Edinburgh University Hillwalking Club

Here are some of the questions we get asked a lot... Please add more by commenting below.

How do I get off the mailing list?

Please Do Not email the sender or the committee asking to be removed - they cannot do it. Read the instructions at the bottom of any club list email, or if you prefer, see here.

About the club

What's the difference between the Hillwalking Club and the Mountaineering Club?

This is something we get asked a lot by prospective members and every couple of years by the Sports Union themselves.

1. Activities. The Mountaineering Club is actually mainly a climbing club (rock and ice climbing, with ropes), while the Hillwalking Club only walks. Walking ranges from low-level walking to ascending mountains and sometimes it involves scrambling as part of a walk.
2. Group organisation. The Hillwalking Club operates via group walks, organised by a Walk Organiser, and the Club tries to ensure every member joins a suitable walk. The Mountaineering Club takes a much more individual approach to walking (and climbing). A common criticism of our approach is that it is too organised and restricts choice, while the Mountaineering Club is often criticised for not taking enough responsibility.
3. Accommodation. The Mountaineering Club tend to use campsites and bothies for their meets while we use youth hostels and bunkhouses. The fundamental difference is that bothies and campsites require camping equipment (stoves, pots, sleeping bags, roll mats, tents) while bunkhouses and hostels provide bedding and cooking equipment. EUMC trips require members to own some camping equipment.
4. Cost. Hostel/Bunkhouse accommodation is much more expensive than camping or staying in bothies, so the cost per trip is higher. However there is less equipment required...

What is hillwalking?

Hillwalking in Scotland is one outdoor activity under the umbrella of "mountaineering". It is walking on hills and mountains, in all seasons, terrain and weather, on and off paths, and can sometimes include scrambling. See the next question for a better explanation...

What is not hillwalking?

1. Climbing. Hillwalking is generally on terrain which can be crossed on foot only. It does not require the use of a rope to moderate falls.
   A rope may be carried as a safety aid on some walks where there is likely to be a high degree of exposure and the rope can provide extra confidence on steep ground for members who find such ground difficult.
2. Low-level walking. Hillwalking involves the ascent and descent of hills or mountains. Low level walks are undertaken when the condition of the hills (or of the group) are unsuitable, or as a walk in or out from the hill.
3. Tourism. Hillwaking is a sport (it is defined as such by sportscotland) and it therefore involves physical exertion, personal responsibility, skill, training, coaching, achievement and development. If you spend your whole time being led by experienced members and enjoying the views, what have you actually gained?

Why do I need to be a member?

We require you to be a member of the club to come on trips because:

• Insurance is provided by the MCofS and by the Sports Union only for listed members.
• Your membership money goes on buying and replacing club gear, subsidising training for Walk Organisers, discounts for minibus drivers and reducing the cost of expensive trips.
• It keeps you involved!

What are the benefits of membership?

These are listed in the Beneits of Membership section.

Trips

How do I go on a trip?

All club trips are organised by the committee. Upcoming trips are listed on the website. Trips are officially announced about a week before departure by email to the club mailing list, the email will contain details of the destination area, the cost and sign up arrangements. There will be a sign up event at the Tuesday night social where you should come on time in person with your membership card and full payment (preferably by cheque).

If you get on the trip list, you will receive further email(s) through the week with the arrangements for the trip, it is your responsibility to read these emails and act on them. It is your responsibility to bring all the equipment listed on the website, and the club information pack, and any extra items in the arrangements email.

I can't make it to the sign up, can I still come on the trip?

You can either:

1. Get a presign, as explained below.
2. After the sign up, any spare places will be advertised by email, and allocated first come, first served to people who email back.
3. If you have a VERY good reason why you cannot personally attend the sign up, you may email the meet organisers before the specified deadline. They will take all requests into consideration, then allow a limited number of people to be signed up by a friend. These friends then have to come to sign up just like anyone else (i.e. if your friend arrives too late and the trip is full, then you will not get onto the trip).

Can I sign up in advance?

Only if you get a presign, as explained below.

How do I get a presign?

Advance sign ups, or presigns, can be given to certain people who contribute to the running of the trip. You will usually have to email the Meet Organiser, after the trip is announced, by the day before the sign up, and the Meet Organiser will confirm your place by email. Presigns are allocated first come first served. The following groups of people can request presigns:

1. The Meet Organisers for the trip, who are committee members decided in advance.
2. Drivers: two drivers per minibus, and as many drivers with their own car as are needed to carry the number of people who will be taken.
3. Walk Organisers: where there is likely to be a shortage of people on the trip who can organise walks, the minimum number of walk organisers will be given a presign, these people may be required to organise walks each day of the trip.
4. Committee. All committee members can presign for any trip in recognition of the work they put into the club. They will normally help organise some aspects of the trip.
5. Sometimes, especially for our Christmas and Burns weekend trips, presigns will be given for people contributing to the trip and the catering.

That seems like a lot of presigns.

Usually, about a third of the places are given in advance, this is no more than are necessary.

Why do signups happen at the pub?

Trips are often oversubscribed. We want everyone to have a fair chance of getting on the trips they want to go on, but we don't want to restrict keen members from coming regularly. The sign up happens at a time that is advertised well in advance at  our weekly social, this keeps members involved socially. It is easy to establish first come first served at the pub where a queue is normally waiting before signup opens.

