can’t be in the mountains, talk about what we want to do when we are in the mountains. We have a couple of training sessions each week to keep the fitness up (one cardio based, one strength). And normally a pub session each week to keep the drinking up.
We have lots of shiny climbing gear you can borrow, and lots of camping and general mountaineering kit too.
3. What trips do you run each year?
Here is a nice list.
Though that is not a comprehensive list of what we do as a club. Members are always planning their own trips away to far off locations, including the Alps, Scotland, Sport climbing in some hot European country or Bouldering in the Peak District. Make sure you get on the forum to keep up to date with anything that is being planned!
4. Do I have to be really good to join?
No. Lots of our members have never tried any form mountaineering before they joined the club. The club welcomes complete beginners as well as highly experienced members. The only thing that will stop you from participating is you. All trips are run to make sure that everyone goes is going to have fun, in a safe environment.
There are lots of experienced members who are always available to help out on club trips, and to teach you pretty much anything you want, from navigation to alpine climbing skills.
5. Socials?
We are a pretty social bunch. If you join the club, you are bound to make friends for life. Every year it seems that we have at least one group of freshers who end up sharing a house together in their second year.
There are socials most weeks to Hey Ewe, or another Union based night, with some pretty silly (yet good fun) fancy dress themes. . If we aren’t at the union there will probably be a session down the pub organising the weekend’s fun. Or a trip into town for a change of clubbing scenery.
6. Roped Pub Crawl social?
This social is a tradition of LSMC. Every year we have a social to introduce new members to the club (and to each other). All memebrs split into small teams with an experienced member as the group leader and are roped together. We then move around campus visiting the various drinking establishments and negotiating the obstacles we find along the way (trees, fences, stairs, hedges, buidings, windows, etc..). Once all the bondage fun is over we go to hey ewe. This year the Initiation Social is on Wednesday 13th October. A great way to get involved and meet new people! If you do join the club there will be lots of info about it all.
7. What are the Freshers Day Trips?
The Freshers Day Trips are a chance for new members to experience outdoor climbing (and get to know people in the club). Each day (Saturday and Sunday) a different group members get to go to the Peak District where you will have a cracking day out on the rock, making you want to come back for more. You don’t need any specialist equipment, as that can all be provided by us, a waterproof, a water bottle and a couple of sandwiches are pretty essential though (and a bag of Haribo for the bus driver)
8. What is the Freshers Weekend Trip?
The Freshers Weekend trip is the first main trip of the academic year. Around 30 members (priority given to new members) are taken to Capel Curig in North Wales where we stay in a nice hut introduce people to climbing and mountaineering. This is a great opportunity to get to know people in the club, sharing stories of your day on the hill in the pub on the Saturday evening, and playing drinking games in the hut on both evenings. Whatever you are interested in (simple walks, exposed ridge walks, scrambling, climbing) we can provide a group leader to take you out for the day.
9. How much does it Really cost?
This is a difficult question to answer. It depends. on how involved you want to get. To begin with there is no need to buy very much of your own equipment. The essential equipment for climbing and walking are listed on this site; most technical equipment can be borrowed from the club.
The club doesn’t provide any clothing or footwear, so make sure you bring a waterproof and walking boots to Loughborough!
Club organised trips are subsidised by your membership fees. When you pay for a club trip your money goes towards the accommodation, and transport. This means that the cost of a trip away can vary, and is very dependent upon how much beer and food you buy, and where we are going! Expect the fresher’s day trip to cost you £10 (including a pint in the pub after) and the Capel Curig trip to cost you £40 – including food and beer.
For climbing you can borrow ropes, lead racks, harnesses, helmets, guide books and bouldering mats. The only thing we don't provide are climbing shoes which will cost around £50 for a beginners pair. We recommend that you also get your own helmet, harness and belay device as well if you are interested in doing lots of climbing over the coming years, they are a great investment and will last ~10years if you look after them (and what else is a student loan for)!
For walking and camping you can borrow a lot of the technical equipment needed. This includes tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc... The items you will need to provide will be your walking boots and clothing.
For winter fun we have ice axes, crampons, ice screws and other winter protection for your delight and delectation.
If you are unsure about what you need, or if what you have is suitable, ask a member who has been in the club for a while. We can provide advice about your current kit as well as the best places to get cheap, good quality, kit that is suitable for what you want to do.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Login |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Forum Items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Recent Photo Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