What if I miss out?

We're sorry. If you arrive late for a signup, that is essentially your mistake and we don't have to do anything about it. If you arrive on time but the trip is full by the time you get to the front of the queue:

1. We'll take some names on a reserve list. If practical, the Meet Organisers will try and arrange extra spaces on the trip, or there may be dropouts. You will have to pay at the time and provide a phone number. As extra places become available, the Meet Organiser will phone through the reserve list in order. You will have to decide on the spot if you want the place!!
2. If you are on the reserve list and still do not get offered a place, you may be given a priority place for the next of the same kind of trip (weekend/daytrip). You will have to confirm by email by the day before the sign up.

I haven't been able to get on trips at all

If we have a lot of consecutive trips that are oversubscribed, we will implement a "negative priority" system. When this happens, we will take the names of everyone who arrives at the sign up on time in order, but your place will only be guaranteed if you didn't go on the last oversubscribed trip(s). If you went on the last trip, you'll go on a second list and you'll get a place at the end of the sign up if there are spaces left.

It seems like it's hard to get on trips!

Not at all. We have these systems to make it fair when there are problems, but on nearly all trips we take everyone who wants to go.

Why do trips cost so much?

Weekend trips usually cost £45 to members, but the costs to the club are roughly:

• Accommodation: £24-30 per person for two nights
• Transport: minibus hire is £10-14 per person
• Fuel: about £5 per person for a minibus, up to £10 for cars
• Food: £2 per person

Which adds up to £41-£57 per person, which means most trips are heavily subsidised from club funds.

The costs of daytrips is much more variable as they are not always full, however a cost of £10 per person ensures daytrips break even on average, and it is excellent value compared with public transport.

On the hill

How much responsibility does the Walk Organiser have?

The Walk Organiser is responsible for selecting a route, for advertising it at the walk signup, for ensuring everyone on the walk is suitably fit and equipped, and for ensuring the group has the required group kit.

On the hill, the Walk Organiser does most of the route selection and navigation, but all group members should be involved in this as far as their knowledge and skills allow. They are responsible for the safety of the group but not of each of its members. It is each person's individual responsibility to ensure they get enough food, drink and rest, and to alert the Walk Organiser to any developments that may affect the safety of the group and its members.

If while on the hill, it becomes apparent that a member of the group is struggling, the Walk Organiser should decide the safest course of action, which may mean splitting the group. They are not personally obliged to accompany anyone off the hill but if the group is split, both groups must be left with someone competent to complete the new objectives

In the event of injury to any member or another emergency situation e.g. unexpected nightfall, the Walk Organiser adopts the role of leader and can instruct the whole group as required to miminise further injury.

What am I responsible for?

All walk members (including the Walk Organiser) are responsible for their own safety on the hill. This means you must select a walk that is approproate to your experience, skills and fitness, and you must be honest when discussing the walk with the Walk Organiser and ensure they know your limits. You are responsible for having all the essential equipment and for meeting the Walk Organiser at the right time in the morning.

On the hill, you are responsible for your own safety and comfort, and you are mutually responsible for that of all the other members of the group including the Walk Organiser. This means if you are hungry, get a bite to eat, if you are thirsty, get a drink, if you're too hot, take a layer off, if it rains, put your waterproofs on, if you fall cut yourself, ask for a plaster, if you need a break, tell someone and stop. If you can read a map, help with the route choice and navigation, if not, use common sense, pay attention to the landscape, chat, and most of all, enjoy it!

What if I want to do my own thing?

The Club's organised walks framework is designed to make sure everyone can do what they want to do in a group. If you have a particular plan you want to do on your own why not organise it as a club walk and you'll have company. If you really want to walk solo or in an exclusive group, at least fill in a route card for safety reasons but if the Meet Organiser is not happy about the arrangements then the walk is not considered a club walk and the Meet Organiser is not responsible for transport or for your safety. This also applies if you do not have the requisite equipment for a walk.

If you want to plan your own walk or trip with other club members, there is a place to arrange that through the website and in the pub, or informally, but please remember that if it is not arranged by the committee or it is not approved by a majority of the committee, it is not an EUHWC walk or trip and this should be clear to all participants and the public.

Equipment

What equipment do I need for a walk / for a weekend trip?

Please see the Essential Equipment section, and the Winter Equipment section for trips between November and April.

Why do I need waterproofs / boots?

Please see the Equipment section.

Are my boots suitable for Scottish summer hillwalking?

Boots must have:

• Supportive, hard-wearing soles with good grips;
• Supportive ankles;
• Sturdy, waterproof uppers;
• The correct fit for your feet and be laced properly.

Mid-range full leather boots are fine, as are the sturdier end of the fabric/suede walking boots range. Scarpa Ranger, Zamberlan Trail Lite, Berghaus Explorer, Raichle Scout are some of the lightest recommended boots, anything heavier is better and you are recommended to buy a pair that also fulfill the winter requirements.

Are my boots suitable for winter hillwalking?

See above, but additionally, they must have:

• Stiff soles which will not bend when kicking into hard snow;
• Enough stiffness enough not to flex in crampons;
• Complete waterproofing.

The minimum standards are met by Scarpa SL M3, Meindl Burma Pro, Berghaus GR20 and similar.